How long can you cut for?

[fatchris1980]

I'm going to start cutting for the first time next week, going to 2500 calories/day (using the math in the nutrition forum).

Is there a limit on how long you should cut for? Or is there no problem doing it for as long as you need?

[BobMoran]

You can cut as long as you want, but your progress will slow down during your cutting phase. At the beginning you will lose more weight in a shorter period of time! When you start to hit a plateau count your calories and drop 100kcal for each day to lose weight again!
Hope this helps you!

[ACE0809]

What BobMoran said. Plus I know for me when I had to do pro-longed cuts I incorporated refeeds that helped alot, but that would be later down the road.

[SuffolkPunch]

While you are still overweight, you can cut continuously so long as you still get all required protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential fatty acids etc.

It's only people who get very lean (contest lean) that are seriously affected by things like metabolic damage.

You can take a diet break every couple of months or so - mainly for psychological reasons.

[Mdenatale]

I'm going to start cutting for the first time next week, going to 2500 calories/day (using the math in the nutrition forum).

Is there a limit on how long you should cut for? Or is there no problem doing it for as long as you need?

I'm in week 28 of a continuous cut. Weight loss has been very very steady over the entire period.

[davidolson22]

You can take a diet break every couple of months or so - mainly for psychological reasons.

I agree completely with what he said. After 5 months of continuous dieting I was still losing weight linearly....but I was just sick of dieting and took a break. I'm not a saint who can torture myself forever.