The calculators say that my current BF% is 44% LOL. I've been losing fat right along for months. When I don't lose, it's because I am eating too many calories.

I will admit that I find that my window -- where I'm eating enough protein, fat, and carbs to fuel myself and not feel hungry, but eating few enough calories to lose fat -- is small. I have to really pay attention. But for me, it's well worth it, because when I'm firing on all cylinders, feeling great, gaining strength, and losing weight all at once, it's awesome. YeeHaw!!

I have previous experience with eating low carb and lifting. You have to accept that your strength gains will be slower. I no longer do low carb and it makes a huge difference in the weight room to be fueled up with carbs. But you can just work with your body and tweak your food & strength progression as needed, you will find a sweet spot that works for you.

Feel free to friend me if you'd like -- I'm very interested in how this will go for you!

But, How do I friend you?

You click on the person's username, and on the next screen, on the center right, there are a few green buttons. Click on the one that says "add as friend" or whatever it says, type in a note, and hit send. :flowerforyou:

I have a higher BF%. Not sure what it is, though. Online calculators vary from 28% to 57%. I figure I'm around 40%. I just found a place that does BodPod, VO2max, and RMR testing for $130 so I intend to schedule some time to do that. I haven't really gained or lost anything since starting, but I have a hard time keeping my eating in control. TBH, I think the only reason I haven't ballooned is because of lifting.

Military body fat calculators put me in the high 30s, and I've been lifting for several months.

If you have a lot of body fat to lose, you should lift heavy simply to prevent losing a bunch of lean muscle mass while you drop weight. And actually, people who lug high amounts of body fat around with them, are lifting heavy all along; just not super heavy and on a training program. Ask a 400 pound person what it's like hauling their body weight up a flight of stairs, and there you go. It's hard work!

Anyhoo, don't let minor things like that stand in the way of your dreams. Lift on, and get strong! Start now!

I felt the same as Auddii, except that I'm older so knew that my muscles were naturally wasting with age and I wanted to stop that happening! I started at a much higher body fat % (in the mid 50s), and am now about 39%. To be honest, I don't know how effective lifting is (I did Starting Strength rather than Stronglifts) as I've nothing to compare it to, but as I was so keen to preserve muscle I thought it was best to get stuck into it, regardless of size. According to my scales, I have succeeded in preserving LBM while losing body fat.

Oh, I should have said that I've been dieting all the way through, and I presume it was the calorie deficit that helped me lose the fat and weight, rather than my exercise programme (I have also always done a small amount of cardio). I think I've maintained muscle because of the strength training, but I don't think it made me lose fat (although, I can't know that for sure). I do some cardio because I have heart disease and it's meant to be good to do a certain amount.

Are you doing SL only? Do you add cardio? I'm at a higher bf and I know I need to lose fat, but want to gain as much strength as possible. Thanks.