Am I calculating this weight loss right?

[bradandblake]

In 5 weeks, I lost 5 pounds. The calculator I used said my deficit should have been about 8,000 calories (lose 2.3 pounds)....but I lost 17,500 calories (5 pounds). Does this mean I could add 9,500 calories to my diet over that five week span, and it would have kept my weight as is (192 pounds now)?

[DCSpartan]

it doesnt work that way. your metabolism varies and adjusts. you cant preciesly control it down to the nth degree like some dieticians think you can do.

[NorthernMusicia]

First month of cutting? Have you gone low carb? Could it be water loss? Maybe you calculated on BMR not TDEE? I know. These are obvious things, but sometimes we miss the obvious. Otherwise, yeah, it looks like you could up your calories.

[bradandblake]

I tried going on tdee. Was trying to stay around 3000 calories. I weighed 197 at around 14-15% bf. Now i am 192 at 9, but really want to be 195-200 at 7-8%. Im upping my cals to 3550. Should that about do it? 4 month goal...

[michail71]

Did you drop 2 or 3 pounds the first couple of days? The first week's numbers are often skewed.

[bradandblake]

Did you drop 2 or 3 pounds the first couple of days? The first week's numbers are often skewed.

I lost 3 pounds in the first week. But then, when i first started i was only doing 2800 cals a day. I moved to 3000-3100 weeks 2-5.

[Towball12]

at 197 at 14% your lean body mass is 169 (fat 27lb). 192 at 9% is 174lbm (17lb). I'd say you've lost water in the first week otherwise your lbm is increasing on a deficit which is unlikely. In addition your estimations of body fat might be off a little. I'd stick with what youre doing for another week and see how much comes off. If its more than 1lb add back some cals. I'd go 100 per day and check again after a week.

To get to 195 at 8% you need about 5lb more muscle ~179lbm.

[bradandblake]

at 197 at 14% your lean body mass is 169 (fat 27lb). 192 at 9% is 174lbm (17lb). I'd say you've lost water in the first week otherwise your lbm is increasing on a deficit which is unlikely. In addition your estimations of body fat might be off a little. I'd stick with what youre doing for another week and see how much comes off. If its more than 1lb add back some cals. I'd go 100 per day and check again after a week.

To get to 195 at 8% you need about 5lb more muscle ~179lbm.

Good point. And its not likely I'll get there on a deficit right?

[EjnarKolinkar]

I lost 3 pounds in the first week. But then, when i first started i was only doing 2800 cals a day. I moved to 3000-3100 weeks 2-5.

This is relevant. Leave your calories alone. in 3 weeks you have lose 2 pounds @ 3000-3100.

Increasing cals to 3500+ will have you gaining weight man.

Leave it along at 3000 if this weeks weight loss is fast enough for you.

Good point. And its not likely I'll get there on a deficit right?

No it won't. Just diet to whatever your target leanness is and take what you get. Make some gains when you are done.

[michail71]

Good point. And its not likely I'll get there on a deficit right?

It sounds like it would take a few bulk/cut cycles to get there. Those weight/body fat targets can be really frustrating. Things always seem to want to go a few pounds in the wrong direction.