New diet- how long till Metabolism balances?

[MsSMarie22]

Hey ladies!!
Quick recap: went on a mini bulk, diet went slowly on hiatus, now I'm trying to drop BF% down to at least 17% from ~20 right now... I was only eating about 3 meals a day before, and now I'm eating a more precise diet of 5-6 meals. I'm sure I'm eating more calorically than before... so how long do you estimate it takes for metabloisms to level out and bodies to adjust??
I'm getting frustrated since my weight has gone up 2lbs but I'm eating way more clean and way more precise than before.
Thanks for the advice/help/support!!

[coconuttree2009]

Hey ladies!!
Quick recap: went on a mini bulk, diet went slowly on hiatus, now I'm trying to drop BF% down to at least 17% from ~20 right now... I was only eating about 3 meals a day before, and now I'm eating a more precise diet of 5-6 meals. I'm sure I'm eating more calorically than before... so how long do you estimate it takes for metabloisms to level out and bodies to adjust??
I'm getting frustrated since my weight has gone up 2lbs but I'm eating way more clean and way more precise than before.
Thanks for the advice/help/support!!

It's all about calories in and calories out, nothing to do with more clean or more precise.
Do you know what was you calorie intake before and now?

[goalorientgirl]

Hey ladies!!
Quick recap: went on a mini bulk, diet went slowly on hiatus, now I'm trying to drop BF% down to at least 17% from ~20 right now... I was only eating about 3 meals a day before, and now I'm eating a more precise diet of 5-6 meals. I'm sure I'm eating more calorically than before... so how long do you estimate it takes for metabloisms to level out and bodies to adjust??
I'm getting frustrated since my weight has gone up 2lbs but I'm eating way more clean and way more precise than before.
Thanks for the advice/help/support!!

I'm confused... Are you on a bulk now? Over what time frame did you gain those 2lbs? If you're bulking, you're intentionally gaining... so? Were you hoping to have gained more? If you're trying to cut and you're gaining weight, then you might need to lower your calories a little more (depending on what they are) or add in more/some cardio (depending on what you're doing). The number of times a day you eat doesn't really matter, nor the "cleanness" - it's just calories in/out, as coconuttree2009 said. If you're just looking for that really low body fat number, you might benefit from adding a little more muscle (bulk) before you cut.

[kdiamond55]

I agree with the others - and based on your progress pics I think you still look a little thin to me (just being honest). You could probably benefit from adding a few more pounds on before you try cutting that low.

I am about your size (maybe a little taller) and I did the bulk/cut thing, but I went up 7 pounds from 105 to 112 before I cut to 108, now I'm 110 and I'm pretty happy at this weight, I have a lot of muscle tone now.

So at this point it may be more of a mirror thing than a scale thing...

Edited: I don't eat "clean". I try to eat as healthy as possible but I enjoy what I want within my calorie range. Does not matter to my muscle development at all, though I make sure to get ample protein in daily.

[andrerox80]

Hey ladies!!
Quick recap: went on a mini bulk, diet went slowly on hiatus, now I'm trying to drop BF% down to at least 17% from ~20 right now... I was only eating about 3 meals a day before, and now I'm eating a more precise diet of 5-6 meals. I'm sure I'm eating more calorically than before... so how long do you estimate it takes for metabloisms to level out and bodies to adjust??
I'm getting frustrated since my weight has gone up 2lbs but I'm eating way more clean and way more precise than before.
Thanks for the advice/help/support!!

have you seen the sticky on bf? why do you want to go to 17%? meal frequency is totally irrelevant and won't boost your metabolism. broscience. you could probably find a lot by doing a search. same w/ eating "clean." it's not abt specific foods. you do wanna hit your macro's and get in some good nutrients, but there's room for treats or whatever too, and it won't affect your physique one way or the other. you might want to figure out your cals since that's what it's all abt. you say you're eating more now w/ the more frequent meals, which may or may not be okay (don't know what your intake is. probably were undereating. could still be undereating. or could be putting yourself above maintenance (which is what i'd recommend anyway)). you're at the low end of normal for your height, so cutting is not the way to go. go back to your mini bulk. make it a solid, slow bulk and then cut later on. you're skinny right now. at 20%, not skinny-fat. just skinny.

[MsSMarie22]

thanks for all the replies...

i know it's not about frequency of meals... what i was trying to say was that i wasn't eating enough before to be on a bulk and i wasn't doing enough cardio to be on a cut. i had bulked in the past- from 108 to 118 very slowly- since my last cut left me very skinny fat. i gained lean muscle, but now i just want to get my body fat percentage down lower. my weight has leveled off the past few months since i didn't have a set goal, now i am approx. 110. ever since i have figured out my diet- set calories, macros/micros- i had gone up in weight a little. i know it's not much, 2 lbs could just be one day's period water weight (TMI haha but we know it happens), i know- but i was just getting a little curious since i was eating under maintenance but coming from a weird place to begin. just wanted to figure this out in the beginning stages to keep it in control!

obviously i wasn't eating properly and enough before since now that my numbers are in the fat loss range, i'm actually starting to gain a little weight. i guess more cardio wouldn't hurt.. i've been doing fasted about 3 times a week and 20-30 minutes after lifting.

thanks everyone! keep up the good work!