Keeping my shape but losing body fat?

missuswells

My goal is not to really reduce the number on the scale, but to feel more energetic, reduce my risk for health problems, and be all around healthier.

I like my shape and truthfully, I don't want to lose it! I'm 5'4" about 150 lbs and pear-shaped/apple-shaped. I like just about everything about my body. I'd like a little toning and muscle definition but I don't mind a "softer" shape.

My concern is my stomach. As I am creeping further into my 20s, it is expanding! I always look a few months pregnant. I'm always a little bloated as well. but if it were flatter, I'd stop looking so apple-shaped and I think I'd enjoy my shape more.

So, I'm thinking I'd like to focus on a body fat goal rather than a weight number goal...right now I'm at about 27% body fat. What would be a healthy range that still leaves me that soft look, for lack of a better phrase? What can I do to improve my health, reduce my belly bloat, but not look totally ripped? I love the ripped look on many women! For myself however, I'm thinking more Scarlett Johansen and less Jennifer Garner, as an example.

Thank you guys so much!

Helloitsdan

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

To recomp you need a cyclical dieting approach.
So using the info from my Road Map you would need TDEE.
Then on lifting days youll eat 20% above TDEE no more than 3x a week.
On rest days youll eat 20% below TDEE for fat loss.

Lift days are fed with high carbs in a starchy form and mostly post workout.
Rest days are green leafy carbs and higher fats for feeding hormones.

This keeps leptin relatively high so your body can lose the fat while gaining a teensy tiny bit of lean mass.

Ideally youd want to have a gym membership and access to heavy weights or some type of high intensity class.

Read up on this here: http://rippedbody.jp and www.leangains.com
You dont have to intermittent fast for this to work but you can if you want.