u/DylanTheG999

6'0 203, goal is 185 by July 8. Cut from 200 to 178 last year over a longer timeline so I know I can do it, just trying to compress the window this time.

Started last week. Averaging 150g protein, 120g carbs, 68g fat. About 1660 cal/day. Maintenance is around 2800.

3 year gym streak before I fell off the past 8 months. 2 months back in now. Lifts are still strong, just hit a 235 bench PR (shoutout the extra weight lol), runs feel fine, not suffering in the gym (yet).

Here's my question. I haven't been hungry which is why I'm not eating all my cals, and I want to lose the most possible in this window.

Am I going overboard even though physically I feel fine(ish), I've had a headache to cap off the day twice this week now. Or is "not hungry = don't eat" actually a green light to push the deficit harder while the body's cooperating?

I'm 22, 6'0, 200 and am in a cut for about 20 lbs. I've gone from 205 - > 178 before, tracking everything, hitting the gym, doing it "right." Same thing I'm doing now.

But I keep coming back to the same question: why am I not just doing reta?

I've read the studies, obviosuly the results are real. I have tons of friends using reta, and from what I see on this sub and everywhere else, people are still training hard, still eating well, just getting significantly better outcomes for the same effort. It's not like it replaces the work.

So what's actually stopping me? Some vague idea that I should earn it the natural way? The more I sit with that, the less it makes sense.

Genuinely asking: does anyone regret doing it? Not just sides, but like, do you wish you hadn't? And for people who were in a similar spot, 20-30 lbs out, was it worth it at that level?

thanks 😄