At the very beginning of my fitness journey, I thought progress meant just eating less and less. I didn’t understand calorie deficits, maintenance calories, or how much I actually needed to fuel my body. I just thought the answer was always to cut back more. Later on, I learned macros and nutrition, but I still had seasons of being very extreme with cutting, bulking, and chasing perfection. What actually changed everything was realizing progress isn’t built through extremes… it’s built through phases. 🤍 After gaining weight and taking time away from the gym, I knew my body was in a really good place for body recomposition. Instead of rushing into another cut, I spent the next year and a half around maintenance calories focusing on: * rebuilding my strength * gaining muscle * daily movement + steps * consistency over perfection * eating enough to perform, recover, and feel good That season wasn’t the flashiest, and it definitely required patience and a lot of self love & respect but it built the foundation for everything that came after. Because I spent time maintaining, building, and supporting my metabolism, when it was time to tighten things up, I didn’t need to do anything drastic. I could simply pull calories back slightly, add a little movement, and my body responded so much better. Sometimes the answer isn’t another cut, bestie boo. Sometimes it’s building first. Body recomposition can be slower, but it’s one of the most sustainable ways to change your physique because you’re building muscle, improving your metabolism, and creating results that actually last. You don’t always need less food. Sometimes you need more muscle, more patience, and a better plan. ✨ Use code KKFIT to save! bodyrecomp macros reversedieting fatloss LTKfitnessgoals LTKActive LTKdayinmylife