Cutting issues.

[Mathieux]

Hey Everyone,
I've been having a really hard time on my cut... I've been meticulously weighing and logging food.
I have an active job (always on my feet, lifting, 15000+ steps per day), and I work out 5 days a week for 45 min before work.
I did a few calculators and found TDEE And got about 2500 cal a day so I started at 1500 calories. I felt like gsrbage all day, and didn't see much results.
I then upped to 1900 calories and still not much results and still felt terrible.
I'm now at 2100 calories and I feel alot better, but still no results.
I'm 5'8 and 162lbs, 26 yrs old. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[TheUnderdog83]

Are you saying you haven’t lost any weight? How long have you been cutting?

[Mathieux]

Been cutting since the end of December, have had 2 cheat meals since. I've lost 5lbs but no noticeable fat, and based on look and strength most was muscle

[dshaw101]

I did Kris Gethins 4 weeks to shred and followed it to the letter and got crazy good results.
The folks in my local gym were blown away by my progress. At 54 yrs and tend to put on fat pretty easily all my life I was really surprised by my rapid cut.
Full disclosure-it’s kind of brutal and takes serious commitment but it totally worked for me.
Since you’ve been restricting for several months you likely have slowed your metabolism so you may want to consider backing off your dieting for a month and then get after it.
Best of luck.

[TheUnderdog83]

If you’ve been cutting 3 full months and lost 5 pounds you are in a calorie deficit, but just barely. Your deficit over the last 90 days would average out to be less than 200 calories per day. One of two things, likely both, are occurring, your TDEE is lower than the estimated 2,500, and/or you aren’t tracking all your calories precisely. Are you weighing/measuring all your food, logging all of it? Including any cooking oils, ketchup, sauces, drinks, beers, dips, etc.?

[xsquid99]

So you raised your calories and wonder why you didn't see much progress... I wonder why? (Yes, that's sarcasm).

As UD83 mentioned above your calorie tracking was likely off or your maintenance is lower than 2500 (or a combination of both). Go back to about 1700-1800 calories. Get used to feeling like garbage for a little while, you'll be hungry, tired, and irritable, that just comes with the territory.

[Mathieux]

I raised my calories because I thought maybe I was doing more harm than good metabolism wise as a previous poster said.
And ya, I track everything, weight all. The only thing I don't add is a very small spray of olive oil into my pans when I cook.
I was worried that I was only losing muscle (sorry I'm new to all this) and once again, doing more harm than good.

[illpinoise]

Hey Everyone,
I've been having a really hard time on my cut... I've been meticulously weighing and logging food.
I have an active job (always on my feet, lifting, 15000+ steps per day), and I work out 5 days a week for 45 min before work.
I did a few calculators and found TDEE And got about 2500 cal a day so I started at 1500 calories. I felt like gsrbage all day, and didn't see much results.

I say your calorie counting might be a little off OP. Are you meeting minimum protein and fat requirements? Are you getting enough micronutrients? Other things to consider as to why you feel like chit at 1500 cals. The 5 lbs you lost was most likely water weight.

With all that activity, maybe reconsider the amount of carbs that you're eating.

[Mathieux]

Carbs are at 200g, was previously at 150g until I upped it calories.
165g protein
71g fat.
I haven't been tracking my micronutrients all that closely, but according to MFP I get well over what they recommend.
Having a hard time deciding if I should give it a break for metabolism of go back down to 1700 cal or so and tough out feeling like crap, just sucks having to drag my ass at a physical job lol

[Mathieux]

Would it be worth it to maybe do a little bulk? I think I'm about 14% BF, should I cut right down and then bulk?

[xsquid99]

I raised my calories because I thought maybe I was doing more harm than good metabolism wise as a previous poster said.
And ya, I track everything, weight all. The only thing I don't add is a very small spray of olive oil into my pans when I cook.
I was worried that I was only losing muscle (sorry I'm new to all this) and once again, doing more harm than good.

You're 5'8" and 162 lbs, you aren't in danger of "slowing your metabolism" or doing any other damage to your metabolism if you're not seeing the scale drop. That poster has absolutely zero idea what they are talking about.

[TheUnderdog83]

Would it be worth it to maybe do a little bulk? I think I'm about 14% BF, should I cut right down and then bulk?

Add a pic if you want advice on this question

[Mathieux]

I'll throw a pic up this evening after work, thanks.

[SugarFree1]

Dont get hung up on calculated projected numbers or what you "think" your calorie intake is. If your not losing the weight you want, then increase your calorie deficit. With that said; are you tracking your waist measurements? Im 6 months into a cut now after a multi year break. The 1st 12 weeks back I didnt see much movement on the scale but had lost 7 inches from my waist.

[Mathieux]

No I havent been tracking waist measurements, would of been a great thing to do off the start. I'll start doing that as well. Right now it's just that stubborn lower abdomen fat I'm trying to get rid of, which I'm assuming is the hardest to shed. Maybe results are happening just slowly.

[Mathieux]

I have attached a pic TheUnderdog83, thanks for the advice.

[TheUnderdog83]

I have attached a pic TheUnderdog83, thanks for the advice.

You’re at a point where it’s kind of up to you. You would look a bit better if you dropped some fat, however you’re going to be pretty skinny as you still don’t have all that much muscle mass. If I were in your shoes, and given you have been unsuccessfully cutting for 3 months, I’d up my calories a bit and spend the next 7-8 months bulking, then you can cut lower.

Others may think differently, I just prefer getting big before I worry about getting too lean.

[Mathieux]

Okay thanks. From what you've read, think 2500 cal would be an alright place to start and go from there?

[TheUnderdog83]

Okay thanks. From what you've read, think 2500 cal would be an alright place to start and go from there?

If you’re not losing any weight for the past 3 weeks on 2,100 I’d probably only bump to 2,300-2,400. That will gain roughly 2 pounds per month. If you’re losing a little still on 2,100 you can go to 2,500 and see what your weight does. It’s basically trial and error

[Mathieux]

Awesome, thanks alot for your help, appreciate it.