Thank you @Voxel!
Let me show my motivations.
Please, consider the following picture[doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.07.017]:
This study evaluated processes related to several kinds of diets with or without exercises. And, surprisingly, the smallest weight regain was due to the people who followed VLCDs (Very Low Calorie Diets, the light blue line).
I am not a fan of VLCDs because, no matter how minerals and supplements they take, 500 to 800 kcal are literally out of my plans! But, for my case (53yo, until few weeks ago morbidly obese, type 2 diabetic, suffering high blood pressure) these diets promote diabetes remission(*) without bariatric surgery [doi 10.1007/s00125-011-2204-7], which is may main goal.
So, thinking about to reach a VLCD benefit in terms of mitigate my type 2 diabetes, I began on phase one (the first 42 days, cycle #1) a Low Calorie Diet (1500-2000 kcal) which is something I felt I could deal with it, but restricting carbs to the same proportions a VLCD do. Iāve got good results in terms of blood sugar numbers and, currently I am totally asymptomatic.
Now, on my cycle #2, I am trying calorie intakes higher than the VLCD range. It is a simple math with Harris Benedict, considering a sedentary activity factor (1,2) for my estimated total calorie expenditure. For this total I do apply a 80 to 90% to be my ācuttā intake range.
So, what you felt as an aggressive deficit is probably because my activity factor is higher than the sedentary 1,2. But, see, I was in a more aggressive range on cycle #1! Right now I am on a simple internet-bro cutting range. But, for obese people, it is not uncommon they have daily or weekly good news on scale. The aggressiveness of my cutt is due to this diabetes remission journey. Bodyweight and blood pressure are more consequence than the main spot.
(*) in the article the authors use the term āreversalā which I feel very, very scared to repeat. A diabetes reversal means ācureā, i.e., the patient can eat as a normal pearson. But, think with me: for someone who became sick due to his/her bad eating habits, the doctor say āyou are free to goā, what this pearson will do? Just one guessing choiceā¦ so I always encourage people in remission to stay permanently on guard, in surveillance. They must never return to their bad eating habits. It is something like God gave them one more chance to eat in a healthy way.
