Weight Question

[raymond3]

Ok, I bulked a little bit, gained like 10 pounds or so, and now I am cutting. When I was bulking or semi- bulking, I had my calories at maitenece or right above.

Now Im cutting, drop a pound or two (its been about 3 weeks), but I am stuck on 195 and not moving. I dropped my calories by 500, and added 2 more days of hiit. I am still taking creatine (which could be part of it), but why am I stuck on 195. I figure if I dropped my calories, and added extra cardio, and cant assume I am gaining much muscle (went to 5x5 scheme), I should be losing a pound or so a week.

[laxcdn]

Have a cheat day. Eat over your maintenance and you then your body will kick up your metabolism to fight those extra calories.

[raymond3]

Yeah I do that on Sundays, I wonder if it might be the creatine.

[Lost Dog]

Creatine can add some water weight when you start taking it. But after that, no more. It can help retain muscle mass, too. But, it won't stop you from losing weight.

Losing weight/fat is not an exact science. I've gone months at the same weight, while still dropping my bf%. Our bodies can be mysterious. Choose a reasonable calorie deficit and stay the course for a while. It'll happen.

[Canadian_Bacon]

I have heard that the 'metabolic boost' from cheating is a little overrated. I think JB had a QA on it at t-mag a while back.

[raymond3]

Lost Dog, I understand what you are saying, with the maintaining weight while losing bodyfat...as I know sometimes you can "swap" (not the best word) bodyfat out and be adding muscle...the only thing that confuses me is Im eating at a caloric deficit, and thought you cant gain much muscle while doing so,,,but maybe because I switched to 5x5 and my strength has gone up, Im gaining more muscle?

[RipStone]

Sometimes while cuttin the weight loss stops for a couple weeks, then all of a sudden without changing anything, you start to lose weight again. Same thing happens with bulking except you start gaining weight. At least that what I have expiernced. Give it another week or so. If you still dont see results then drop the calories by another 100-250 a day and see how you react to that change.

[raymond3]

Ok thanks guys..

[Lost Dog]

Originally posted by raymond3:
Lost Dog, I understand what you are saying, with the maintaining weight while losing bodyfat...as I know sometimes you can "swap" (not the best word) bodyfat out and be adding muscle...the only thing that confuses me is Im eating at a caloric deficit, and thought you cant gain much muscle while doing so,,,but maybe because I switched to 5x5 and my strength has gone up, Im gaining more muscle?

Remember that at any given time, you are in either a calorie deficit or surplus. You can have both on the same day, multiple times, depending on how close you are to eating at your maint level.

That's how you can gain in one area and lose in the other. It's just slow to do it that way.

Plus the number of cals to maintain is just an estimate. It can fluctuate quite a bit based on your metabolism, how long you've been dieting, how long you've been bulking, what types of foods you eat, how often you eat, etc. The list can go on and on.

Without expensive scientific equipment, you have to try out different levels around your estimated level to see what gets you the results your shooting for.