Iifym.. flexible dieting.. progress

[krustus]

i've been following an IIFYM approach... intermittent fasting at times... but mostly just not worrying about meal frequency... just hitting the macro numbers.
also not really worrying about carbs or sugar... just hitting the numbers. feel like success has been pretty good.. attached a pic was at the end of my cutting phase around 185lbs.....2200 cals..... have been reverse dieting since and up to 3250 cals with very little fat gain... but up to 197lbs. will turn 50 this coming summer and hope to beat this physique

 

[buffalohead]

Good job. The meal frequency thing drives me nuts. If you're eating pretty clean, you're going to be hungry every 3 or so hours anyway. It's not like the nutrients we eat go directly into our bloodstream the second we eat, it has to digest and is gradually processed over time. That's why I think the old "you HAVE to eat within 45 minutes of your training" has no merit unless you're just hungry. As athletes, we eat often enough that there is almost always some digestion going on.

In short, i agree with you.

 

[TSizemore]

I don't necessarily mind the IIFYM routine, but I've never been fond of intermittent fasting. You've done well with it but I think the difference is how long you've been at it. For most people, who don't understand macros and food values, IIFYM's is a recipe for failure. But don't take that personally, I feel that way about basically every "diet" regimen.

 

[krustus]

I feel that way about basically every "diet" regimen.

watch out brother.... your sounding like an old man...lol

 

[GRIM]

great work bro

 

[buffalohead]

I don't necessarily mind the IIFYM routine, but I've never been fond of intermittent fasting. You've done well with it but I think the difference is how long you've been at it. For most people, who don't understand macros and food values, IIFYM's is a recipe for failure. But don't take that personally, I feel that way about basically every "diet" regimen.

If IIFYM works for people, great, but to be honest, I don't understand why it's that much different than anything else. If I understand it correcrly, and not saying I do, there is a certain amount of protein, carbs and fats you try to hit on a given day while staying at a certain number of calories. Isn't that pretty much a normal diet other than the fact that you can get your carbs and fats from any food source you choose? That sounds really appealing for those that like junk food until you have a bowl of ice cream and a donut and realize your carbs and fats are all used up and you're hungry the rest of the day. Not saying the OP did this but because of this, wouldn't the diet be self regulating in that unless you want to starve it forces decent food choices making it pretty much like a normal diet with a catchy name.

Do I not understand it correctly?

 

[krustus]

IIFYM... is mostly about flexibility... instead of the same set of foods day in and day out... (chicken and rice, fish etc..). so if you have the macros you can have a slice of pizza or anything really that is mostly considered a cheat food....

so you never really cheat... it takes away that mentality of cheating on your diet by eating some forbidden food.