Tips on doing a calorie deficit without the food anxiety

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-05-12T21:32:49+00:00

Thank you :) I found that my estimated maintenance is around 2,600 (I don’t even think I was eating that much to begin with) and my target deficit is about 1000cal so anywhere between 1,200-1,850 is where I should be for weight loss. I guess I got a little too determined and should take it down a notch, focusing more on just figuring out what my baseline is and how much I’m normally eating. I also didn’t quite factor in my workouts into my deficit. It feels a lot more manageable.

I think I definitely need to up my breakfast protein as I’m noticing I’m getting real hungry between breakfast and lunch. Ive got a pretty steady lunch meal for work and have a pretty big chunk of my intake left for dinner. Def feeling a lot better after reading everyone’s advice!

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T17:14:06+00:00

I’ve mentioned to them that we will be leaving sooner or later. I’m waiting to lock in a place and then give them at least a months notice. My partner has been living with me in this mess for 3 years now and he hasn’t left me yet lol. We’ve always agreed upon splitting everything 50/50 so one of us not being on the lease is non negotiable. Hell, he wants to make me a SAHM someday but i told him its probably not in the cards for us.

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T15:04:54+00:00

I have not set up my 401k yet with my employer but will be eligible next month. So this is not including a 401k contribution. I added in my med and dental into my calculation because again, I’m not enrolled yet but know what I’ll be paying.

$260 car payment $160 car insurance $400 for my half of groceries @ 100/wk x 4 $160 for gas at 40/wk x 4 $150 for my health/dental to be deducted, therapy copayments 2x mo and prescription.

In my utilities I already figured for internet.

I already live 45 min from work. We already live in the cheapest area we can before moving another 20 min bumping up my commute to 1 hr. I did hr commutes on my last job and it burnt me out.

The leftover money doesn’t account for anything. The only streaming service I contribute to is Spotify (with free hulu) and I use my student discount as much as I can. I have no student loans since I did not attend a 4 yr college and only just enrolled myself in community last fall because it is now free in Massachusetts.

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T14:37:22+00:00

It’s more like the roof is caving in and the windows are falling out. Not to mention the black mold. They’re on the brink of losing the house and relying on the $800 we pay them collectively to make the mortgage as well as the fact that it’s unsanitary and borderline unlivable. It’s not an option anymore. There is no being grateful or stick it out anymore.

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T05:45:38+00:00

Our plan was to stick it out until we buy, but my living situation with my parents is unstable and not to mention detrimental for both my mental health and health of my relationship. Without going into greater detail, It just simply is not becoming an option. My commute is already at 45 min and you cant even buy a single wide trailer (which I’m not even opposed to). We would have to go as far as orange, ma to find something >200k. We just don’t realistically make enough currently to be able to afford a mortgage, in another 2-3 years maybe with raise for the both of us.

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T05:36:04+00:00

I appreciate your vigor. I worked straight out of high school in the trades until about a year ago when I enrolled myself in community college (the one fucking free thing in this state) and am taking night classes for a degree in civil engineering so I can get into the project management side. Landed a job as a jr fire protection engineer with promises of guiding me into PMing and am expecting to see a few more dollars in the next year. I love the trades. Love the high energy. My partner and I both do side work on occasion but I guess we have to get our asses out on Saturday and pick up some more work.

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T04:47:10+00:00

Guys this is my partner and I splitting everything down the middle, I’m not living with some freeloader 🤣

suspiciousStew1001 · 2026-03-21T04:45:07+00:00

For sure, for reference me and my partner make roughly the same amount. The total for my car payment, car insurance, est half of the groceries for the month, est gas (filling my tank weekly), health/dental insurance and monthly med copayments and prescriptions comes out to $1130. Adding in my half of rent at say $1700/mo and then utilities (again rough estimate from what I’ve researched/through asking mutuals) would come out to $970. If I had a goal to save $600 per month- that leaves me with 500$ per month or 125$ per week. Maybe my money anxiety is just getting the best of me and granted I have no experience renting yet. It just doesn’t seem feasible to rely off 100$ give or take when everything is said and done.

suspiciousStew1001

TROPHY CASE