Perhaps a dumb question.

ashliedelgado

With regard to recomp, it is something I planned to do once I hit my goal - which is currently set at the top of my healthy BMI. I've read a lot what you shouldn't recomp until you're at a certain body fat percentage.

My question is why? Right now I'm about 50lbs from goal. I'm doing body weight exercises, not lifting at this point, but I was just curious what the thought process is there.

Thanks!

RodaRose

Lifting now is better than starting later.

lorrpb

You won't "recomp" per se, because by definition you recomp when you're at your weight goal. But you definitely should do strength training to retain muscle mass and look better when you do reach your weight goal.

AnnPT77

Generally, you can't recomp while in a significant calorie deficit because (1) other than perhaps a few narrowly-defined cases, you can't add significant muscle mass (*) while in a significant calorie deficit (bodies don't mostly work that way), therefore (2) the very definition of 'recomp' is adding muscle mass while staying at a near-constant weight and losing fat slowly, and while eating close to maintenance calories.

* None of this means you can't strengthen and improve the appearance of your existing muscle tissue while in a (non-crazy) calorie deficit. You absolutely can.

Even in a deficit, you can improve things like recruitment and efficiency of your muscles to get stronger (maybe materially stronger, especislly if new to strength training) and look better. Strength training also helps avoid losing muscle tissue while losing fat (your bodyweight strength training may already be helping do this.)

If you're planning to start strength training, there's no reason to delay doing that, and lots of reasons to start sooner. Be aware that you could see a little water weight gain when you start (for muscle repair) that might masquerade as a weight loss stall temporarily, until ongoing fat loss outpaces the new water weight.

nowine4me

Lift now to preserve muscle, recomp later when you're within spitting distance of your goal.

Chef_Barbell

Lift now. I'd rather lose slow as molasses and keep most of my muscle, than lose fast and lose my muscle by not lifting.

Seffell

Because it will be too slow (recomp is a very inefficient way to lose fat) If you're around, say 27% fat, then it will take you more than several years to get that down.

So once you get to a low % by cutting (a very efficient way to lose fat) you can start recomping. Or start bulk-cut cycles.
I prefer the later as it is more efficient.

Edit: this is the answer to why to recomp later and not sooner. I'm not saying you should not be lifting while cutting. Of course you should. The point is you need to cut first.

AliceDark

I'm a little bit confused by your question, and I think it may be because of the terminology. When you say "recomp," what does that mean to you?

My understanding is that a recomp is when you're not in a losing or gaining phase, but you're also doing things (like resistance training) to try to change your body composition. Are you asking whether you should be lifting while you're also in a deficit, or are you asking if it's okay to take a break from losing even if you're not at your goal body fat percentage? Either way, you should lift now