Hey there. When people hear “flexible dieting” they usually assume it means you can just eat whatever you want and still lose weight. And while there’s some truth to that, there’s a better way to explain it.
At its core, flexible dieting is simply finding a calorie number to aim for each day and staying just under it. That’s it. Everything beyond that—macros, fasting, “clean eating”—is just extra stuff that’s been added on over the years. The foundation is about managing your calorie intake.
If you don’t know where to start, here’s what I suggest. Track everything you eat for two weeks. No good or bad food labels, just track it all. Use a calorie tracking app like MyFitnessPal and wear a Fitbit or a similar tracker if you have one. After two weeks, you’ll have a rough idea of how many calories you’re consuming and burning each day.
Let’s say you’re burning around 2,300 calories per day. Start by aiming for 1,800 calories daily. Then give yourself a successful range of 1,600 to 2,000 calories. If you hit within that window, it’s a win. Track your progress every two weeks with waist measurements, scale weight, and photos. If you’re not seeing changes after six weeks, reduce your intake by 200 calories and repeat.
Now here’s a helpful tip. Start your day by logging your produce and water. If you eat five servings of produce—three fruits at about 100 calories each and two veggies at about 50 calories each—you’re looking at just 400 calories. That still gives you 1,200 calories for everything else.
Yes, that means you can eat pizza, ice cream, or fast food if you want. What usually happens is, the more you fill up on produce and water, the less you want the junk. It becomes less appealing. You’re not restricted, so you’re not constantly craving it.
This style of eating is simple, sustainable, and centered on your preferences. It helps you stay consistent and puts you in control. That’s what matters most.
Let me know your thoughts on flexible dieting. Has this changed how you view it? Whether you agree or disagree, I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me a DM on Instagram @yourlevelfitness or head over to yourlevelfitness.com and connect with me.
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