Fatigue and irritability on a cut = calories too low?

bigphishy56 · 01-17-2008, 08:35 AM

I'm currently at 2500 to 2600 cal a day, and I've been increasingly fatigued, and irrationally irritated by little things. I'm guessing my calorie intake is too low, but at an average of 2550 a day it's not like I'm starving myself. Does anyone else feel like this when they are cutting? (lift mon-fri, 30 min cardio, currently avoid cheats)

I've also theorized this may be related to caffeine consumption. I've tried to limit myself to one cup of coffee in the morning, but i seem to crash harder and more often than in the past.

BIGROC · 01-17-2008, 08:38 AM

Post your diet.

TheNormalMan · 01-17-2008, 08:44 AM

It's not really the food because I'm consuming the same amount of calories and I never really feel fatigued or crash hard. I yawn a bit when I'm coming down off my EC stack in the morning but about an hour after it wears off, I'm good to go again for the day.

bigphishy56 · 01-17-2008, 08:47 AM

8-9AM home-made egg mc-muffin sort of deal with whole wheat english muffin and lowfat cheese ~500 cal

12-1PM some sort of lean meat with scrambled eggs, maybe some lowfat cheese and fruit ~500 cal

4 PM (pre workout usually) tuna/chicken, nuts, oats ~500 cal

~7PM (after workout) whatever i can throw together, usually comes out to 500 cal and i try to balance carbs/protein/fat

~10-11PM meat, lowfat cheese, vegetables, maybe some nuts ~500 cal

Some would argue that my pre-bed meal should contain fewer calories, but i find myself becoming very hungry at this point in the night, and not so much during the earlier portion of the day.

gfundaro · 01-17-2008, 08:50 AM

How much of each macro are you taking in with that?

bigphishy56 · 01-17-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfundaro

How much of each macro are you taking in with that?

40prot/40carb/20fat... could be a little bit closer to 40/35/25

the weight seems to be coming off faster than in the past. Previously i have worked with lower calorie levels (2200-2300) without much problem. Perhaps i have increased my metabolism, or I am inadvertently more active than previously?

I may try increasing the calories to 2750 for a week, or a refeed to my maint. level every nth day.

gfundaro · 01-17-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigphishy56

40prot/40carb/20fat... could be a little bit closer to 40/35/25

the weight seems to be coming off faster than in the past. Previously i have worked with lower calorie levels (2200-2300) without much problem. Perhaps i have increased my metabolism, or I am inadvertently more active than previously?

I may try increasing the calories to 2750 for a week, or a refeed to my maint. level every nth day.

Hm, the ratios look good. If you've added some muscle mass, your BMR may have increased.

BIGROC · 01-17-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfundaro

Hm, the ratios look good. If you've added some muscle mass, your BMR may have increased.

I agree. Although I would look into perhaps having Oats for breakfast instead of the WW Egg McMuffin I don't know if that serving of carbs is enough to jump start you day. I would also eat your lunch on WW.

bigphishy56 · 01-17-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGROC

I agree. Although I would look into perhaps having Oats for breakfast instead of the WW Egg McMuffin I don't know if that serving of carbs is enough to jump start you day. I would also eat your lunch on WW.

good idea, thanks for the advice

neutral · 01-17-2008, 10:10 AM

Are you getting enough sleep, enough water?

bigphishy56 · 01-17-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neutral

Are you getting enough sleep, enough water?

certainly enough water, sleep tends to vary (some nights i can pull off 8, some i can't push it past 6)