If you’ve ever tried to drop weight fast only to gain it back during the holidays, you’re not alone. But according to Amanda, a 30+ fat loss coach who’s helped hundreds of women transform their bodies sustainably, there is a way to lose up to 15 pounds before Christmas—without crash diets, endless cardio, or cutting out your favorite foods.
In a viral TikTok, Amanda shared the step-by-step strategy she gives all her clients to lose weight for the last time. “I don’t do temporary weight loss,” she said. “I do weight loss for the last time.” Here’s how her method works—and why it’s all about sustainability, not restriction.
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Step 1: Track What You’re Actually Eating
Amanda’s first step is all about honesty. For seven days, she tells clients to track everything they eat using an app like MyFitnessPal or Lose It—without changing a single habit. “You’re not trying to ‘clean it up,’” she said. “You’re just getting real with yourself about how much you’re actually eating.”
She recommends overestimating portions (“log two servings if you think it’s one”) and, ideally, weighing food with a scale. This week of awareness often shocks people into realizing they’ve been eating far more calories than they thought.
Step 2: Eat at Maintenance for Two Weeks
Instead of jumping straight into a calorie deficit, Amanda’s method includes a two-week “maintenance phase.” During this time, she says to eat the number of calories your body currently needs to maintain weight (you can use a TDEE calculator to find this).
Why? “This helps you practice consistency, track accurately, and build a structure before cutting calories,” she explained. “Skipping this step makes your deficit unpredictable—and that’s when people fail.”
During this phase, Amanda also encourages building better food habits, like eating regular meals instead of snacking all day, and identifying triggers—such as late-night overeating—so they can be addressed before the deficit begins.
Step 3: Create a 500-Calorie Deficit
Once your foundation is set, it’s time to turn up the fat-loss dial. Amanda advises reducing your daily calories by about 500 from your maintenance level.
“This is enough to see consistent results without feeling miserable,” she said. The key? Consistency—about 80% of the time. “You’re not going to be perfect,” she said.
“There will be days you mess up, and that’s okay. What matters is getting back on track.” This deficit should last around 12–16 weeks, taking you through the fall and right up to early December—just in time for the holidays.
Step 4: Reverse Into Maintenance for the Holidays
Most people end their diet after the deficit—and that’s where Amanda says they go wrong. “You can’t just stop and expect your body to maintain,” she explained. “You need to practice eating at maintenance again.”
After losing 15 pounds, your new body requires fewer calories to sustain itself. Amanda uses the holiday season to help clients practice maintenance and intuitive eating—gradually increasing calories and learning to enjoy food mindfully without regaining weight.
“You’ll go into Christmas confident, in control, and able to actually enjoy yourself,” she said. “That’s the difference between a diet and a lifestyle.”
The Bottom Line
Amanda’s approach flips the traditional “quick-fix” weight loss mentality on its head. Instead of starving yourself, she emphasizes awareness, structure, and balance—all while allowing space for real life.
“Weight loss doesn’t have to be extreme,” she said. “You just have to follow the right steps, in the right order—and stay consistent.”
So if your goal is to feel lighter, stronger, and more in control by Christmas, Amanda’s message is simple: slow down, plan ahead, and do it right—so you never have to do it again.