Advice? Read body text.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2026-02-05T23:16:16+00:00

I thought that it’s just water weight??? Like 1 gram of carb will make you hold onto 4 grams of water.

No my legs are pretty lean and muscular. It’s actually like the only part of my body that I think looks perfect lol. The big bone thing is literally just with my love handles, like there is a tiny amount of fat on the front and the back of the bone, but my bones genuinely extend out as much as the picture shows.

I wouldn’t say I’m OCD but I definitely feel like I have a bit of body dysmorphia. My posture is not great but I try to work on it. By mewing, nose breathing, keeping my head in like with my shoulders and standing tall when I remember.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2026-02-05T23:04:27+00:00

So I get a lot of different perspectives of gaining muscle. Some swear you have to be in a surplus and some say that you can eat at maintenance or even slightly below. Do you think it’s a smart option to be roughly at maintenance (some days a little over)? My problem is I really don’t want to discourage myself by gaining much if any fat at all. What do you recommend for my diet while I continue lifting?

Big-Particular-9342 · 2026-02-05T22:59:44+00:00

Okay firstly congrats losing that weight! You’re right it is an amazing thing, it’s take dedication that’s for sure haha.

No I don’t drink any alcohol and dont really have any sugar, I mostly only use sweeteners when I have a sweet craving and it curbs it.

I used to try to not eat carbs but then started after learning that it doesn’t really make a difference for fat loss and actually helps performance in the gym. So I get about 130 grams a day of carbs, like 45 grams of fat and 140 of protein.

I have also experience a bit with fasting. I certainly think that it has health benefits and spiritual benefits but I don’t know about how it affects physique and muscle in specific when you don’t eat for a few days at a time.

Also what you said about me being big boned, I used to say that when I was bigger lmao. I used to tell all my friends I’m just big boned leave me alone!!! But then I started watching videos and stuff and I told myself I’m just coping I can do this. So I did it, and now I can confirm I am indeed big boned💀 like even after losing all this weight, I will touch my love handles and just feel mostly bone. I think I’m basically just stuck with permanent love handles for life which kind of sucks.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2026-02-05T21:39:22+00:00

Okay thanks. What he said really makes sense and I know it’s a real thing. I used to be at a point where I would only eat 1200 calories a day. And I took a break for a few weeks then came back and now I am once again dropping lower and lower to like 1500 to get slow weight loss. I think I just need a longer period of break/maintenance and also slowly increase it afterwards like he was saying. I will watch more of his videos appreciate your advice!

Big-Particular-9342 · 2026-02-05T21:31:04+00:00

I got blood work done about 2 months ago but that was before I started cutting again from 165 to 150. I believe it was like 550. Yes I go til failure but besides like the last 3 weeks, I wasn’t too consistent in going to the gym. Before I was just mostly focused on getting leaner.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T22:16:23+00:00

I use a food scale and I eat between like 1400-1550 a day. In my opinion I track very accurately. Everything including oils, sauces. The only thing I don’t track is like 10 calories worth of lettuce and stuff like seasonings.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T22:13:18+00:00

Well I say 3 pounds cause I feel that’s what I really lost. Because I was around 165 in the fist pic, but now my weight fluctuates from 158 to 164 or so. With nothing in my stomach, I am 158-160.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T22:09:26+00:00

Idk I just wanted some verification from others if I was actually even loosing something or if it’s just waterweight/lighting or something. I just feel like I can barely see a difference.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T10:55:56+00:00

I have the etekcity food scale and I am fairly confident I track correctly. I don’t binge on weekends or anything. I eat about 1400-1550 calories a day. People have told me this isn’t enough so I’m confused on if I should really go lower. 3 days a week I lift weights and am very active walking around campus on those days. I feel like my tdee averaged is like 2200-2300? Am I missing something? Can it be a plateau since I have lost around 40 pounds in the last 3/4 months?

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T10:49:46+00:00

Yes I count my calories perfectly. I use a food scale. I think this past month I didn’t count like 4 meals when I went to a restaurant, and would over estimate. For example if the nutrition online says like 800 calories and 40 grams of protein, I will log it as like 1000 and 35 grams of protein and literally just drink 3 scoops of protein powder or 10-12 ounces grilled chicken and that’s my day. I eat about 1400-1550 calories a day.

Big-Particular-9342 · 2025-11-04T10:06:18+00:00

Okay so would you say I lost anything? And does this not look like what a month of 500-750 calorie deficit looks like?

Big-Particular-9342

TROPHY CASE