[dougz]

is there a suggested deficit level one should use when following the fat loss programs?

I'm wondering about this myself..

I'm eating at a 500 cal deficit (2600), weighing every morsel and typing it all into fitday, and am losing about a pound every couple days or so (but it's only been about 3 weeks or so.. Expecting to have some regain down the road)..

Also I'm not lifting any weights for a week as I've been recovering from a lower back injury (minor muscle strain, spinal erectors).

From what I gather from the book (not Leigh's), maintenence should be rock bottom, intake-wise..

I don't see ANYWHERE where he recommends eating below that (or above it, for that matter, except in the case of mean people trying to add serious muscle mass)..

He DOES mention that you can tweak intake composition for faster fat loss (less carbs, NOT less than 30% fat, though)..

Somebody tell me if I'm missing anything, here!!

Once I get back to lifting and start with the burn in I'll try eating at maintenence (3100) and see what happens..

If I stay the same after say 2 weeks, I'll shave off a few hundred more calories, and make carbs a lower percentage in favour of protein..

Yeah - if you CAN keep a deficit at all! I've been eating like mad during FLII. I am just so hungry!

So, you're staying at the same weight? Gaining? Are you eating before and after workouts? Every 3-4 hours?