Search the Community

So I've managed to drop from 67kg to 61.something in a little over three months by tracking my food intake, lifting and a little cardio. Mostly I stalled at the same weight for a week or two, and then dropped 1-1.5 kilos overnight. But ever since the end of the last challenge (July 19th), I've been stuck at 61.x and I. Am. Going. Nuts. I have no idea why this is happening. It's not stealth calories, because I've been tracking everything I eat over 90% time, and when I haven't and have possibly overeaten, it's been a cheat meal and less often than a weekly occurrence. I set my target calories (1430) to sedentary activity level and rather under- than overestimate the calories from workouts that I subtract. I'm 164 cm and estimate my BF% to be around 25%, which gives me a TDEE of 1950-1800 kcal, depending on how many times of the week I exercise. So I have 100% certainly been on a deficit. But the weight is not budging. I got the 60.6kg once during the past three weeks, but I'm not sure I wasn't dreaming that, because I haven't got below 61 a second time. I had 3/4 of a homemade pizza on Sunday in hope of shaking up my metabolism, didn't help. I've started running hill sprints 2-3 a week in addition to my other training, no effect (except my calves are killing me). The frustration is driving me crazy, because I only have about 2 more kilos to shed before I'll be at my target of 59kg and can go on a bulk and build some muscle. A lot of sites are talking about calorie/carb cycling, so I'm wondering if that's something I should try? The 5-2 method seems like a best option; it's where you're on a deficit 5-6 days a week and then eat at or over maintenance 1-2 days a week, preferably on the most intense training days. Has anyone done this, or has any pointers? I'm desperate to break this plateau, but I'm also terrified of gaining the weight back, so I'm scared of eating over maintenance even one or two days a week. I'm also mildly carb-phobic, and since most of the extra calories should come from carbs, I'm hesitant. I need help.