If you're 160, but eat to maintenance 155, will you end up 155?

[DanielDrop]

So you're 160 ilbs, for instance, and you eat at the maintenance calories for 155, will after a while you end up at that weight?

Basically, if you pick a weight, eat at the maintenance for that, then theoretically would you end up at that weight?

[mavajo]

Yes. However, it'll leave you minimal room for error and take far longer than it would with a proper cut.

[matman1813]

Well the problem is, you don't know your maintenance for that weight until you get there. And the fact that weight loss will slow exponentially as you approach that weight.

[mavajo]

Well the problem is, you don't know your maintenance for that weight until you get there. And the fact that weight loss will slow exponentially as you approach that weight.

matman raises a good point.

If you're 280 and you want to be 160, then sure, eat like a 160 lbs dude. Even if you're +/-10% off your actual 160-lbs-maintenance calorie level, you'll still lose weight.

But it's not as practical for someone trying to lose 5 lbs. Like I said in my post, it gives you no room for error, and as mat said, it's hard to know exactly what your maintenance is at that level. If you're +/-10% off trying to lose 5 pounds, it could lead to you wasting some serious time (since the difference between 160 maintenance and 165 maintenance isn't that much to begin with).

In sum, if you have a ton of weight to lose, sure, use the "Eat like a skinny dude" method. But if you're just trying to shave off a few pounds, do a proper cut.

[Serpentarius]

there is zero change in maintenance from 5 lbs, you just need to stay in a deficit.

recomp = waste of time. You can lose that 5 lbs in 2.5 weeks easily and be done with it.

[CodyTravers]

if you did try 165-155...you would lose slightly over 1lb of pure fat in 28 days...close to 1 1/2lbs per month.

suitable if you are really patient and don't want to put too much effort ( it would work) but slowly.

[Arakis00]

You might end up just spinning your wheels in place eating that close to your maintenance long term.