Strength Stagnating

Just a couple cautions about measurements:

  1. the relationship between a calorie deficit and weight loss is not necessarily linear; even accounting for the “noise” in the data, some foods have a greater effect on weight than others despite similar calorie profiles
  2. scale weight is messy. Depending on how my digestive system is working and how hydrated I am, I can fluctuate around 8 pounds in just a few days.

One way to work around this is to weigh yourself frequently (like daily at the same time) and throw it into a graph. Then plot a linear trendline for the past week or two of data. The trendline should slope downwards for that period. The slope of the line is a better approximation of how much weight you’re losing per day/week. It’s better to use that slope to adjust calories than straight scale weight.

So, concrete example. If you’re trying to lose 1 lb a week, the slope should be around -.143 if you’ve got a linear trendline based on per-day value. If it’s steeper than that, increase your calories. If it’s shallower than that, decrease your calories.

Right around a 10 day trailing trendline seems to be the best for decision-making, in my opinion.

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Good to know, I’ll try to weigh myself more frequently

Also, you 100% do not have to be that meticulous with this. I learned what I learned from reverse-engineering bodybuilding competition prep stuff. Calories in < calories out works most of the time. It’s possible to dial it in if you want, but not necessary until it’s actually necessary.

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I see what you mean about weighing yourself. I weighed myself this morning and was 98.6kg, a kilo difference in one day

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Tried it today. The pump from the supersetted pressdowns was huge! I did make 2 adjustments, I did ring pushups instead of ring flys, I tried them but I didnt love them. I also didnt superset the Y raises. I found them pretty difficult on they’re own and which made the kettlebell raise way too hard, the lightest I have is a 12kg. I’ll add the kettlebell in if/when I get stronger

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Awesome, man, and great adjustments!

Can’t you write off a 1kg difference as food in the gut and water in the body? I have never considered 1kg to be anything significant.

Yea, that’s what I was getting at. I didn’t mean I’d lost 1kg of fat in one day, more there’s fluctuations so weighing yourself more frequently should give a better picture of the general trend

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Of course, daily fluctuations of 500-1000 grams are normal