When to stop...
Kdp2015
Posts: 519 Member
I'm a bit confused by my goal, I've lost 35lbs and a tdee calculator website has just told me my weight is 'ideal' I don't get it though, I can look in the mirror one day and feel good and then another feel fat. I'm 5'10 148lbs and 21% body fat. Any thoughts on if I should switch to maintenance and lift or keep losing until I'm happy with how I look? Thanks
Eta bf purely based on scale reading...
Eta bf purely based on scale reading...
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Replies
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This is such a great post and is a common situation! My stats and situation are really similar to yours. I think you probably lost a lot of weight but maybe you lost some fat and some muscle, and want to continue losing fat without the scales dropping too much, and preserving as much lean muscle mass as possible so you get that toned look under the body fat. I don't know what exercises you're doing but lifting would be great for this. I followed a bodybuilding style programme during my weight loss and am at a "goal weight" now and pretty happy with how my arms and legs look as the fat came off but the muscles are in good condition. I still have some belly fat so want to stay in a small deficit for a while longer but. I'm moving country next week and have joined a powerlifting club there and am going to start eating around maintenance and lifting regularly without eating back too many exercise calories. This will keep me strong, keep the physique changing and the body fat dropping but the scales probably won't move very quickly in either direction.
At this point in my journey it's definitely more about a look for me than a number, I've proved I can hit the number on the scales but That's not why we're doing this is it! So I'm gonna keep working to achieve the body I want, we're not that far off and can achieve it for sure. So I'd say lose the scales now and focus on physique. It's great you love what you see some days, I think everyone has "fat days" so don't stress over that, it's amazing how far you've come that a few days a week you are actually happy with what you see.
If you're lifting as well, CICO is important but macros are quite important, please make sure you're getting adequate protein to aid your muscle repair and growth and carbs (even if it's just around your workouts) for energy and recovery.
If you need a training programme try a personal trainer, a strength and conditioning class or bodybuilding.com for ideas. At this point diet won't change much about how you look in terms of body composition, exercise will take a bigger role now. Well done on the weight loss so far and good luck!5 -
What a great reply, thank you!0
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Aw no problem, I'm really in the same place so happy to see someone else with the same challenge! I'm 5'7 and 146 lbs, down 40lbs from my heaviest weight. People comment on my weight loss but I feel stupid because I still only carry fat on my belly now. If I were to focus on losing more weight to get rid of that belly I would get really too thin/light for my height. So I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing, eat a little more (still high protein and fat and only carbs around workouts but that's just me) and hope that I can stay strong while burning fat because the last thing I want is to look skinny actually, that's not the goal for me at all. This size/weight is fine, I just want to tweak a few things and not wind up 10lbs lighter! Good luck2
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Good luck to you too!1
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A healthy weight range for your height is 129- 174 lbs so at 148 you are certainly a healthy weight.
I don't think a web site can tell you what weight you personally feel and look best at. Losing weight may not be the thing that makes you happy with your appearance in the mirror. That may just take time, doing some mental work or focusing on strength training instead of weight loss.
If I were a healthy weight and in doubt about continuing I'd maintain for a few months and then see how I feel.0 -
I'm a bit confused by my goal, I've lost 35lbs and a tdee calculator website has just told me my weight is 'ideal' I don't get it though, I can look in the mirror one day and feel good and then another feel fat. I'm 5'10 148lbs and 21% body fat. Any thoughts on if I should switch to maintenance and lift or keep losing until I'm happy with how I look? Thanks
Eta bf purely based on scale reading...
My understanding is that scale measurements of body fat are often quite inaccurate.
Seeing as to how you're at a healthy weight for your height, and that your main concern now seems to be body composition, why not try eating at maintenance and lifting weights?0 -
Thanks everyone I'm going to give maintenance a go for a while and see how I get on with lifting0
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