Recomp or continue deficit?

rainingribbons

Hey guys! I'm currently running the bodyweight version of Strong Curves and am nearing my goal weight, about 2-3 pounds away. Unfortunately I'm at quite a bit higher percentage of fat than muscle. Since I'm only doing bodyweight exercises at the moment should I continue eating at a deficit when I reach goal to lose the fat? I'm afraid if I switch to maintenance when I reach goal my body composition will pretty much stay where it's at since at the moment I'm not using weights in my workouts.

sardelsa

What are your stats? Do you have an idea of your current bodyfat %? If you are a good weight for your height or on the lower end, but your bodyfat is still higher, then recomp could work well for you. If you are on the higher end you could probably still lose some more with a small deficit which would be fine too. So it's really up to you.

As long as you are progressing over time, you can change your body composition. Strong Curves has a great bodyweight program, but you can always add more reps, add bands, a milk jug or dumbbell weights if you have, you can do single leg work etc to add more resistance and progress once you go through the program.

rainingribbons

Thanks Sardelsa! I'm between 5'10 and 5'11 and about 143 pounds currently, which is in a healthy range for me. Bodyfat I think 26-27% but I have no idea, I've tried guessimating from charts online but many of the charts are different. I'll include a recent image below incase you have a better guess at it than I do. At the moment I'm visiting my SO a few states away, but when I get back home next week I'll probably start incorporating a few of the plates I have there instead of milk jugs I have been using in the meantime. Didn't think of the bands though, so I'll look into getting some because those will be useful when im getting to the main program in a few months (moving a few states away soon for work, so that's why I'm currently running bodyweight instead of getting to an actual gym). If I start incorporating cardio (I plan to start the c25k on my off days once I get home next week) will that help with the recomp if I'm eating at maintenance? Thanks so much for all your feedback!

Here's a recent image (fat is mostly at midsection and thighs):

sardelsa

You look fairly slim already, and if you keep losing I don't think you will get the results you desire. I would definitely think about recomping.. you are in a great position to do it, and with Strong Curves on your side it will do wonders!

Cardio is fine as long as it doesn't affect your training, also make sure you are fueling it so that you continue to maintain and not lose.

rainingribbons

I think the reason I've been so concerned about changing from a deficit to maintenance is just due to only running the bodyweight program currently. I guess I've just been in the mindset that it's not going to do as much as the normal program, even with adding in the few extra weights I've been using (jugs for arm/back movements, legit sat my boyfriend's cat on my lap as a weight for glute bridges). Thanks for the feedback!