Back on the diet and the weights not shifting

dave_in_ni
dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
edited December 4 in Health and Weight Loss
A week ago today I decided to go back on the diet because although I am in a healthy BMI I am whats called skinny fat so the solution is to go right down to skeleton like, my arms and legs are there its just the belly. I was previously on my diet from Jan - June and lost 60lbs, I took the summer off and ate at maintenance.

So the plan 1600-1700 cals Sunday - Friday and on Saturday allowing up to 2100 cals. My TDEE is 2300 so I am well in a deficit. 1 week in and not as much as 1lb down and yes I am methodical in my tracking because what gets tracked gets managed.

Does it take the body a while to get back into weight loss mode or something? I think but I might be wrong and hope it doesn't happen this time but in January I ate at similar and lost damn all the entire month then the first week of Feb boom something like 12lbs of in one go.

Any advice?

Replies

  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    KateTii wrote: »
    The solution to "skinny fat" isn't "skeletal skinny".
    My advice would be to try and put on some muscle, not try and cut down more.

    Fat covers muscle. My plan is to start with a clean frame. I have been lifting 10 months and no muscle built.
  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    KateTii wrote: »
    The solution to "skinny fat" isn't "skeletal skinny".
    My advice would be to try and put on some muscle, not try and cut down more.

    Fat covers muscle. My plan is to start with a clean frame. I have been lifting 10 months and no muscle built.

    Then re-evaluate your calorie consumption. If you aren't building muscle, you probably aren't eating enough as your body will not be stacking on the muscle in a deficit.

    Eating in a deficit cuts fat and muscle. Eating in excess, whilst lifting, creates fat and muscle.
    Trying to get to a "clean frame" will also wipe out a fair bit of muscle gains you have now.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    KateTii wrote: »
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    KateTii wrote: »
    The solution to "skinny fat" isn't "skeletal skinny".
    My advice would be to try and put on some muscle, not try and cut down more.

    Fat covers muscle. My plan is to start with a clean frame. I have been lifting 10 months and no muscle built.

    Then re-evaluate your calorie consumption. If you aren't building muscle, you probably aren't eating enough as your body will not be stacking on the muscle in a deficit.

    Eating in a deficit cuts fat and muscle. Eating in excess, whilst lifting, creates fat and muscle.
    Trying to get to a "clean frame" will also wipe out a fair bit of muscle gains you have now.

    I was never in a surplus during my lifting so no muscle was built. The lifting helped with my fat loss but that's about it. Once I shift more fat then I will go into a surplus.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    edited October 2016
    sijomial wrote: »
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    Any advice?

    Stop dieting and start training properly.

    I love how any thread I post the advice contradicts the other.

    My previous thread. To much body fat. Cut more then into a slight surplus. This thread the opposite advice.
  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    Any advice?

    Stop dieting and start training properly.

    I love how any thread I post the advice contradicts the other.

    That didn't contradict what I said.
  • duddysdad
    duddysdad Posts: 403 Member
    Normally the solution to skinny fat is to put on muscle. For this to happen, you need to eat above your TDEE. So, build muscle, continue to lift while losing weight, evaluate your progress, repeat if necessary until you get the body you want. I know you don't want to hear it, but being skeleton skinny is not the answer. Unless you like the emaciated look, then go for it.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    I am 20%+ body fat. You don't attempt to gain until 15 minimum.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    I am 20%+ body fat. You don't attempt to gain until 15 minimum.

    20% BF and skeletal arms and legs does not compute does it?

    I guess you have heard the reason that people with aesthetic/advanced body composition goals are recommended to get lean (not skeletal) before bulking but that hardly applies to you right now does it? It is not a rule that fits everyone.

    Tell a power/strength athlete not to gain muscle unless they diet down to silly levels....
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    edited October 2016
    Deleted
  • dancing_daisy
    dancing_daisy Posts: 162 Member
    I have a similar issue @dave_in_ni. I've been reading about 'body recomposition' to try cutting fat and building muscle at the same time. I've heard not everyone agrees with it but thats much like anything else on this forum. I've read two theories but both are about switching between two calorie consumption amounts. On days you don't train you eat at a small-ish deficit and on the days you do train either eat at maintenance or slightly higher. Fat loss one day and muscle gain the next.
    Progress is slow but if you're struggling to but back your calories again and want to keep training I say; why not?
  • PixelPuff
    PixelPuff Posts: 902 Member
    edited October 2016
    NEW ADVICE; Get personal trainer. Maybe you'll listen to them, you seem to only want people who will agree with you. Cutting harder to go to 'skeleton skinny' will NOT make the skinny-fat go away.

    How do I know? I'm 94lbs [edit to note; underweight]. I'm still skinny-fat. Go actually BUILD muscle rather than let what you do have go away by restricting harder.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    In fairness guys read the original question. I did ask for advice yes. Diet advice.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    dancing_daisy wrote: »
    I have a similar issue @dave_in_ni. I've been reading about 'body recomposition' to try cutting fat and building muscle at the same time. I've heard not everyone agrees with it but thats much like anything else on this forum. I've read two theories but both are about switching between two calorie consumption amounts. On days you don't train you eat at a small-ish deficit and on the days you do train either eat at maintenance or slightly higher. Fat loss one day and muscle gain the next.
    Progress is slow but if you're struggling to but back your calories again and want to keep training I say; why not?
    @dancing_daisy
    Actually to recomp you don't have to calorie cycle at all - personal choice. The MFP blog/article on the subject (if that's what you've read) is one of the worst fitness articles I've ever seen!
    Here's a far better one by Eric Helms (long but good read).
    http://muscleandstrengthpyramids.com/calorie-deficit-gain-weight/

    Speed of recomp is also highly variable from fast to glacial depending on the person.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    To answer the original question. Yes, it can take time for the body to catch up.
  • dancing_daisy
    dancing_daisy Posts: 162 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    dancing_daisy wrote: »
    Actually to recomp you don't have to calorie cycle at all - personal choice. The MFP blog/article on the subject (if that's what you've read) is one of the worst fitness articles I've ever seen!
    Here's a far better one by Eric Helms (long but good read).
    http://muscleandstrengthpyramids.com/calorie-deficit-gain-weight/

    Speed of recomp is also highly variable from fast to glacial depending on the person.

    Thanks @sijomial , I was rather overwhelmed by all the available info on the subject. I appreciate you sharing the article!
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Search the forums for "weight loss linear", and read up. Your weight fluctuates and you cannot tell anything after 1 week. You need to look at trends over several weeks, ideally 4 to 6.

    But no-one with listening to will agree that "skeletally thin" is a good idea. You must know that already.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    CattOfTheGarage wrote: »
    Search the forums for "weight loss linear", and read up. Your weight fluctuates and you cannot tell anything after 1 week. You need to look at trends over several weeks, ideally 4 to 6.

    But no-one with listening to will agree that "skeletally thin" is a good idea. You must know that already.

    I didn't come on asking for that advice. I also post on bodybuilding dot com and that was the advice.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    If you want fast and routine results.. you are in for disappointment. It takes some people many weeks. like four to six to start seeing a difference. And then after that.. some weeks you don't lose at all.. These are the facts. It is the person who sticks to it.. who loses over the long run and gets to goal. Most quit because they want instant gratification.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    elisa123gal wrote: »
    If you want fast and routine results.. you are in for disappointment. It takes some people many weeks. like four to six to start seeing a difference. And then after that.. some weeks you don't lose at all.. These are the facts. It is the person who sticks to it.. who loses over the long run and gets to goal. Most quit because they want instant gratification.

    Your forgetting I've done it before and lost 60lbs.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    dave_in_ni wrote: »
    elisa123gal wrote: »
    If you want fast and routine results.. you are in for disappointment. It takes some people many weeks. like four to six to start seeing a difference. And then after that.. some weeks you don't lose at all.. These are the facts. It is the person who sticks to it.. who loses over the long run and gets to goal. Most quit because they want instant gratification.

    Your forgetting I've done it before and lost 60lbs.

    Yes but you've admitted that your physique is not up to par. My advice is to pick a goal and run with it. If you have no muscle on your body but have a gut I would bulk. If you have some muscle then I'd get lean. At the end of the day its up to you and how you perceive your physique.
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