when to quit eating at a deficit

theredcliche

Ok, so I'm in week 7 of Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. I lost about 10 pounds on this program and I don't really have a set amount left to lose. I just want to tone, get rid of a little fat I have left, and gain muscle. I have flab around the stomach and love handles so I'm still eating at a deficit on the last 6 weeks of this program. She suggests a 1200 calorie meal plan but that just DID NOT work for me. I've upped my calories to TDEE - 20% (which is 1800, with my net caloric intake being around 1520ish) in hopes to lose the last few lbs + be able to build or at least maintain the muscle I have. In her program, I'm doing circuits with 8-12 lb weights so I'm definitely stronger than I was before beginning. After I finish this program, I want to do stronglifts or some strength training (but would prefer to NOT use a gym and I have a small at-home gym set). My question is if I'm going to build muscle, how hard is it to lose that annoying fat at the same time? Do I need to be eating at a deficit because I have that annoying fat still hanging around? Any advice please?

amysj303

I am not sure. I think when you are relatively thin it is very hard to build muscle and lose fat. some people say it cannot happen. There is a thread by Steve Troutman (stroutman) and he likens it to driving while pushing on the gas and the brakes at the same time. One or the other suffers and you cannot really do both. You have to eat over maintenance to build muscle in most cases, that is why most female lifters cycle through phases of bulking and leaning because you have to gain a little fat with the muscle, and then try to preserve the muscle while losing the fat. But this is the science side of things I have not tried...

amysj303

here's the thread I was talking about:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/113609-relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner?