Hello /fit/34, M, 180lbs (down from 250lbs since Nov 2023), 5'9.Ive been running a PPLPPRR since January 2025 as a untrained newbie and have seen decent results. I also walk for an hour 5x a week after lifting. I started lifting at ~215lbs and am now down to 180lbs. My goal weight was 170lbs but I still have more fat than I would like so ill probably try to get down to 160 then eat at maintenance and finish the recomp from there.Over the last several months ive really corrected my form on lifts and now go full ROM with a proper cadence to the lift and stopped ego lifting. Ive also really dialed in my diet and sleep schedules.Currently im on a deep cut eating 160+g protein and less than 2k calories. I have had progress on most of my lifts except for my presses. I definitely feel as if im getting stronger though and it seems as if im keeping/gaining muscle and losing fat.I wanted to get /fit/'s opinion on some things:1. At what point should I start to eat at maintenance since im pretty close to my goal weight? Im still about ~24% body fat and since im on a cut building muscle has been pretty slow. I want to start to eat at maintenance and let my body recomp from there and hopefully build more muscle with the extra calories. Its been tough knowing that im getting stronger but not really seeing the numbers go up as much as id like on my lifts...2. If I increase my calories to say 2500 per day should most of the new calories come from carbs?Currently, I only get slightly over 200 grams of carbs per day. I know that carbs are essential for building muscle but since im on a cut and about 24% body fat, ive been trying to let my body use fat as fuel. I already get ~160 grams of protein per day and if I add an additional 500 calories to my diet and get closer to 300 will that hamper my body's ability to recomp? Assuming I maintain or increase my intensity with the additional calories, will my body still burn excess fat and use the carbs to build muscle?
