How low should I go?

alyssamiller77
alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey folks looking for opinions here, I've hit my goal weight and am currently in maintenance mode. However, I still have a little bit of that pesky jiggly stuff at the front of my lower belly and the sides of my waist (the infamous love handles). I want it gone and so I'm looking at going back to a calorie deficit starting Monday. I'm having trouble deciding what I should use for a goal.

I had been eating toward a Net Calorie goal of 1230 when I was losing the weight. I lost about 2.7 lbs per week at that deficit. However I don't think I want to go that low again. I'd like to keep the room in my calorie goal to keep drinking the protein shakes so hopefully (along with my regular strength training) I can minimize the muscle loss. I played with my goals a little today, if i go with a net calorie goal of 1500, MFP estimates I'll lose 1.3 lbs per week. If I go with 1800, it estimates .7 lbs per week. What are your thoughts, obviously the quicker I can get rid of the jiggles the better but I don't want to shave off too much of the muscle that I'm working to expose :)

Replies

  • Skeith5
    Skeith5 Posts: 89 Member
    I'd stick with the 1800 and work on doing a lot of core exercises like crunches, etc. Make sure you are eating good healthy calories too..

    Great job on reaching your goal!
  • Jacquelyn913
    Jacquelyn913 Posts: 300 Member
    Maybe you dont even need to lose any more weight, but just focus more on ab exercises to tighten yourself up a bit.
  • CoachSid
    CoachSid Posts: 13
    I think if you have reached your goal weight, don't try to lose more than 1 lb per week but use your weight training and exercise program to tighten the jiggles. BTW I have the same problem although I still have about 15 pounds more to lose, I am trying to get rid of those same areas
  • SarahxCheesecake
    SarahxCheesecake Posts: 169 Member
    Why dont you change over to weight training. Thats what Im just doing. I have a tiny bit to lose, but it wont spot reduce (tummy) so go for the muscle gain which will in turn help with stubborn areas.
  • jkuhn71
    jkuhn71 Posts: 199
    Just my opinion - but I don't think you should worry about cutting calories at this point. Shift your focus to building more muscle...the fat loss will come along with it! In order to BUILD muscle, you can't eat at a deficit.
  • NemesisJRM
    NemesisJRM Posts: 248 Member
    Mate uses this site to calculate you weight and fat ratio then work on tht:

    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
  • armymil
    armymil Posts: 163 Member
    Why not focus on the 1800 calories, then aim to burn 600-800 calories a day? Not sure how your day works, but a quick run in the morning (200-300 calories), then the evening exercises (300-500 calories). Then you will end up burning more past the .7 but still have room for protein shakes and what not.

    I plan on adding a morning routine to my schedule.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    Mate uses this site to calculate you weight and fat ratio then work on tht:

    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

    Great site!! I've seen the calculator other places but all the other explanations on that site really make it stand out, thanks for sharing!!

    Armymil, I was talking net calories which does take into account the exercise as well. So that's kind of what I was thinking too. Maybe shoot for the 1800 add a little extra exercise if I want to be able to eat more calories and go with that.

    To some of the other points, thank you all for your thoughts. The reason I'm looking to go back to deficit is that from what I've been able to find you can't build muscle and cut fat at the same time (with the exception of early on in a dietary and exercise change). I have just a little more body fat to get rid of (my estimate according to calculators like the one above is 13% Bodyfat). Ultimately I'd like to have muscle definition in my abs, at least when I'm flexing. I'm worried that if I don't get a deficit going that I'll keep the same body fat I have now.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Just my opinion - but I don't think you should worry about cutting calories at this point. Shift your focus to building more muscle...the fat loss will come along with it! In order to BUILD muscle, you can't eat at a deficit.

    Agreed!
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