Am I essentially in the slowest cut EvAH?
lacurandera1
Posts: 8,083 Member
Disclaimer: I'm cool with what's going on. I just don't know if I UNDERSTAND it, and I would like to. I put my information in the intake question format just because I figured it would be easier to go through that way. I am not looking to change my intake, nor am I unhappy with my results. I just don't get it.
1) What's your current intake of calories gross, on average?
About 2250. Occasionally (like once a month) I fast for 24 hours. It doesn't affect my intake. I still eat just as much on both days surrounding it.
2) What's your current average intake of protein, carbs, and fats, in grams?
100-150, 70-90, 170-220 depending on my calorie intake
3) Do you use a food scale and measure everything?
I measure everything conservatively. Since I don't have a food scale, I try to err on the lower side of said measurement rather than higher.
4) Do you track all of your intake, daily? (Everything?)
Yes
5) Do you take cheat days or days off?
No. My intake is normally pretty close to spot on. I had a day last week when a red velvet poptart put me over and on Valentine's day I ate 1/4 of a totally worth it red velvet cake. Otherwise, I eat what I'm supposed to.
6) How much weight have you lost so far?
24 pounds
7) What is your activity like, both exercise and non-exercise?
Non exercise is pretty sedentary until April- I have a desk job. Exercise is pretty serious. It's a rare day when I do NOTHING. I run and lift each about 3 times a week (sometimes I run more often). I do other cardio interspersed. I do crap like Insanity although am not doing anything like it currently. I go to a Zumba class twice a week.
8) How long have you eaten at your previous amount and what happened in that time frame?
I've been eating like this for at least 5 months, maybe longer. It's been 6 months since the scale has changed except a 5-10 lb fluctuation throughout the month that is just the trend of my body. Which is totally fine. I lost like .25 inches in my thighs a couple months ago, and about an inch in my waist somewhere between 6 and 3 months ago.
Over the past 2 months specifically, I have become noticeably leaner. Like "whoa who is that in the mirror?" leaner in some spots, specifically my stomach. I'm seeing definition between abdominals, I have a (much) better vacuum than I did 2 months ago and my shoulders and arms have changed a lot.
9) What's your height, current weight and if you know it, bodyfat%?
I'm 5'9", 146 and you guys estimated me at 27-28% In early-mid January. I'd guess I'm down at least a point, maybe two since then.
10) If you're stalled, for how long and is it a complete stall (zero change in weight)?
It's been 6 months with no scale change except for 5-10 lb fluctuations that happen through the month.
So I tell myself I'm losing fat. But not weight? Not size? I'm confused. Like, seriously. I know that may come off as stupid but I don't understand how something can be changing but nothing measurable by me is changing. I mean I guess that this is the ideal outcome of a recomp. But I also am no fool and realize that I'm not making muscle gains that counteract my fat losses on the scale.
I base my weight off a monthly weigh in at the same time of the month.
WTF is happening here?!?!?!?!?!?
1) What's your current intake of calories gross, on average?
About 2250. Occasionally (like once a month) I fast for 24 hours. It doesn't affect my intake. I still eat just as much on both days surrounding it.
2) What's your current average intake of protein, carbs, and fats, in grams?
100-150, 70-90, 170-220 depending on my calorie intake
3) Do you use a food scale and measure everything?
I measure everything conservatively. Since I don't have a food scale, I try to err on the lower side of said measurement rather than higher.
4) Do you track all of your intake, daily? (Everything?)
Yes
5) Do you take cheat days or days off?
No. My intake is normally pretty close to spot on. I had a day last week when a red velvet poptart put me over and on Valentine's day I ate 1/4 of a totally worth it red velvet cake. Otherwise, I eat what I'm supposed to.
6) How much weight have you lost so far?
24 pounds
7) What is your activity like, both exercise and non-exercise?
Non exercise is pretty sedentary until April- I have a desk job. Exercise is pretty serious. It's a rare day when I do NOTHING. I run and lift each about 3 times a week (sometimes I run more often). I do other cardio interspersed. I do crap like Insanity although am not doing anything like it currently. I go to a Zumba class twice a week.
8) How long have you eaten at your previous amount and what happened in that time frame?
I've been eating like this for at least 5 months, maybe longer. It's been 6 months since the scale has changed except a 5-10 lb fluctuation throughout the month that is just the trend of my body. Which is totally fine. I lost like .25 inches in my thighs a couple months ago, and about an inch in my waist somewhere between 6 and 3 months ago.
Over the past 2 months specifically, I have become noticeably leaner. Like "whoa who is that in the mirror?" leaner in some spots, specifically my stomach. I'm seeing definition between abdominals, I have a (much) better vacuum than I did 2 months ago and my shoulders and arms have changed a lot.
9) What's your height, current weight and if you know it, bodyfat%?
I'm 5'9", 146 and you guys estimated me at 27-28% In early-mid January. I'd guess I'm down at least a point, maybe two since then.
10) If you're stalled, for how long and is it a complete stall (zero change in weight)?
It's been 6 months with no scale change except for 5-10 lb fluctuations that happen through the month.
So I tell myself I'm losing fat. But not weight? Not size? I'm confused. Like, seriously. I know that may come off as stupid but I don't understand how something can be changing but nothing measurable by me is changing. I mean I guess that this is the ideal outcome of a recomp. But I also am no fool and realize that I'm not making muscle gains that counteract my fat losses on the scale.
I base my weight off a monthly weigh in at the same time of the month.
WTF is happening here?!?!?!?!?!?
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Replies
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Bump...I interested to see the answers.0
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Tagging to respond to later.0
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Hey, do you take progress shots?
A lot of lifting programs recommend you take pics every 6 weeks so you can see progress and not have to worry about the scale and tape measure.
And if you have found the secret to gaining muscle and losing fat at a consistent rate, you be a lucky b!tch. :laugh:
Although I guess you would still lose inches as muscle is denser than fat...
Do you think it might be psychosomatic? By this I mean that perhaps when you were bigger you held the tape measure tighter to make yourself think you were thinner and now you hold it slightly looser and are therefore the same size. Just an idea. Maybe get the bf to measure you?
As always my advice is unofficial and off the top of my head, so if any of this is BS please call me out on it.
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Hey, do you take progress shots?
A lot of lifting programs recommend you take pics every 6 weeks so you can see progress and not have to worry about the scale and tape measure.
And if you have found the secret to gaining muscle and losing fat at a consistent rate, you be a lucky b!tch. :laugh:
Although I guess you would still lose inches as muscle is denser than fat...
Do you think it might be psychosomatic? By this I mean that perhaps when you were bigger you held the tape measure tighter to make yourself think you were thinner and now you hold it slightly looser and are therefore the same size. Just an idea. Maybe get the bf to measure you?
As always my advice is unofficial and off the top of my head, so if any of this is BS please call me out on it.
Yeah, I take pictures. Too many pictures, even, especially since nothing changes! LOL. I've always tried to measure myself (at least the waist and hips) in front of a mirror so i can ensure that I am NOT holding it tighter/looser. Legs, I can see the tape so I feel like I'm ok there. Bf does measure my arms and bust.0 -
I think it's likely that you are recomping.
I think it's likely that your average intake is very close to TDEE, and it's certainly possible that you are just slowly making body composition improvements.
It's certainly possible to do so, it's just generally not as efficient to do it that way.0 -
I'm not sure how I didn't put this in here, but I base my exercise cals off a HRM, which I know isn't incredibly accurate, but, more so than MFP's estimations. At the end of the day for all mathematical intents and purposes, I'm in a 250 calorie a day deficit. This is where the main source of my confusion comes from.
Which is not to say that I am not eating very close to TDEE. 250 calorie deficits leave pretty much zero room for error.0 -
I'm not sure how I didn't put this in here, but I base my exercise cals off a HRM, which I know isn't incredibly accurate, but, more so than MFP's estimations. At the end of the day for all mathematical intents and purposes, I'm in a 250 calorie a day deficit. This is where the main source of my confusion comes from.
Which is not to say that I am not eating very close to TDEE. 250 calorie deficits leave pretty much zero room for error.
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
A scale would probably really open your eyes to things like the amount of peanut butter you're actually eating. Also if you're using your HRM for calories burned lifting it's probably not any more accurate than MFP's estimates. It will be better for regular cardio but not for lifting.0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
A scale would probably really open your eyes to things like the amount of peanut butter you're actually eating. Also if you're using your HRM for calories burned lifting it's probably not any more accurate than MFP's estimates. It will be better for regular cardio but not for lifting.
I don't use it for lifting, i know it doesn't "work like that". I do need to get a scale, though.0 -
Peanut butter. The calorie devil.
I am only here to chime in that I have decided that a) I am basically crapola at measuring myself because they never seem to go down b) I am crapola at looking at my own pictures and seeing progress (because I immediately look at my pictures and think "omg look at my ____ it is so fat waaaaah c) My weight AND measurements can fluctuate wildly with, for lack of a better term, bloat (stuff like poor sleep makes me gain scale weight) -- I can have pants go from loose to uncomfortably tight in the same week
Long term I went down a half pant size without much measurable scale/measurement change. But like I said, I suspect I just suck at it, and my scale weight is so changeable that I more or less stopped weighing myself entirely.
So you're not alone in whatever this is.0 -
Peanut butter. The calorie devil.
I am only here to chime in that I have decided that a) I am basically crapola at measuring myself because they never seem to go down b) I am crapola at looking at my own pictures and seeing progress (because I immediately look at my pictures and think "omg look at my ____ it is so fat waaaaah c) My weight AND measurements can fluctuate wildly with, for lack of a better term, bloat (stuff like poor sleep makes me gain scale weight) -- I can have pants go from loose to uncomfortably tight in the same week
You may be the chick version of me.0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
I love my food scale. And for meats it's especially handy. I've routinely bought chicken breasts where the package says 4oz, but they're actually anywhere from 6-10oz.0 -
Peanut butter. The calorie devil.
I am only here to chime in that I have decided that a) I am basically crapola at measuring myself because they never seem to go down b) I am crapola at looking at my own pictures and seeing progress (because I immediately look at my pictures and think "omg look at my ____ it is so fat waaaaah c) My weight AND measurements can fluctuate wildly with, for lack of a better term, bloat (stuff like poor sleep makes me gain scale weight) -- I can have pants go from loose to uncomfortably tight in the same week
You may be the chick version of me.
we do share a deep and devoted love of a particular gif....0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
Try to get a digital scale. I love peanut butter too, actually that is my breakfast every single day. I always measured it, but one day I decided to weigh it and I found out that 28g of PB is actually closer to one tbsp than to two like the label claims. Yeah, I've been eating almost two serving every breakfast.0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
Try to get a digital scale. I love peanut butter too, actually that is my breakfast every single day. I always measured it, but one day I decided to weigh it and I found out that 28g of PB is actually closer to one tbsp than to two like the label claims. Yeah, I've been eating almost two serving every breakfast.
Agreed^^^
I absolutely LOVEEEEE peanut butter. I have often wanted to eat the whole jar to see how much I could actually eat before I get sick/full, but I am afraid I could eat the whole jar.
Anyway, I dont usually weigh my PB because I did once and I have blocked that experience out. 2 tbsp full is much more than 28g the way I measure....0 -
we do share a deep and devoted love of a particular gif....
True.0 -
we do share a deep and devoted love of a particular gif....
True.
*coughs*0 -
i could've written this. i've been going through the same thing. i've been more strict about weighing and measuring food and it's helped a lot. i'm pretty sure i've been underestimating how much i eat.Disclaimer: I'm cool with what's going on. I just don't know if I UNDERSTAND it, and I would like to. I put my information in the intake question format just because I figured it would be easier to go through that way. I am not looking to change my intake, nor am I unhappy with my results. I just don't get it.
1) What's your current intake of calories gross, on average?
About 2250. Occasionally (like once a month) I fast for 24 hours. It doesn't affect my intake. I still eat just as much on both days surrounding it.
2) What's your current average intake of protein, carbs, and fats, in grams?
100-150, 70-90, 170-220 depending on my calorie intake
3) Do you use a food scale and measure everything?
I measure everything conservatively. Since I don't have a food scale, I try to err on the lower side of said measurement rather than higher.
4) Do you track all of your intake, daily? (Everything?)
Yes
5) Do you take cheat days or days off?
No. My intake is normally pretty close to spot on. I had a day last week when a red velvet poptart put me over and on Valentine's day I ate 1/4 of a totally worth it red velvet cake. Otherwise, I eat what I'm supposed to.
6) How much weight have you lost so far?
24 pounds
7) What is your activity like, both exercise and non-exercise?
Non exercise is pretty sedentary until April- I have a desk job. Exercise is pretty serious. It's a rare day when I do NOTHING. I run and lift each about 3 times a week (sometimes I run more often). I do other cardio interspersed. I do crap like Insanity although am not doing anything like it currently. I go to a Zumba class twice a week.
8) How long have you eaten at your previous amount and what happened in that time frame?
I've been eating like this for at least 5 months, maybe longer. It's been 6 months since the scale has changed except a 5-10 lb fluctuation throughout the month that is just the trend of my body. Which is totally fine. I lost like .25 inches in my thighs a couple months ago, and about an inch in my waist somewhere between 6 and 3 months ago.
Over the past 2 months specifically, I have become noticeably leaner. Like "whoa who is that in the mirror?" leaner in some spots, specifically my stomach. I'm seeing definition between abdominals, I have a (much) better vacuum than I did 2 months ago and my shoulders and arms have changed a lot.
9) What's your height, current weight and if you know it, bodyfat%?
I'm 5'9", 146 and you guys estimated me at 27-28% In early-mid January. I'd guess I'm down at least a point, maybe two since then.
10) If you're stalled, for how long and is it a complete stall (zero change in weight)?
It's been 6 months with no scale change except for 5-10 lb fluctuations that happen through the month.
So I tell myself I'm losing fat. But not weight? Not size? I'm confused. Like, seriously. I know that may come off as stupid but I don't understand how something can be changing but nothing measurable by me is changing. I mean I guess that this is the ideal outcome of a recomp. But I also am no fool and realize that I'm not making muscle gains that counteract my fat losses on the scale.
I base my weight off a monthly weigh in at the same time of the month.
WTF is happening here?!?!?!?!?!?0 -
You could very, very easily be eating 250 kcals more than you think you are. Your results indicate that it is likely that you are eating at maintenance.
That's what I was getting at. I also have a notorious love for peanut butter and again, try to err on the "too little" rather than "too much" side but...doesn't take much pb to add another hundred calories. Misjudge meat weight... It's absolutely possible, likely even...although I try to be careful.
Just weighing in with completely superfluous commentary as its already been discussed, but heh!
A calorie level of 2,250 is pretty high - combine that with the lack of a food scale and you could be eating say 2,500. That is higher than what my bulk calories are going to be and I am a little heavier, albeit lazier and older!
After a while, your body becomes adapted to the exercise you are doing to a degree and so you do not see as much benefit from a weight loss perspective as you used to.
If you want to speed up your losses, just cut a few hundred calories out and this will nudge it along.0
