Intermediate Fasting: Need advice?

[Thrqne]

I stated my cut 2 weeks ago with intermediate fasting, and I have already lost about 5 to 6 pounds. Normally, when I start cutting I always have a problem, but intermediate fasting is something that's actually working for me.

The problem: In the past 2 weeks now, my strength is really decreasing, and I get fatigued when lifting. My bench went from 225 x 5-8 reps to 185 x 5-8 reps (struggling to do 3 sets of that weight).

My question is: is that normal to have decreased that much strength in 2 weeks, or am I abnormal? Also, if you have any advice for intermediate fasting feel free.

Stats: 5/10, 195ish pounds, about 17%-19% BF
Supplements: Beast Creature -Creatine, Whey 24 Protein, C4 Pre-workout.
Nutrition: About 2,000 Calories, Min 150G protein a day.

[Znik]

Drop the volume, aim for 5x5 or 3x5 and see if that helps. And no it's not really normal to drop that fast, if you get fatigued and feel lethargic on IF then it's not working for you and do something else.

[sdunn96]

I stated my cut 2 weeks ago with intermediate fasting, and I have already lost about 5 to 6 pounds. Normally, when I start cutting I always have a problem, but intermediate fasting is something that's actually working for me.

The problem: In the past 2 weeks now, my strength is really decreasing, and I get fatigued when lifting. My bench went from 225 x 5-8 reps to 185 x 5-8 reps (struggling to do 3 sets of that weight).

My question is: is that normal to have decreased that much strength in 2 weeks, or am I abnormal? Also, if you have any advice for intermediate fasting feel free.

Stats: 5/10, 195ish pounds, about 17%-19% BF
Supplements: Beast Creature -Creatine, Whey 24 Protein, C4 Pre-workout.
Nutrition: About 2,000 Calories, Min 150G protein a day.

Well if IF is new to you, then you could be adjusting to things, so possibly the weakness is due to that.

What were your calories like before IF, and what are they now?

I personally feel more energized doing my workout while fasted.
Trying to think back to when I started IF, but I don't recall my lifts dropping in weight.

[Thrqne]

Well if IF is new to you, then you could be adjusting to things, so possibly the weakness is due to that.

What were your calories like before IF, and what are they now?

I personally feel more energized doing my workout while fasted.
Trying to think back to when I started IF, but I don't recall my lifts dropping in weight.

Calories from Sep to March: Around 2900-3200 Calories
Calories now on IF: Around 1,800 - 2,000 with 150G Protein a day.

[xHKOx]

I think it's in your head brah plus you're eating far less cals compared to a month ago

[8LAKE]

Calories from Sep to March: Around 2900-3200 Calories
Calories now on IF: Around 1,800 - 2,000 with 150G Protein a day.

Your protein intake seems a bit low if you're the weight shown in your stats. Maybe try upping your protein to 1G per 1lb of body weight and see where you go from there.

[KingOfChaos]

Your protein intake seems a bit low if you're the weight shown in your stats. Maybe try upping your protein to 1G per 1lb of body weight and see where you go from there.

One gram per lbs. of lean bodyweight. You don't feed your fat.

Also, your carbs are being depleted through your fasting, so you can expect to be a little weaker in the gym.

[8LAKE]

Apologies, as Chaos says its LBM not just total mass, mistake on my part.

[All-Star11]

OP, IF brah here.

I eat all my calories from about 5-7 o'clock at night (dinner)
take my pre-workout at 8:30pm ish
lifting by 9 pm

no strength decrease this this brah.

I would imagine if I lifted in the morning/afternoon I might not have the energy to lift heavy

[Serpentarius]

Eat whenever you want, it makes ZERO difference. IF is more or less a product for trainers to sell, it doesnt really have any appreciable applicable use and makes people's lives miserable (people asking "what if i cant eat at X time"). Eat whenever.

[Znik]

OP, IF brah here.

I eat all my calories from about 5-7 o'clock at night (dinner)
take my pre-workout at 8:30pm ish
lifting by 9 pm

no strength decrease this this brah.

I would imagine if I lifted in the morning/afternoon I might not have the energy to lift heavy

Depends on how you react to IF, I usually do my lifting near the end of my fast (12-14 hours or so into the fast) got no problem with energy or strength during my cuts, unless I go low on calories but that's a different matter.

[sdunn96]

Calories from Sep to March: Around 2900-3200 Calories
Calories now on IF: Around 1,800 - 2,000 with 150G Protein a day.

Not really sure what your eating is like for workout days vs rest days while doing this.

But going from ~3000 cals -> 2000 cals (or less), that is pretty steep man.

As others noted, I would go higher w/ protein, especially on that big a deficit.
I personally do mine at ~1.2 gr / pound of body weight. So I am usually >200 gr / day.

I think I would have backed off calories by doing -200 calories per week or two.
That sudden drop is pretty big.