Unsure What To Do Now

gnrduff1

I've had a long journey starting at 225 in 2010 and getting down to 158 by 2013 thanks to myfitnesspal. Slow and steady won that race for me. However, the diet and exercise regimen I was on to get down to that was not sustainable for me. I started doing resistance training in 2012 and feel like I've developed a good amount of muscle. According to my bathroom scale right now, I weight 175 at 25.2% body fat.

I would like my "final" weight to be around what I am now because this weight seems sustainable without me feeling like I'm starving and without me killing myself with cardio. I would like to get to around 15-16% body fat, which I don't feel is unrealistic. I was feeling like I should cut down to a lower weight (maybe 150) and "bulk" back up to this weight in a slow, clean manner, but I don't feel like I have the willpower to even get back down to 160. I was trying to sustain a 1800 cal/day diet, but it feels like every few days I go off the rails.

A friend at work said maybe I need to up my intake to 2150 to let my body's metabolism speed back up a little bit. I'm just lost at this point and feel like I'm in a fitness purgatory. Any advice as to where to go now in order to achieve my goal of my current weight and 15% body fat would be great, thanks!

gnrduff1

I'd like to add that my current routine is the Power Muscle Burn 4 day split. I'm not doing any extra cardio right now. I feel like adding cardio to the amount of time I spend lifting currently would be borderline selfish, since my wife stays home with the baby while I lift for an hour 4 times a week. Add in travel time and I have a hard time finding it in my conscience to stay out of the house any longer

usmcmp

Ignore what the scale says about your body fat percentage (because they are notoriously inaccurate), focus on how you feel about your body and what you see in the mirror.

If 1800 calories isn't sustainable then raise your calories to something you can maintain.

queenliz99

This thread may have what you need, best wishes!

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p1

gnrduff1

I've been trying to ignore the scale. I have a saggy stomach, and maybe if I hadn't started at 226, it wouldn't be such a source of irritation. The mirror makes me angry when I can see below my sternum. The bathroom mirror I like lol. I will read the recomp thread and apply it to what I'm doing now. Thanks, guys!