I decided to track two things this month and ignore everything else: protein grams and whether I actually got under the bar four times that week. Sunday nights I write a couple lines — how the top set felt, how I slept, whether hunger was loud or quiet.
Thirty days later: my squat top set went from a grindy 3 to a clean 4 at the same weight. Bodyweight is down about 2.5 lbs, which I half-trust since my weigh-in timing is sloppy. Waist tape is down half an inch, and that I believe.
The surprise was sleep. Two nights under 6 hours and my appetite the next day was a completely different animal — no bargaining, no willpower, just hunger with a megaphone. That's the lever I'm watching now instead of the number.
No shortcuts in the picture for me right now, just heavy things and a lot of chicken. If strength holds and the tape creeps down, I'll take that trade every month.
Anyone else find their hunger tracks sleep way harder than it tracks food choices?