178. Maintenance Calories 101: Building Strength, Hormonal Health & Food Freedom

Let’s talk about maintenance calories, because I get this question super often. What the heck are they? Will I gain weight? Lose weight? Eat more? Should I be tracking them? 

I know this can feel confusing as hell, so I wanted to break it down in this episode! 

This time of year, sooo many women feel pressure to be in a cut or build phase, but…there IS another option: maintenance.

Here’s the thing though - you don’t NEED to be dieting or trying to build muscle 24/7. Sometimes life is extra busy, things are chaotic, and adding a calorie deficit or extra pressure to perform just isn’t it. 

Maintenance is not a pause button, but actually a powerful phase that gives your body the fuel it needs to THRIVE! 

Eating in maintenance is giving your metabolism the love it deserves. You can expect benefits like stronger workouts, better recovery, stable hormones, and awesome energy to LIVE.YOUR.LIFE.

If you’ve been thinking maintenance means ‘stuck’, I hope this episode helped unf*ck that mindset. Maintenance is fuel, freedom, and choosing long-term success over quick-fix BS. I’m so proud of you for educating yourself AND showing up for yourself in this way!!

Episode Recap:

• Why choosing maintenance calories when life is chaotic isn’t a failure, but a smart strategy
• What maintenance calories *actually* are + why they matter
• The truth behind why you don’t *need* a surplus to build muscle
• Benefits of eating at maintenance
• Why finding your maintenance calories can feel confusing + what to do instead
• What it *really* looks like to reverse out of a ‘cut’ and land in maintenance
• Choosing maintenance over cutting

Links/Resources Mentioned:

• Ep. 162 | Calculating Calories + Tailoring Your Macros to Align with Your Fitness Goals
• Grab your FREE Body Recomp Meal Prep and get the UFYF Newsletter
• Listen to the Girls with Opinions Podcast
• Join FIT CLUB, my monthly membership with workouts you can do at home or the gym
• PRIVATE COACHING is my 1:1 program (choose 3 or 6 month option)
• Connect with me on Instagram @kristycastillofit and @unfuckyourfitnesspodcast so we can keep this conversation going-be sure to tag me in your posts and stories!
• Join my FREE Facebook group, Unf*ck Your Fitness
• Click HERE for my favorite fitness & life things!

More about the Unf*ck Your Fitness Podcast:

If you've tried all the fad diets and are sick and tired of not achieving your health and fitness goals long-term, you've come to the right place! Welcome to the Unf*ck Your Fitness Podcast with me, Kristy Castillo. I'm here to help you break the annoying diet cycle, gain confidence, and reach your health and fitness goals. 

This podcast will show you how to be proud of the body you have, build the body you want, and enjoy the process along the way. I'll cover topics like how to get the most from your workouts, the importance of feeding your body what it needs, and key mindset shifts that will empower you. I've broken through the BS surrounding diet culture and built my dream body, all while being a busy wife, Mom and business owner, and I know you can too!

Connect with me on Instagram at @kristycastillofit

Learn more about working together by visiting my website: https://www.kristycastillo.com/