Lowering intake slowly?

I’ve been struggling with staying in a consistent calorie deficit, especially because I’m short, which means my deficit needs to be very low to see any kind of results. It can feel really tough to maintain such a strict number without feeling deprived or overly hungry all the time. I’m wondering if it would be helpful to lower my intake more slowly over time.

For example, could starting off at maintenance calories and then gradually cutting down over a few weeks be a good way to ease into a deficit without feeling so restricted? Maybe it could help my body adjust to the lower intake more smoothly, while possibly reducing my hunger levels? I’m really curious if anyone else has tried a similar approach to weight loss and found it to be effective. Does a gradual cut seem like a strategy that could work long-term for losing weight, especially without feeling too deprived?

Also, since I’m shorter, would it be reasonable to eat around 1000 calories a day? I’ve come across so many mixed opinions online about whether it’s okay or safe for someone my height to eat that little. I’ve seen some people say it’s fine as long as you’re careful, while others have strongly warned against going too low in calories, citing concerns about nutrition and metabolic slowdown. I want to make sure I’m not harming my health while trying to reach my goals, so if anyone has experience or advice on this, I would love to hear how it worked for you!

Tldr; Has lowering your calorie intake over time helped reduce your hunger and improve your ability to stick to a deficit in a sustainable way?