u/returns_a_function

I’ve been running a calorie deficit of around 700–900 calories for the past few months.

M27 | 172 cm | currently 77 kg

I naturally have broad shoulders, and the attached images are my body metrics from March 6 and then on May 5 .

Since then, I’ve dropped down to 77 kg and have definitely seen noticeable fat loss overall.

Current diet:

Breakfast — Oatmeal Bowl
(60g oats + 300g curd + 2 scoops whey + chia seeds + pumpkin seeds)

Lunch
2 whole eggs + 3 egg whites + 1 bowl papaya

Pre-workout
1 banana

Dinner
200–250g cooked chicken + 1 cucumber

My daily intake is usually around 1500 calories.

Training:
I work out 5 days a week on a PPL-UL split.

Recently I came across a lot of posts saying that anything beyond a 500-calorie deficit can lead to muscle loss and other issues, so now I’m a bit confused.

The thing is — I am seeing results. My body fat has gone down noticeably, but my lower belly still holds a lot of fat.

Should I continue with this routine or make changes like increasing calories a bit? My goal is to get leaner while also building/maintaining muscle — basically trying to do a body recomp.

I’m open to any recommendations, suggestions, or criticism.

And yes, all of this has been managed with the help of my “Doraemon” aka ChatGPT acting as my dietician .

https://preview.redd.it/yvsysxx2om2h1.jpg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfec6eb7307d7d9926388bac05f864b2cbf0ad2b

https://preview.redd.it/6gb10sw4mm2h1.jpg?width=1046&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bcbe1178e5fda71f81dff26dc6d3533d5e93076

Hey all, I am M27, and I think I am a failure, and these things that I am feeling may sound idiotic, but I am struggling with how to manage myself. I am doing a job in the tech industry, and I don't know whether I am doing well or not

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I can survive in Bangalore and own a bike ( people say that I have more than enough, and most people don't even have that )

But in my head, it's like - 90% of people here possess these things, and mostly all of them are better than me, earning better than me, in bigger companies have decent relationships and are working harder than me

rather than me just sitting and typing out here 😂 .

I don't know what to do or how to deal with this.
Trust me, I don't want to sound pompous here, I generally think I am a loser because I haven't achieved what most people have - I work with guys 2,3 years younger than me at the same position (I joined corporate late ), and that's where it comes from.

Maybe I am an idiot thinking like this, or maybe I legit am a failure. I don't know

This was just a rant, and I know I am comparing myself to everyone out there, but how am I supposed to grow or learn if I don't compare with people better than me? Won't I be stuck where I am?

I don't know what to do or how to do.
I want to crack big companies like MAANG and others, but keep failing, and DSA and trying to start again, but keep failing, and then I see others who are pretty damm good at it, and then 3 years younger than me, earning more than me

I feel left behind, A lot behind.