Looking for advice on what to do next

bathsheba_c

Hi everyone. I joined MFP a few months ago with two goals: 1) to become fitter and stronger, and 2) to lose the 20-25 lbs I gained over the course of three years.

Right now, I am 7 lbs above my weight before I stated gaining, and 12 lbs above my minimum desired weight. As a result, I am starting to think about questions like whether I should be slowing down my weight loss, or even eating at maintenance and focusing on building muscle (admission: I don't really know anything about body re-composition). My current exercise regime is martial arts twice a week, and I am about to move next to a park with outdoor exercise equipment.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to approach the finish line, where "finish line" is defined as "in good physical condition and successfully incorporating the changes it takes to stay there"?

MTBrob

My approach is go a pound or two under your body weight goal and then build muscle mass ( aka weight in muscle ) back over your goal..

SO get below your goal by a pound or right at your goal.. Start to weight train with less cardio eat at or above maintenance and then when you hit a desired weight in muscle start to eat at a deficit again add cardio into your weight training and that will give you a lot of good muscle tone to the muscles you just built.

bathsheba_c

bump?

AlphamaleBAMF

SO get below your goal by a pound or right at your goal.. Start to weight train with less cardio eat at or above maintenance and then when you hit a desired weight in muscle start to eat at a deficit again add cardio into your weight training and that will give you a lot of good muscle tone to the muscles you just built.

What this guy said.

You should start trying to build muscle while still doing some cardio so you can improve your looks and health and fitness even further. Getting skinny really isn't that great if you're skinnyfat. The best looking women aren't just skinny, they're toned. Girl muscles rock.