Finding my maintenance balance

fiftysixkilogal

I'm 62 and I've been maintaining at 55-57kg without serious calorie counting for 9 years , have been on numerous plans and always exercised. I think my metabolism has been 'damaged', as I have a devil of a time even losing a pound these days. A small weight gain will see me hunting a new plan or exercise. Last December I took up strength training (hand weights) and 9 mths later I've added muscle (though it's still weight in my books).
I have been low carbing, but and now I want to develop a more balanced food plan and incorporate suitable exercise to maintain it. I have even given thought to dumping the strength training as it's stopping weight loss. Sadly, I'm a perfectionist and scale- obsessed. (I also have a body analyser scale and record subtle changes on a monthly basis).
I am adding 100 cals /week, cutting fats and adding more carbs. My macronutrients goal is 20% of calories from fats, 40% from carbs and 40% from protein and increasing calories by 100 per week to hopefully reach 1450 cals , my maintenance recommended goal. This week my ration is 1140 cals and next week it will be 100 more.
I've also given thought to increasing exercise, but I'm not sure this would help/hinder.

Any comments on this strategy would be greatly appreciated.
PS I've been static on the scale for 6 days straight - 57.1 kg. I clipped 56.2 once in September, so I suspect this could be muscle inflammation.

ahoy_m8

A small weight gain will see me hunting a new plan or exercise.

What, exactly, is the goal you hope to attain with the plan you are contemplating? If the weight you have been maintaining for 9 years is the weight you desire, then it sounds like what you are doing is working, small fluctuations notwithstanding.

Are you having more difficulty maintaining than you did in the past? I am slightly younger than you, but I did notice greater difficulty maintaining last year. The solution for me was increasing my tracking accuracy. Bought a scale. Started weighing everything. Many people say (and I agree), the lower your BF%, the greater accuracy required to create a deficit or to maintain. I think the same applies to aging. My metabolism has not slowed down, I discovered, but I have. Protecting my skeleton has led to substituting other exercise for running, and when I do run, I'm slower. Don't travel for work anymore, so I move less during the day. Doctor nagged me to start lifting for years, and I finally did, and my definition might be the best it's been since college.

fiftysixkilogal

Thanks for your input. I'm wanting to up my carbs, find a happy balance and stay in my current weight range. I am enjoying the tracking and recording in this quest.