In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how I've successfully completed two intentional cut phases, one in 2023 and another in 2025, with great results. I rarely miss my macro targets, and today I'm walking you through my entire process. From my Sunday planning routine to how I handle dinners and diet breaks, I'm sharing the specific strategies that have allowed me to stay consistent, avoid burnout, and see real progress without dropping my calories too low. If you've ever wondered how to actually nail your macros during a cut (not just understand the theory but execute it day after day), this episode is for you. Plus, I'm sharing why I rarely ever eat out during a cut, how I use my food scale strategically, and the one tool that's more accurate than MyFitnessPal. Whether you're planning your first cut or looking to improve your current approach, these practical tips will help you stay on track without feeling miserable.

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In this episode, I'm sharing the 11 lessons I learned from my 11-week cut where I lost 8 pounds and kept 6-7 off.

New nutrition coaching offer: WAITLIST

MY WEBSITE

BLOG POST for this episode.

IG Post (nutrient dense vs calorie dense examples): HERE

My "DEFICIT" highlight on IG: HERE

What You'll Learn:
- Why hunger is actually a sign you're doing it right (and how to work with it, not against it)
- The meal timing strategy that prevents white-knuckling your way through the day
- How to be in a REAL deficit vs. a mystical one (this is where most people fail)
- The simple My Fitness Pal hack that eliminates daily meal planning
- Why the scale will lie to you, and how to zoom out for real progress
- What your body is actually doing during your first scale dip (hint: it's not fat loss yet)
- The truth about tracking bites, licks, and tastes

If you've been spinning your wheels trying to lose those last few (or several) pounds, this episode will give you the roadmap.

Referenced in this episode:
Episode 8: Your 5-Step Roadmap to Lose 10-15 lbs by Summer
Episode 7: The Sunday Setup - Your 8-Step Checklist for a Winning Week

Erik and I are pulling back the curtain on exactly how we manage our family budget - with screenshots! We use a zero-based budgeting system through the EveryDollar app, and today I'm walking you through all 6 steps, from giving and savings to sinking funds and spending categories.

But first, I'm sharing a very personal story about the budget panic I experienced just weeks after having Vance - and how sitting down with the actual numbers turned my fear into peace.

In this episode we cover:

My postpartum budget panic and what snapped me out of it

Why we budget giving and savings FIRST

The 6 steps of our zero-based budgeting system

How the EveryDollar app works and why we love it ($79.99/year)

Sinking funds - most people ignore this part (big mistake)

The true cost of car payments (and what that $532 / month *could become)

Why this system brings peace, not restriction

LINKS:

EveryDollar App (free first month + $10 off): CLICK HERE

BLOG POST with screenshots of our exact budget categories: karleekuykendall.com

MY WORKOUT SUBSCRIPTION: HERE

One podcast episode / month will be posted on Youtube: HERE