We're two weeks in. My weight hasn't materially changed, but I've gained about 2 pounds of muscle and lost some fat. Recomp. That might seem fine, but it's actually a problem - I'm clearly not in a caloric deficit, which is what I need for my larger weight loss goals.
There are several possible culprits. My BMR calculations might be off, or I could be overestimating how many calories I'm burning during workouts. I also know that my calorie tracking hasn't been as precise as it could be.
The simplest and most effective adjustment would be reducing my daily calorie intake by about 300 calories. But easier than that will be simply sticking to the eating plan I originally outlined. I haven't been. One of the reasons I've enjoyed slow carb is that it doesn't emphasize calorie counting, yet it's still very hard to overeat if done right. So, I’ll continue to track calories, but put more emphasize on eating plan-aligned foods.
As for exercise, I'm keeping things steady. My current workout schedule and daily walks are working well, so there's no need to adjust the physical activity side of the equation right now.
The blood work I got back adds another interesting layer to this puzzle. While most of my health markers look good, my testosterone levels are hovering at the low end of the normal range – significantly lower than they were a decade ago. This helps explain why weight loss feels substantially harder now than it did in my mid-to-late 20s. Age is clearly playing a role here, and it's something I'll need to factor into my expectations and planning.