Hey,
I'm a 20 year old male. Each time I am in a deficit I always feel bad. I don't know if you could call it depressed, but I find when I eat maintenance to perform better at tasks,more motivated. It could also be in my head. I believe it might be the lack of macronutrients,if you're in a deficit you'll always have to leave out 'nutrients', well you'll stay be able to retain your vitamines, if you eat at the minimum amount of calories allowed, but no matter what, you always have to eat less (maybe causing sort of 'withdrawal' of food as you're body is used to eat at maintenance). For example I perform better at the gym when eating at maintenance, or I'm able to concentrate better if my blood sugar is stable,etc
It might be something in my head which I know it might be that. I also could be depressed too no matter if I eat in a deficit or not or other things could be the culprit (blood sugar,just stress,dehydration,boredom,etc)
Someone who has the same issue? Well given the fact that I'm 6'1" and weights about 160 lbs which means I have not much muscle and bodyfat of 18%, I am basically at a healthy bmi. I try to do body recomposition (eat in a slight deficit and go to the gym 2-3 times a week) and learning down to 10-12% bodyfat and build muscle.
Some might say it's better to bulk, well I might agree given the fact that I have no muscle, but I don't know I'd handle the higher bodyfat (I'm already at 18 haha, if I was about 10% I could see me bulk to 15%, but 18% sounds too much). Idk I have to have my bodyfat less too hahah.
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