9 years of coaching. Here are the rules I give every client on day 1:
1. Calories are a ceiling. Protein is a floor. Hit both daily.
2. 0.8-1g of protein per lb of goal bodyweight. Non-negotiable.
3. Stop drinking your calories. Water, black coffee, zero-cal drinks. The only exception is protein shakes.
4. Walk 10,000 steps a day. Most underrated fat loss tool there is. The easiest way to burn an extra 400-500 calories.
5. Lift 3-5x per week. Beat the logbook every session.
6. Sleep 7-8 hours. It's not optional. Poor sleep stalls fat loss faster than bad food.
7. The 3-2-1 sleep rule: no food 3hrs before bed, no liquids 2hrs, no screens 1hr.
8. Weigh yourself daily. Use the weekly average. Ignore single-day spikes.
9. The scale can jump 3-4 lbs overnight. To gain 3 lbs of fat you'd need 10,500 extra calories.
10. An inch off your waist = 3-4 lbs of fat lost. The scale isn't the only number that matters.
11. Stop cutting carbs. White rice, potatoes, and fruit are your friends during fat loss.
12. The 10:1 rule for snacks: 10g protein per 100 calories. If it doesn't pass, skip it.
13. Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich + 12-ct grilled nuggets: 580 cal, 66g protein. Learn the fast food orders.
14. On busy days, Macro Fast. Protein shakes and yogurt until dinner. Save your calories for one big meal.
15. Meal prep is optional. Knowing the right fast food and grab-and-go orders is not.
16. Track everything for 2 weeks to build a baseline. The data tells you what to fix.
17. Protein first at every meal. Eat it before touching anything else on the plate.
18. Stop eating 1,200 calories. You're not in a deficit. You're in survival mode.
19. If you're in a plateau, check sleep, steps, and protein before touching calories.
20. Never cut calories first. That's the last lever you pull.
21. Add volume with veggies. Fiber keeps you full for almost no calories.
22. Cottage cheese with everything bagel seasoning. 200 cal, 28g protein. You're welcome.
23. Don't aim for a perfect day. Aim for a day your future self won't need to recover from.
24. A bad day doesn't need a restart. It needs a next meal.
25. Consistency beats perfection. Every single time.
Bookmark this. Come back to it when you're stuck.