IIFYM dieting

who here runs iifym dieting.. how do you run your iifym??

lets start a discussion

I have never ran it, but it's always interested me. Pro's and con's anyone?

I am very interested in comments on this.

ok let me start with my view of this.... the short one at least


IIFYM dieting, when done correctly, is a completely acceptable way to get into a healthy lifestyle and yes, even lose or, esp, maintain and bulk...

here is where I COMPLETELY DISAGREE with iifym dieting..

1. macro timing isn't important

2. a calorie is a calorie, a carb is a carb


both of these statements couldn't be further from the truth..both macro timing and the source in which you get your nutrition play a role in your results..

a complex carb vs straight sugar will hit your system differently and cause a different insulin response, at the very least..


you get a bunch of these dumb kids who get on iifym dieting and are eating 3000 calories worth of fast food and junk... "hey it fits my macros" makes you look like the biggest idiot on the planet...


now, lets say someone has a 3k calorie limit a day, and spends 2400 calories getting most of their standard nutritional needs from healthy foods with a balanced macro split, and decides to splurge the 600 calories on pizza, ice cream.. u get the idea.. i dont see an issue with this..

the idea here is to hit minimum macro requirements before you give in to your cravings..

so..if i were to say that you need to go at least 225g protein, 225g carbs, and 60g fats from healthy micronutrient rich sources which equals 2340 calories, you would have 660 calories to do whatever you want

this minimizes your junk food intake as well.. 660 cals would be a burger, two slices of a pizza, some ice cream

u get the picture..

and if you were to take one day of the week where you reduce your daily clean macro goals by 50% and splurge.. that would be ok too so long as you didn't go over your caloric needs..


in other words, IIFYM dieting is not an excuse to ignore healthy eating.. its a way to stay sane and enjoy some cravings..

we are not here to work all our lives and never enjoy things..

that would be equaled to owning a million dollar home but having to work 16 hours a day 7 days a week to maintain it..

youre never really going to enjoy that home.....

bump.. am i the only one with an opinion here??

I agree with what 3J posted. The hormonal response to nutrition needs to be considered as well as nutrition timing. Eating a cheese burger & fries for your post workout meal probably isn't the best way to replenish glycogen stores. I don't use iifym, I'm a bro science or bodybuilder food guy myself. I know that for me if I'm going to eat pizza & ice cream it's too hard to stop myself at the point where I should & it's also too hard to get back on track again. I think 3J nailed the main issue that most people have with iifym and that's when people use it to justify eating shit all the time. The majority of foods should still be the tried & tested bodybuilder foods, but if someone's carb & calorie count allows a candy bar for dessert & the time of day is appropriate for that then go for it.

yup.. IIFYM when done properly is nothing more than clean eating with a small cheat meal daily