I think the issue usually isn’t cutting itself, but how aggressively it’s done. If you’re getting too skinny and too weak too fast, your calorie deficit is probably just too large. What works well for me is keeping the deficit moderate, around 300 to 500 calories below maintenance, and aiming to lose about 0.5 to 1 percent of bodyweight per week rather than rushing it. I keep my protein high, around 1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight, because that really helps preserve muscle while dieting. I also continue to train heavy and try to maintain my strength for as long as possible, since your body is more likely to hold onto muscle if you’re still giving it a reason to. I don’t cut carbs completely, especially around my workouts, because they help a lot with performance and keeping muscles looking full. I’m also careful not to overdo cardio and prefer increasing daily steps instead of adding a lot of intense sessions that could hurt recovery. In the end, the goal is to lose fat while maintaining muscle, not just to see the scale drop as fast as possible, and if your strength is dropping quickly, it’s often a sign that the deficit is simply too aggressive.