

In life, there are few precious things we can control. Question 4: Am I Prepared For Potential Setbacks? Set realistic expectations, and you'll be able to stay committed to the end. It's what you do 90 percent of the time that produces results in the end. That's part of the adventure, but it doesn't have to be the whole story. Remember that when losing fat, hunger is normal. Your body's appetite- and weight-regulating mechanisms may react negatively to reduced calories by making you feel hungrier, messing with your hydration, affecting mood and energy levels, and even disrupting your sleep. Chemical imbalances can send a cascade of deleterious effects throughout the body, and if you're telling yourself to ignore the warning signs, you can quickly find yourself downright miserable. Just remember that nothing happens in isolation. Some people can feel just fine, while others find that at least initially, they feel, well, not so fine. If this is your first time cutting in general, you're probably not familiar with how your body responds to eating fewer calories than you consume. And besides, if your diet is so extreme that you can't stick to it, that in itself is wasted time and effort! Question 2: How Does My Body Respond To Caloric Deficit? Sure, a more aggressive diet can achieve weight loss in a fraction of the time, but research and experience have shown there are limitations to how deep in calorie debt you can get before you wreck your metabolism.įor men, it's thought to be below 1,500 calories for women, it could fall below 1,200 calories of deficit. If you have more than 20 pounds to torch, begin your cutting phase 4-5 months prior. If you have 10 pounds or fewer to lose, you should start at least 2-3 months out.

That means eating at a deficit of approximately 500 calories per day. A general guideline that works for many people is to aim to lose body fat at a pace of 1 pound per week without resorting to extreme dieting.
