So for the last five years or so I have been lifting regularly. During the first few years I was not really paying attention to my diet and was kind of unknowingly bulking. I put on quite a bit of muscle during that time and got much thicker.

Then I started focusing on diet more and started tracking macros and cutting. I would eat about 2,000-2,300 calories per day (TDEE is usually around 3,000) and 20% protein, 20% fat, 40% carb diet. I was very strict with this for a year and was able to lose a lot of fat. Got in pretty good shape but still just always felt bigger and bulkier than I’d like.

After holidays and vacations and all that I got out of the strict macro diet and have struggled to get back into it. I was already finding it to be unsustainable for me already. I’m wondering what I should focus on now if my goal is just to be leaner. I don’t care about getting stronger or getting bigger. I’d like to feel skinnier even if it means losing some muscle.

I’ve already changed the way I lift. I don’t really lift heavy anymore and incorporate a lot more exercises than just heavy muscle group lifting.

Obviously I need to decrease my calorie intake. I’m wondering if I should consume less protein. I’ve been doing about 200 grams per day and I feel like I have to eat so much protein that it’s hard to hit my calorie goals. If I wasn’t drinking a big ol protein shake or two I would save about 500 calories per day.

What should I be doing? Continue to lift regularly and consume average amounts of protein and limit calories? Would that be beneficial or should I keep eating a ton of protein like I have been?