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At 18% body fat, recomposition is possible but slower. You are already relatively lean, so your body is less willing to part with remaining fat stores. Progress will be visible but incremental. Patience and precise nutrition tracking are essential.
18%
starting BF
1.1g/lb
protein target
4-5
days/week
4-8
months to results
Eat at maintenance or a very slight surplus (0-5% above TDEE)
At 18% body fat, you may need a tiny surplus on training days to fuel muscle growth. Consider calorie cycling: maintenance on rest days, slight surplus (100-200 cal) on training days. This provides extra fuel when your body needs it most.
At lower body fat levels, a slightly higher protein intake (1.1g per pound) helps preserve and build muscle tissue. Research shows leaner individuals benefit from higher protein during recomp. Prioritize protein at every meal.
Frequency
4-5 days per week
Volume
Higher: 14-18 sets per muscle group per week
At lower body fat, you need a stronger training stimulus to drive muscle growth. Use periodized programming with phases of higher volume. Train close to failure on isolation movements. Keep 1-2 reps in reserve on compound lifts. Prioritize sleep and recovery.
After 3 months: expect 2-4 lbs of fat loss and 1-3 lbs of muscle gain. Changes will be subtle but measurable with calipers or body fat tracking. Strength should increase consistently.
After 6 months: expect 4-7 lbs of fat lost and 3-5 lbs of muscle gained. At 18% starting body fat, the visual impact of even small changes is significant because you are already relatively lean.
At 18% body fat, a traditional bulk/cut approach may produce faster visual results. Consider a 12-week lean bulk at a 5-8% calorie surplus, followed by a 6-8 week cut. This is more efficient than recomp for people who are already moderately lean.
View bulking guide →Absolutely. Women can recomp effectively. The main differences are: women naturally carry more essential body fat (12% vs 3-5% for men), so healthy target ranges are higher. Women also build muscle at roughly half the rate of men. The principles are identical: high protein, progressive resistance training, and appropriate calorie intake.
Keep cardio minimal and strategic. 2-3 low-intensity sessions per week (walking, cycling) are fine and support cardiovascular health. Avoid excessive cardio as it interferes with muscle recovery and growth. Resistance training should be your primary exercise. If you need extra calorie burn, add a 20-minute walk after lifting.
Body recomposition (recomp) means losing fat and gaining muscle simultaneously. Unlike traditional bulk/cut cycles, recomp aims to change your body composition without significant weight change. You eat around maintenance calories with high protein while following a progressive resistance training program.
Yes. Research confirms that simultaneous fat loss and muscle gain is possible, especially for beginners, people returning from a training break, those with higher body fat, and people new to proper nutrition. The key factors are adequate protein (1-1.2g per pound), resistance training with progressive overload, and sufficient sleep (7-9 hours).
FitCommit tracks body fat percentage over time with AI body scans and calculates your exact macros for recomp. Watch lean mass go up while fat goes down. Free 7-day trial.
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