Not Sure What Goal Should Be

RubyRunner14

I posted this in the weight loss/ general help forum and was asked to post it here for "better information" and such.

"Good morning, folks. I've been walking around MFP and reading articles and discussions for a long while now, but I figured now that I'd love to join in on the fun. I have read the stickies, including the "Newbies Read Me" and various other important posts.

Long story short, I have been dragging along my fitness journey for about 13 months. My goal was to lose 20lbs of fat. I started at 141 and right now I'm at 125.

I started last June, swimming 30 - 60 mins a day 5-6x a week. I was severely uneducated and ate about 700 calories a day. (I did BMR - 500 cals, not TDEE - 500 cals... TDEE wasn't even in my vocab until very recently, actually.) I lost 1 -2 lbs a week, of course a lot was muscle lost.

From Sept - Nov I ate to maintain due to marching band. October was a BAD month for me, I ate what I'd consider my maintenance calories. During that three month period I ate maintenance calories but weight loss was always on my mind.

In December I began running and improved pretty well at 1500 cals a day intake. Jan I was eating 1700 cals intake, and by May my intake was about 1900 intake.

Today, I currently eat about 2000 - 2300 a day (maintenance). I am very strict about my food, I eat clean (I eat store-bought protein bars but this is just temporary), track macros and cals by hand, and stray from my diet once a month at most, typically by social pressure. I lift 3x a week and run 3x a week, one day rest. I did Jillian Michaels/Insanity for a week or so in exchange for running, I like the programs but I prefer lifting and running... I have no issue going back to those instead of one or two running sessions, though. I am currently goaled towards muscle gain (unless I should not be), but it will take a while. I can feel my abs under my fat... they are nice and defined and perky, but there's the fat there, of course.

My problem, I'm sure you can tell, is that the fat hasn't disappeared! I still have fat on my belly, lower and upper back, and armpits (armpit fat is genetic but I'd figure I'd try anyways). I have tried a calorie deficit... doesn't do much, maybe even makes it worse.

I have band camp starting Friday, I'll be marching w/drum from 9-9 for about 12 days in the summer heat. Not sure if I can take advantage somehow of all the activity, maybe add a deficit to help the fat go.

I apologize for the "beefiness" of the post. Thanks for all your help, folks."

cwolfman13

maintenance and lift (I'd recommend reps in the 8-12 range to work on your physique)...it is a very slow process but you will gradually shed the excess fat and build a bit of muscle. The only other alternative is to continue to reduce BF and then eat at a surplus to put muscle on (along with some more fat) and then cut again.

Personally, I think people can benefit greatly at your stage of the game just eating maintenance and really focusing in on lifting, overall health, and nutrition...make sure you're really pushing it and you're progressive. If you're just lifting the same weight over and over, your body isn't going to have a training response...you need to lift progressively heavier. Just be mindful that fitness and that body you want doesn't happen overnight. This is "detailing"...if you've ever had any "detailing" done, you should know that it is cumbersome and takes time. Patience is a virtue. By time I'm not talking a few weeks or months...I'm talking lift your *kitten* off for 18 months and then for the rest of your life.