9 weeks out

[shane]

9 weeks out from a comp should you be starving or this near the end, I can't remember if I was or not last time I dieted for a comp

[Dinahlady]

I dont know if there is any one answer for "should you be starving".

It really depends on what youre dieting on and what you did before, how big your changes in your diet week to week have been.

Sometimes people feel hungrier when their bodies are in a better position metabolically, even though they might be eating more food than another time that they dieted. An example might be that if you do a refeed you often feel very hungry on the few days after presumably because of "metabolism boost" that comes with that (and the fact that theres a big contrast between your refeed and your normal weekday). Another coulld be if you are dieting on higher carbs lower fats, compared to low carb high protein diets which tend to be more satiating (obvsiouly specific to the individual). Or another could be that you're on any number of calories around or less than maintenance, but you've just dropped 200+ cals out your diet - you're bound to be "starving" the next week or so, then quickly adapt. 

However if you are eating 1500 calories and doing 6+ hours of cardio a week and are 9 weeks out, and are also completely exhausted, anxious, irritable are having difficulty recovering, sleeping. Then that probably isnt a good sign. 

(Basically, we need more information)

[Pseudonym]

^ Good answer.

I often find that I'm hungry the first few days after cutting my diet back, but then my body seems to acclimatise to the lower calories.

There's a big difference between thinking you're starving (feeling hungry is all in your head), and actually not having enough food. If you're feeling absolutely exhausted simply by walking up a flight of stairs (and I've been there!) then it's time for a refeed.

[HalfNatty]

2 cents and i i dont know how relevent this is since i have never prepped fr a comp ever.

but when i diet i favor the low carb high fat protein diets, i tend to drop a shit load of water up front.

never feel hungry a couple of table spoons of butter in a coffee sorts it out if i start to feel a bit peckish - or a handfull of nuts.

carb refeeds omnly on big muscle days - chest abck and leg days 80-100 grams directly after workout - really high GI junky cabrbs to produce an insulin spike.

mix this up with some intermittent fasting - narrowing your feed window to between 1pm and 7pm.

this diet protocol seems to preserve a lot more lean muscle mass thqan straight caloric deficit - for me at least. have read a study where it indicates that nutritional ketosis is very good at dropping fat and water while preserving muscle mass.

 

ill be starting this directly after my birthday for 2 and a half months  might post some before and after shots at the end. results can be dramatic.

[Pseudonym]

Yep. I'm the same. I also look a lot drier without the carbs. Unfortunately I also look flatter.

 

might post some before and after shots at the end. results can be dramatic.

Do. We like dramatic before and after photos. They tend to win prizes.

[HalfNatty]

ohhhh i like free stuff, gunna have to be hardcore disaplined and make a good job of it eh

 

[bambam]

Im the same, much drier without carbs. Im ok if they are around workout so tend to backload then after being basically carb free all day. Seems to work well