Recomposition: Maintaining weight while losing fat

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Replies

  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Thank you :)
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    How do you achieve something you cant imagine? This is my problem. I realized that is why I've pretty much been *kitten* around for the last 18 months. I cant imagine myself being muscular and lean. Yes I've weighed less than I do now, so I can imagine it but even then I was flabby. I've never been lean in my life and I've certainly never been muscular. Yes, I look at other men and I think "I'd love to have a body like that" but I cant actually imagine my head on that body. I just cant picture it. I have no idea how ...

    @Morgaen73

    Step back from the ultimate end point which may seem unobtainable right now and focus on steady improvement.
    That way every day/week/month you progress is a victory rather than a failure of not being where you dream to be.
    That helps buy into the process and it's the process that brings your goal closer.

    Thank you very much.
  • aubyshortcake
    aubyshortcake Posts: 796 Member
    Good morning, I recently posted here but have another question. As previously stated, I'm doing strong curves 4 days a week and I'm a restaurant server and average roughly 10k steps a day.

    Starting tomorrow, my job is closing for 10 days for renovations. I don't plan on making up the steps in other ways (at least not fully), how much should I lower my calories for the next 10 days until we reopen?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    aubyshortcake wrote: »
    Good morning, I recently posted here but have another question. As previously stated, I'm doing strong curves 4 days a week and I'm a restaurant server and average roughly 10k steps a day.

    Starting tomorrow, my job is closing for 10 days for renovations. I don't plan on making up the steps in other ways (at least not fully), how much should I lower my calories for the next 10 days until we reopen?

    Impossible to answer with info given.

    So you'll know how to handle for the future, because life is nothing if not changes.

    Are you using MFP as designed - meaning activity level selected was correct (probably lightly active) and exercise logged and eaten when done?

    Or average weekly TDEE method - meaning daily and exercise for the week (probably Moderately Active), then eat the same daily?

    Either case - back the levels down one to what is reality.

    On both methods - calorie goal will of course lower. Eat that now until activity level changes again.
  • aubyshortcake
    aubyshortcake Posts: 796 Member
    heybales wrote: »
    aubyshortcake wrote: »
    Good morning, I recently posted here but have another question. As previously stated, I'm doing strong curves 4 days a week and I'm a restaurant server and average roughly 10k steps a day.

    Starting tomorrow, my job is closing for 10 days for renovations. I don't plan on making up the steps in other ways (at least not fully), how much should I lower my calories for the next 10 days until we reopen?

    Impossible to answer with info given.

    So you'll know how to handle for the future, because life is nothing if not changes.

    Are you using MFP as designed - meaning activity level selected was correct (probably lightly active) and exercise logged and eaten when done?

    Or average weekly TDEE method - meaning daily and exercise for the week (probably Moderately Active), then eat the same daily?

    Either case - back the levels down one to what is reality.

    On both methods - calorie goal will of course lower. Eat that now until activity level changes again.

    Thank you! I've been using the weekly average TDEE method, only trouble is I don't have enough data yet to accurately figure out my actual TDEE. I have MFP set to active, but I custom set my calories slightly lower because my estimates put me between lightly active and active.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    susanp57 wrote: »
    Yay me! I've read this whole thing.

    I'm about 2 lbs from goal, 127.2 this morning, goal is 125. I could quit on the deficit now, but I'm being stubborn. I gained my weight after a cycling accident, then an ailment, both of which turned me into something of a couch potato. In addition to to weight gain, I lost a lot of muscle mass.

    I recently started full body weight training 3x a week. Other days I try to do something cardio, but outdoors while the weather is still good and there is plenty of daylight. Once that is gone I will probably convert to 4x splits upper and lower. I have weight trained in years past so I have some grasp.

    BTW, I'm 62 y.o. if that matters (I don't think it does.)

    Just wanted to introduce myself, say Hi, and bump the thread. I'm sure I will have dumb and repetitive questions later.

    I would say you are at goal most likely because weight fluctuates you wont be just one number of weight. set yourself a range. say 125-130.. this way it will allow for water weight and other fluctuations that you will have especially if you are upping your weight training
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    susanp57 wrote: »
    Yay me! I've read this whole thing.

    I'm about 2 lbs from goal, 127.2 this morning, goal is 125. I could quit on the deficit now, but I'm being stubborn. I gained my weight after a cycling accident, then an ailment, both of which turned me into something of a couch potato. In addition to to weight gain, I lost a lot of muscle mass.

    I recently started full body weight training 3x a week. Other days I try to do something cardio, but outdoors while the weather is still good and there is plenty of daylight. Once that is gone I will probably convert to 4x splits upper and lower. I have weight trained in years past so I have some grasp.

    BTW, I'm 62 y.o. if that matters (I don't think it does.)

    Just wanted to introduce myself, say Hi, and bump the thread. I'm sure I will have dumb and repetitive questions later.

    I would say you are at goal most likely because weight fluctuates you wont be just one number of weight. set yourself a range. say 125-130.. this way it will allow for water weight and other fluctuations that you will have especially if you are upping your weight training

    I completely understand and you are probably right. I'm tracking my daily weight using Libra and the 127 is on the low end of my range. I don't fluctuate much, maybe a pound to a pound & a half. So I am running a deficit for a bit longer and building up my workout so I can avoid the worst of DOMS. If I don't hit the goal weight in the next couple of weeks, I'll prolly go on to maintenance.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    susanp57 wrote: »
    Yay me! I've read this whole thing.

    I'm about 2 lbs from goal, 127.2 this morning, goal is 125. I could quit on the deficit now, but I'm being stubborn. I gained my weight after a cycling accident, then an ailment, both of which turned me into something of a couch potato. In addition to to weight gain, I lost a lot of muscle mass.

    I recently started full body weight training 3x a week. Other days I try to do something cardio, but outdoors while the weather is still good and there is plenty of daylight. Once that is gone I will probably convert to 4x splits upper and lower. I have weight trained in years past so I have some grasp.

    BTW, I'm 62 y.o. if that matters (I don't think it does.)

    Just wanted to introduce myself, say Hi, and bump the thread. I'm sure I will have dumb and repetitive questions later.

    Id stick with a 3 day as long as you make progress, whether that is 3 months or a year, and as long as you can recover from it. Once you start to plateau on your lifts then id consider a 4 or 5 day intermediate routine.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    susanp57 wrote: »
    Yay me! I've read this whole thing.

    I'm about 2 lbs from goal, 127.2 this morning, goal is 125. I could quit on the deficit now, but I'm being stubborn. I gained my weight after a cycling accident, then an ailment, both of which turned me into something of a couch potato. In addition to to weight gain, I lost a lot of muscle mass.

    I recently started full body weight training 3x a week. Other days I try to do something cardio, but outdoors while the weather is still good and there is plenty of daylight. Once that is gone I will probably convert to 4x splits upper and lower. I have weight trained in years past so I have some grasp.

    BTW, I'm 62 y.o. if that matters (I don't think it does.)

    Just wanted to introduce myself, say Hi, and bump the thread. I'm sure I will have dumb and repetitive questions later.

    Id stick with a 3 day as long as you make progress, whether that is 3 months or a year, and as long as you can recover from it. Once you start to plateau on your lifts then id consider a 4 or 5 day intermediate routine.

    Thanks.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    susanp57 wrote: »
    Yay me! I've read this whole thing.

    I'm about 2 lbs from goal, 127.2 this morning, goal is 125. I could quit on the deficit now, but I'm being stubborn. I gained my weight after a cycling accident, then an ailment, both of which turned me into something of a couch potato. In addition to to weight gain, I lost a lot of muscle mass.

    I recently started full body weight training 3x a week. Other days I try to do something cardio, but outdoors while the weather is still good and there is plenty of daylight. Once that is gone I will probably convert to 4x splits upper and lower. I have weight trained in years past so I have some grasp.

    BTW, I'm 62 y.o. if that matters (I don't think it does.)

    Just wanted to introduce myself, say Hi, and bump the thread. I'm sure I will have dumb and repetitive questions later.

    You said you started full body weight training. I am doing Strong (sequel to New Rules of Lifting For Women) and after 4 months I have found that as I add more weight and other complexities, I will need more recovery time. I am healing up from what I hope is a minor leg issue that I think probably came on because I was tired and got sloppy on form. I mention this only because I am an older critter and often forget when I am in "the zone" in the gym that my enthusiasm overshoots my capacity at times and I wanted to give you a cautionary tale :)
  • turtlemt20
    turtlemt20 Posts: 43 Member
    female 5'4 maintaining 112-116. Should I try to cut down more or start recomp?
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    female 5'4 maintaining 112-116. Should I try to cut down more or start recomp?

    What's your bodyfat percentage?
    What's your goal?
    How do you think you look?
    How do you feel?
  • turtlemt20
    turtlemt20 Posts: 43 Member
    trigden1991 wrote: »
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    female 5'4 maintaining 112-116. Should I try to cut down more or start recomp?

    What's your bodyfat percentage?
    What's your goal?
    How do you think you look?
    How do you feel?

    Currently 20%

    Goal: I want to look like the picture attached.

    I feel and look chubby ._.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    trigden1991 wrote: »
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    female 5'4 maintaining 112-116. Should I try to cut down more or start recomp?

    What's your bodyfat percentage?
    What's your goal?
    How do you think you look?
    How do you feel?

    Currently 20%

    Goal: I want to look like the picture attached.

    I feel and look chubby ._.

    You are going to be limited by your own genetics. Do you have a picture of yourself? Your weight is already fairly low. So its possible you will need to build up some muscle to get there.
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    trigden1991 wrote: »
    turtlemt20 wrote: »
    female 5'4 maintaining 112-116. Should I try to cut down more or start recomp?

    What's your bodyfat percentage?
    What's your goal?
    How do you think you look?
    How do you feel?

    Currently 20%

    Goal: I want to look like the picture attached.

    I feel and look chubby ._.

    You are going to be limited by your own genetics. Do you have a picture of yourself? Your weight is already fairly low. So its possible you will need to build up some muscle to get there.

    I was going to say the same thing. The model is probably 18-20% BF too. But if you don't have the same genetic build and fat storage pattern, you'll never look like that.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Bump bump bump. h.
  • bribucks
    bribucks Posts: 431 Member
    Hey all - sorry if this has already been covered in earlier posts. But who recommends calorie cycling vs a flat rate?

    If you google “recomp” it seems like everyone recommends cycling ... however a flat rate seems easier to me, especially for logging on MFP. Thoughts?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    brianneangell08 wrote: »
    Hey all - sorry if this has already been covered in earlier posts. But who recommends calorie cycling vs a flat rate?

    If you google “recomp” it seems like everyone recommends cycling ... however a flat rate seems easier to me, especially for logging on MFP. Thoughts?

    Personal preference.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    brianneangell08 wrote: »
    Hey all - sorry if this has already been covered in earlier posts. But who recommends calorie cycling vs a flat rate?

    If you google “recomp” it seems like everyone recommends cycling ... however a flat rate seems easier to me, especially for logging on MFP. Thoughts?

    And you have to take into account if truly doing it MFP style - where the deficit is kept steady and the eating level does indeed change daily (perhaps) when you correctly log and eat back your exercise calories.

    But when doing it the method most sites use (and MFP can be used as too) - your daily eating level is kept steady, but your deficit literally changes every day, possibly even not being a deficit on some days. Which could be a good thing.

    If both are setup with equal parameters - the deficit taken and the amount eaten at the end of the week is the same.

    Depending on intensity of workouts and amount of recovery being given between hard workouts, bigger deficits on hard workout days may not be a good idea.

    I've seen several blogs on those ideas where they aren't even clear with the fact of what happens daily - shoot, some seem to be totally random (was a fad years ago on MFP) amounts eaten daily no matter what the workout was.
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    heybales wrote: »
    brianneangell08 wrote: »
    Hey all - sorry if this has already been covered in earlier posts. But who recommends calorie cycling vs a flat rate?

    If you google “recomp” it seems like everyone recommends cycling ... however a flat rate seems easier to me, especially for logging on MFP. Thoughts?

    And you have to take into account if truly doing it MFP style - where the deficit is kept steady and the eating level does indeed change daily (perhaps) when you correctly log and eat back your exercise calories.

    But when doing it the method most sites use (and MFP can be used as too) - your daily eating level is kept steady, but your deficit literally changes every day, possibly even not being a deficit on some days. Which could be a good thing.

    If both are setup with equal parameters - the deficit taken and the amount eaten at the end of the week is the same.

    Depending on intensity of workouts and amount of recovery being given between hard workouts, bigger deficits on hard workout days may not be a good idea.

    I've seen several blogs on those ideas where they aren't even clear with the fact of what happens daily - shoot, some seem to be totally random (was a fad years ago on MFP) amounts eaten daily no matter what the workout was.

    I thought with recomp you weren't supposed to end up with a deficit at all. Whether you cycle or eat stay calories, I thought at the end of the week your calories should be at maintenance not in a deficit.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    MrsBeccaM5 wrote: »
    heybales wrote: »
    brianneangell08 wrote: »
    Hey all - sorry if this has already been covered in earlier posts. But who recommends calorie cycling vs a flat rate?

    If you google “recomp” it seems like everyone recommends cycling ... however a flat rate seems easier to me, especially for logging on MFP. Thoughts?

    And you have to take into account if truly doing it MFP style - where the deficit is kept steady and the eating level does indeed change daily (perhaps) when you correctly log and eat back your exercise calories.

    But when doing it the method most sites use (and MFP can be used as too) - your daily eating level is kept steady, but your deficit literally changes every day, possibly even not being a deficit on some days. Which could be a good thing.

    If both are setup with equal parameters - the deficit taken and the amount eaten at the end of the week is the same.

    Depending on intensity of workouts and amount of recovery being given between hard workouts, bigger deficits on hard workout days may not be a good idea.

    I've seen several blogs on those ideas where they aren't even clear with the fact of what happens daily - shoot, some seem to be totally random (was a fad years ago on MFP) amounts eaten daily no matter what the workout was.

    I thought with recomp you weren't supposed to end up with a deficit at all. Whether you cycle or eat stay calories, I thought at the end of the week your calories should be at maintenance not in a deficit.

    That's correct, no deficit.
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    heybales wrote: »
    Correct, no deficit on MFP style when set to maintenance, and activity level correct and eating back exercise calories.

    When using the weekly avg TDEE method and eating the same amount daily - some days literally have a deficit, some are in surplus.

    Gotcha, but overall you should end up at maintenance.

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