I’m 18m currently weighing 303 pounds and 5’9.
I’ve got a few questions.
As a bigger dude myself I am 34 and started at 324lbs just about a month ago, I am now 299. I went hardcore off the bat because it’s kind of my personality to do the extreme and I am doing OMAD So 1 meal a day. I don’t eat any fast food or junk or drink any pop or soda etc. I drink black coffee maybe 2 a day and just crush water. I’ve not felt any hunger or pains at all and I dropped near 30 pounds in a month.
At over three bills you shouldn’t have to count calories for a good while. If you can go keto you can eat however much you want. Just not going crazy with carbs you should still do well till 250#. Everyone is different. If you get stuck then fast longer or eat less/zero carbs. Take the easy road while you can. Easy to burn out.
#1 The time you fast makes all the difference. It is where the ‘magic’ happens.
#2 There seems to be two ‘camps’ in regard to calories.
#3 Running too low on electrolytes (salts).
The exact time of your window doesn’t make a difference, but you should try to keep it consistent every day so your body gets into a schedule. Aim for at least a 14 hour fasting window every day. I personally do 16-8 and eat every day from 8 am - 4 pm.
Personally I aim for around 2k calories a day or under. My BMR is around 2200, I burn around 1300+ a day. This creates a daily calorie deficit of around 1500 calories per day, which ends up being around 3 pounds of loss per week.
Avoid putting too much emphasis on daily scale results. Look at a weekly average, or weigh in 2x a week or less. Weight can fluctuate dramatically from day to day. I personally find putting too much emphasis on what the scale says every day, can lead to disappointment. If you practice consistent IF + calorie tracking + exercise 3-4x or more every week, the scale will move over time. Trust the process.