5’3”, 137lbs—>113lbs
Combination of a moderate deficit (300-500 calorie deficit/day), weight training 5x a week, cardio 6x a week and high protein!! First photo is August 2025, second photo taken yesterday.
Hi all, I am a 24 year old female, 5’ 3” and 115 pounds. I started weight loss about 3-4 months ago at around 140 ish pounds. I went about it unhealthily for a couple months, eating 1000 calories a day and doing intense cardio (burning 400-500 calories a day), and that’s how I got down into the 120s.
I looked so thin when I ate like that (I know it was disordered eating) but I knew it wasn’t sustainable. About a month or two ago I started increasing calories, focusing on protein, and weight training. I aim for about 100-120g protein a day, and I’m at around 1500-1700 calories a day. I usually do an hour of lifting (5-6 exercises, 4 sets of 12-15 reps), alternating between lower and upper body days. I lift till failure/near failure most of the time, and I have been increasing weight over the last few weeks. I can see muscle definition in my quads, the sides of my glutes, and especially my upper body. My weight has slowly been going down (a lot slower than before, to be expected), and I’m at 115 now. I recognize that slower weight loss, increased muscle definition, and heavier lifts is indicative of body recomp working, but I have one problem.
Although I now see slight ab definition (upper line, some definition on the sides) from core stabilization during workouts (and I’m assuming less body fat overall), I feel like my midsection looks BIGGER than before.
My waist has measured the same for two months now (25”) and my pants fit the same. But my midsection looks puffier and bigger than I would like. Basically, when I’m wearing low rise pants or just looking at myself naked in the mirror, I don’t feel like I look flat. I don’t have that “bikini body” look I’m aiming for. And I feel even thought I have very little stomach fat, my lower stomach still juts out. I don’t know what to do—I’m eating more (but still not over
maintenance), training hard, prioritizing protein and fiber, getting good sleep, and feel good. But my midsection never looks good to me.
It’s probably worth noting that in addition to being in the gym 6 days a week, strength training for an hour each day (long rests in between sets) and doing cardio, I work a physical job as a bartender/server 5 days a week (two of those being double shifts). I also take creatine every morning (5-10g).
Any suggestions? Please be kind if I’m doing something clearly wrong. I’m looking for advice.