Before I give you the reasons why living in a deficit will bring negative results, I want to make sure you all understand what I mean by 'living' in a calorie deficit.
What I mean by living in a calorie deficit is exactly what I am saying. People are too sacred to eat more because of the fear of an increase in fat.
With PTA clients who are training for fat loss, the MOST that we take them up in calories is to a BASELINE. Baseline calories are also known as MAINTENANCE calories. You are neither in a deficit or a surplus. This amount of calories usually ranges between 2000-3000 calories depending on the individual. This amount of calories scares people because its usually double (sometimes even triple) of the amount of calories that they usually consume. However, with this amount of calories only being maintenance calories and understanding that the only way to put on fat is to be in a calorie surplus long term, how can you possibly put on fat? You CAN'T!
Also, the amount of 'Cleanses' and 'Detoxes' being sold as the next greatest thing for fat loss and a 'healthy lifestyle' is sickening not to mention the amount of coaches prescribing a 500 calorie per day meal plan as a great way to burn fat and keep it off long term.
Let's use some facts to help back up my outrages claims about calories.
FACT: Living in a calorie deficit will down regulate leptin and up regulate ghrelin causing you to stop losing fat and increase your hunger and cravings. This will potentially cause the opposite effect of what you want to achieve!
FACT: An individual who weights 80kg and has a body fat % of 25% has a resting metabolic rate (RMR) of 1666 Calories per day (that not taking into account a workout). What's resting metabolic rate? To put it simply, the amount of calories your body needs to ensure that everything that your body needs to do to keep you alive, can be done as best as possible.
Never sacrifice your health! Eating in a way that’s sustainable and healthy for the body.