Please explain Recomp

jlscherme

Here’s the short version, sorry if it’s been asked before, I didn’t find the answer I needed by searching MFP:

I fell into a deep, deep depression last year and lost 26 lbs practically overnight by not eating enough. That said I lost so much muscle mass that it was tiring to go up a flight of stairs or walk from the house to the car. Now that I’m feeling better I’ve gained 10 lbs back all total, which I’m surprisingly okay with. Since then I’ve worked up to exercising at least 30 minutes every day, sometimes up to an hour a day however its mostly cardio with some bodyweight workouts thrown in.

I can’t seem to eat the calorie goal I’m given on MFP. 35/F, 5’11’’, 177 lbs. It’s set at 1931 cal for a 0.5 lb/week weight loss. I’m usually eating between 2100-2300. My exercise calories are 300-500 a day. I’m guess I’m eating them all back and then some. I am seeing some changes to my body like my butt looks higher and better. But my clothes still fit the same. I weigh everything I eat, however I recognize that I drink too much of my calories. Had a recent 3 lb gain practically overnight but I’m thinking it’s due to the time of the month. I get hungry so instead of depriving myself I eat because I couldn’t eat when I was depressed.

So I guess my question is am I in re-comp? I’m not even sure what that is. Could someone explain.

tinkerbellang83

Re-comping is eating around maintenance, sometimes in a small deficit, sometimes in a small surplus and aiming to lose fat and gain muscle (adjusting your body composition).

Female weight can fluctuate up to around 5lb (sometimes more) with water retention. How long have you been at this? Sometimes you may not see the scale budge much for a couple of weeks, particularly with such a low weight loss rate.

If it's been more than 6 weeks - How are you calculating your calorie burns? It may just be that you're overestimating the burns and as such eating more than your think and actually eating to Maintenance. Also what activity level are you set as in MFP - is it accurately describing your work/home life activity level.