Community » Get Advice » Diet and Nutrition » Maintenance Problem - Gaining Fat while Losing Weight

Background - 6'1" male, lost 65+ lbs since Dec 2009, now at my goal weight (185 lbs), and trying to maintain. I've been walking/running since April, and started P90X when I reached my goal weight (Aug. 15). When I was losing, I was using zig zag calories, at 1950/day average, with zone ratios for macronutrients. When I started P90X (3 weeks ago), I went up to 2550 cal/day average, stayed with the zig zag and on the zone ratios.

My weight was varying in a 3 lb range, but trending up, and I was feeling low energy, so I upped my calories to 2750 average/day a week ago, and also switched to the P90X Phase II ratios (40 carb/40 prot/20 fat). This had a postive effect on my weight (started a steady downwards trend), but my BF% started going up, from a low of 16.9 to 18.4% today (I use an Omron BCM). My energy is still a bit low, although better than it was.

I have a feeling that my intake is still low, as the P90X intake calculator puts me in the 3100 cal/day range (I burn 4-500 cal/day, 6 days/week, with walking and running, plus the 600 cal/day from P90X). I'm probably going to go up to 2950 cal/day average on Sunday. I'm also drinking over 20 glasses of water/day.

My question - is it likely that the fat gain is from eating too little? I'm religious about tracking everything I eat, and I'm confident that I'm in line with the required ratios. I'm also progressing with P90X (did the full yoga workout on week 3 for the first time (only did 30 and 40 minutes the first two times), and I'm up to about 250 moves in Ab Ripper X from about 100 the first time), so I'm happy about my overall fitness progress.

Thanks,

Brian