Where do I go from here?

firef1y72

So when I started this lark I was 289.5lb with a bmi of 56. 20 months on and I'm now 162lb and have just moved in to the overweight category with a bmi of 29.5. I'm well aware that I'm still overweight, I've got another 20lb to lose to get to "healthy", but I'm also aware that I'm going to have to change my mindset around food (I'm a aspie and can be a little obsessive).

I'm extremely active (20000+ steps/day), enjoy running and lifting along with the buzz from some pretty high intensity classes, so while eating at a deficit I do try and make sure I eat enough to fuel my lifestyle.

My question now is do I start transitioning in to maintenance (with maybe a tiny deficit) and then attempt recomping, or do I continue losing at 1lb/week for the rest of the year and then start bulk/cut cycles? One thing I don't want is to lose muscle, I've worked hard to build what I've got and rather like my squatters legs.

middlehaitch

Keep going for another few lbs at 1lbs a week then when you get to 10-15 lbs from your goal switch to .5 lbs a week.

Keep exercising as you have been as you lose the last of your weight.

Once you reach your goal switch into maintenance (exercising as usual) and take a couple of months to establish your calories to maintain a weight range of 5-10 lbs around your ideal.

When you have a stable calorie level start recomping. I think you will prefer doing this rather than going into bulk and cut cycles even if you decide you want to B&C 6month down the road.

You have done an awesome job

Cheers, h.

TavistockToad

have you had a diet break while you've been losing weight?

trying a week at maintenance might be good for you mentally?

other than that, i agree with above, keep your deficit till you're on your last 10lbs and then reduce it. when you get to your goal weight you can then decide whether you bulk then cut again or go for recomp, or just enjoy maintenance for a while.

firef1y72

TavistockToad wrote: »

have you had a diet break while you've been losing weight?

trying a week at maintenance might be good for you mentally?

other than that, i agree with above, keep your deficit till you're on your last 10lbs and then reduce it. when you get to your goal weight you can then decide whether you bulk then cut again or go for recomp, or just enjoy maintenance for a while.

I've been doing 3 months losing then a month of maintenance this year, but I have to admit I do struggle with the maintenance, I end up with around 2500-3000 Calories to eat which after almost 2 years of getting used to eating less can be an issue for my aspie brain.