Cutting Question

[Big-Red]

I did a decent cut of like 15 pounds of fat, while lifting, and get stronger (still doing this), but now I won't lose any more weight and I am doing the same things but I still can not lose those last 3 pounds of fat.

Should I try to raise my metabolism back up and then cut again or what? I eat under 2000 carbs on most days, sometimes a break it by 100 or 2 but compensate the next day by going under. I lift weights 3-5 times a week, and I do participate in lacrosse practice. I also occasionally run or do other physical activity.

I don't have time in my schedule right now to run more than once or twice a week (weekends). Is there anything else I can do to lose these 3 pounds? Or is running my chops off the only way?

Thanks for the advice!

[dschrammie]

Okay, first question...do you mean 2000 calories? or do you really mean carbs? Because that's a lot of carbs.
Next...remember the age-old fact that muscle is denser and therefore heavier than fat. You're going to make your muscles leaner just by participating in practice, but then add lifting on top of that and you're also building muscle. It's certainly possible that you've reached the point that your body is no longer shedding a few ounces of fat, it's adding a few ounces of muscle. Key point: this is a GOOD thing! Muscle requires more energy so it burns more calories, even when you're not doing anything (i.e. resting). I remind myself all the time that my measurement device should not be a scale...it should be a mirror or my belt! I know when I look in the mirror or when I buckle my belt how much fat I have lost or put on.

[Big-Red]

I honestly mean 2000 calories, as in a balanced diet of protein, carbs and fats adding up to less than 2000 calories a day.

And yes, I have considered this idea of muscle > fat in my cutting and have seen differences, but am not at my goal in fat loss yet. it seems like I am not losing any mroe fat but still putting on some muscle, so I am gaining muscle weight but not loosing fat weight.

If it helps I am about 5'6 and 135 pounds.

[Riot]

What's your body fat %?

[Big-Red]

I can not tell exactly since I have nto done a water placement test but the different tests I have done give me an average answer or about 8-10%, which means I am lean but not too lean.

[destructivelax]

yo 8-10 is amazingly lean. u shouldn't have any visible fat on u if ur 8-10 y do u want to lose more

[eamiddy16]

hmm correct me if i am wrong but like 6-8 percent is top athelets body builders have like 4 percent and the average healthy man should have been 14 and 18 percent i think ?

[dschrammie]

Yeah, when I got myself down to 9%, I was in the best shape of my life and extremely lean. If someone is telling you that's 'average', believe they're full of it. 5'6" and 135? Sheesh...that was me a LONG time ago. I'm 5'7" and 175...and no, I don't consider myself fat at all. I'm guessing you're kind of young (17 or younger?)...don't worry too much. Keep doing what you're doing. Your body is still developing.

[Big-Red]

haha I am no body builder, plus all the different tests I did can be a few percent off meaning I could be closer to 10-12%. I mean I cam not embarassed to take my shirt off or anything but yeah.

I guess the general consensus is to just keep doing what I am doing to stay healthy.

Thanks for the advice.