Recomp vs. Maintenance

laurenbastug

Hey Everyone,

Sorry if this is a dumb question - but is there a difference between recomp and maintenance?

My initial thought was that recomp was a bit more intentional in terms of nutrition/macros and exercise plan while maintenance was a more relaxed approach, focusing on keeping an eye on consistent calorie in take (still keeping a healthy protein intake to maintain muscle composition).

jjpptt2

That's a fair way of looking at it in gerneral... but for some, "more relaxed approach" may not be accurate. For some, maintenance is just as intentional and focused as anything else would be.

When people talk about maintainenance, I view it as exactly that - maintaining. Recomp is, to me, more about continued improvement, but not measured by the number on the scale.

TavistockToad

IMO maintenance is simply maintaining your weight.

recomp is the deliberate recomposition of your body, reducing fat and gaining muscle.

if you're a lifter and take notice of your macros then maintenance may lead to recomp without trying, but your every day dieter probably wouldn't.

laurenbastug

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

jjpptt2

laurenbastug wrote: »

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

To me, it's mostly a matter of goals. If you're trying to maintain your current status, then I'd say you're maintaining (in maintenance). If you're trying to improve body composition with no/minimal scale weight goals, then you're recomping.

cwolfman13

laurenbastug wrote: »

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

While some people view recomp as a deliberate act, I've always viewed it as what naturally happens when you're working out regularly and eating well...ie getting in shape. When you workout regularly, your body is going to change...it doesn't have to be some deliberate thing.

sijomial

laurenbastug wrote: »

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

Recomp can be a particular goal (a certain bodyfat percentage, attain a specific look etc...) but for me it's just a byproduct of my training.
I have strength, speed, distance, fitness etc. goals and as a result of hitting those my body composition has improved.

I never sought to get particularly lean, it just doesn't inspire me to make the sacrifices required. Maybe a generational thing? I would always choose bigger and stronger over smaller and leaner.

When I added some muscle and lost some fat I actually bucked the modern trend a bit by letting my weight drift up to compensate as I started to feel too hungry and seemed to lose training energy.
Probably a psychosomatic way to justify eating more!

psychod787

sijomial wrote: »

laurenbastug wrote: »

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

Recomp can be a particular goal (a certain bodyfat percentage, attain a specific look etc...) but for me it's just a byproduct of my training.
I have strength, speed, distance, fitness etc. goals and as a result of hitting those my body composition has improved.

I never sought to get particularly lean, it just doesn't inspire me to make the sacrifices required. Maybe a generational thing? I would always choose bigger and stronger over smaller and leaner.

When I added some muscle and lost some fat I actually bucked the modern trend a bit by letting my weight drift up to compensate as I started to feel too hungry and seemed to lose training energy.
Probably a psychosomatic way to justify eating more!

Low body fat will do that to you. I have the same problem, and am slllooowly trying to let mine increase about 12 lbs over the next 18 months if I can control it properly.

hesn92

They are similar but not the same. You have to be in maintenance to recomp but you don’t have to recomp to be in maintenance lol.

rainbow198

When I re-comped I was happy with my weight and the way I looked in clothes, but I wanted to lose a bit more body fat so I could improve the way I looked out of clothes. I didn't want to get too lean however.

It took some time, but I ended up losing another dress size and inches here and there, but I stayed near the same weight.

Once I achieved my goal, I maintain a balance of not gaining or losing weight and still staying on my plan (daily exercise/movement, watching what I eat etc.)

Basically being happy with my body composition and the way I look and wanting to stay where I am.

laurenbastug

Thanks everyone for your input

CarvedTones

laurenbastug wrote: »

@jjpptt2 @TavistockToad thank you both!

I do plan on continuing to keep up with my lifting (progressive overload) as I transition into maintenance as well as watching my macros, so I was kind of curious if doing so would fall under the "recomp without trying"

I got some minor "recomp without trying" from substantially increasing how much/fast I walk. I lost another belt hole (inch)and maybe 2 pounds (not enough to account for the inch) during my first month or so of maintenance and my legs are in better shape. I am at about 6 weeks of maintenance now.