I think there are some semantics at play
I have to agree with that second part, haha.
I feel what I’m doing is eating naturally. Like, you don’t see obese animals in nature: they eat until they are satiated and don’t eat again until they are hungry. I don’t feel anyone would claim that these animals are counting.
Sure, but you’re a human selecting for specific outcomes and then letting hunger control volume in an already controlled environment. It’s literally a direct application of calculated estimation by definition.
I don’t care enough to argue about it, but to the OP’s question, nobody blindly eats and successfully recomps.
I feel we will have to agree to disagree.
Just out of curiosity, about what percent of the population do you believe are capable of achieving an optimal body composition by this method? Hunger the control variable?
If they eliminated a macro (carbohydrates)? I would bet a large percentage.
If people only ate whole protein sources there would be no obesity.
All these alternatives to not “tracking” require restrictions and other constraints.
For most actually weighing/tracking their food would be much easier because they are not going to give up certain foods.
This, although depending on the mentality, it may not be a restriction or constraint at all.
For most actually weighing/tracking their food would be much easier.
It does lead me to wonder if it really is a “for most” or “for some” situation. It’d be interesting to see a breakdown of moderators vs abstainers in the realm of nutrition, especially among those concerned with physique. And then especially so among actual physique competitors.
Bodybuilding requires restrictions and constraints to reach an optimal physique. It goes without saying.
A very low percentage.
Exactly, and the estimation is inherent to the selection parameters. There are no successful, wide open diets. Everybody building or maintaining a physique counts/measures/modulates in some way.
THIS I agree with.
Talk about broad coverage. That is about everyone who attempts anything to improve their body composition. It contains no worthwhile distinctions
That is the point. Which is why trying to make it seem like going off hunger requires some special talent or “really” knowing your body makes no sense.
person A- Avoids all carbs
person B-Tracks their intake of carbs
Both know their body and the necessary restrictions.
But, not everyone. Those are the special people. They have no restrictions and build great physiques.
Those are “a very low percentage”.
It’s all baked in though.
“I don’t count calories, but I avoid specific foods and macros and only eat until I’m full” to me is like saying “I don’t put gas in my truck I use fossil fuels”.
I didn’t mean to step on dynamite but however calories are counted/accounted for, I’m glad it works.
Also, read a lot of what Lyle McDonald has to say on the subject.
Since this is what everyone does, the only thing worth discussing is the different methods of getting to the desired outcome.
My feedback method is much different from counting calories. @T3hPwnisher method is much different from counting calories.
OP seems to want to weigh the pros and cons of different methods achieving an optimal body composition.
It is of not much value to discuss the similarities of different methods. But the differences are worthwhile.
Since recomp means you’ve increased your strength and reduced your overall calorie intake, it’s clear that for it to be effective, you need to have done both.
What I want to discuss are alternative methods to calorie counting to achieve this. In other words, approaches that focus more on food choices, eating habits, visual portion estimates, body feedback and so on.
This:
You wrote,
That is not going to happen. Those are the genetic freaks. Focusing on food choices is adjusting/paying attention to macros. As are eating habits, portion estimates etc.
It wouldn’t require that you reduced calories. In fact, you may need to increase calories. If you are 175 lbs and 20% BF, to get to 175 lbs and 15% BF would require you to raise your BMR and require more calories. Also, the increased intensity (and likely frequency) of workouts would require more calories to fuel them.
Not true. See above. If you simply train harder and more effectively, your body will adapt and change its composition. Now, to optimize this process, dietary changes will be needed. But you certainly can recomp without diet changes.
He specifically asked about eating for body recomposition.
When I joined T-Nation was the first time I had heard the term “recomposition.” IMO, the term needs to specifically defined.
For example: If you are a genetic freak and your training is optimized and your PED’s are optimized and your sleep is spot on and your nutrition is optimal for growth, but the calories too high and your bodyweight is 30lbs over your stage weight, THEN your genetic freak is not going to recomp to contest shape.
IMO, for recomposition to be possible, something in your program to acquire muscle is not optimized. Or you are new to weight training.
Recomposition is possible when:
If I left one or two out please add to my short list.
IMO, the worse shape that you are in when you start, the better your chance is of obtaining some recomposition.