More or less?

LibbyLong45

working out towards my shredded body. Confused on if I should be eating light and healthy to cut down my body fat? Or be eating more to gain muscle?

HutchA12

If you want answers to questions like this you need to provide height and weight stats. Also what kind of exercise are you currently doing? Do you know your body fat %? What do you mean by shredded body? Just ready for summer or full muscle building? Answer some of this and people can help you bit I'm going to assume you want a muscle body.

Cut yo good weight low bf% then bulk up lift heavy then cut back down repeat for few years.

LibbyLong45

Actually that answered my question perfect. I'm 110lbs 5 foot 6 inches. I am active and I am lifting weights. I have approx 20% body fat I'd like to cut down to 12-14%

LibbyLong45

.

erinc5

110 and 5'6. Definitely eat more. You are technically underweight. What you probably want to do is eat heavy while you lift heavy. At your height and weight - probably somewhere in the 2200-2500 range, perhaps even a bit more. You will gain muscle and also some fat as well. Then, after gaining some weight and muscle for a few months, do a cut (while continuing to lift) to lose fat. See what you look like after the cut and rinse and repeat until you are happy.

Talan79

How was your body fat measured? 110lbs at your height is a very low weight.

LibbyLong45

I measured my hips waist wrist and forearm

Talan79

I wouldn't go by that...not an accurate way to measure body fat. You probably are much lower than 20%, bc of your weight and height.
But I would say eat slightly above maintenance and lift. Lifting can help change your body composition. 2000+ at your weight may be too much tho. A slower bulk will eliminate fat gains.

LibbyLong45

I'm weight training now. But for food and nutrition do I need to completely cut out processed food? Like ice cream, mac & cheese, etc. I ask because I have a really hard time eating 2,000 calories.

Talan79

Also, is there a reason you are wanting 12-14%? That's very hard to maintain year round. Even female bikini competitors don't maintain that low level year round.

arditarose

LibbyLong45 wrote: »

I'm weight training now. But for food and nutrition do I need to completely cut out processed food? Like ice cream, mac & cheese, etc. I ask because I have a really hard time eating 2,000 calories.

No. Hit your micros and macros, you have room for discretionary calories to use on calorie dense foods to get you to goal.

Talan79 wrote: »

Also, is there a reason you are wanting 12-14%? That's very hard to maintain year round. Even female bikini competitors don't maintain that low level year round.

And I'm wondering this too.

LibbyLong45

I just want to get into the best shape I can! I'll be happy if I get into the teens. I definitely just want to see more muscles and tone.

Talan79

I've seen bikini competitors follow iiyfm, flexible dieting. It's eating what you want as long as it fits your macros. Look up Amanda Bucci on Instagram. She is also 5"2. She is on MFP and her diary is open. She looks incredible and eats what she wants, as long as it hits her macros.

arditarose

So lift and eat. What program are you doing?

LibbyLong45

No specific program

arditarose

LibbyLong45 wrote: »

No specific program

So lift, using a specific program and eat.