I think we can agree (at least in the pic anyway), that my diet has been and is in order, and I understand the energy balance importance. With that being said, my question is how to manipulate within the diet (like carb reduction, etc) to bring about a SMALL additional manipulation along with the caloric defcit? Is this possible? Or should I just not worry about it?

What do you think? Or would temporary carb reduction just be a temporary thing with loss of water too. Let me know I look forward to your corespondence. I think Im entering some...diminishing returns, but until I get that last portion, Im not giving up (no way, not in the vocabulary). Its has improved (albeit a bit slower), but improving. Thanks in advance

When you say ......" to bring about a SMALL additional manipulation " - ' manipultion ' of what exactly ? Also " diminishing returns " - not sure what you mean here either. Are you referring to body fat ? Muscle mass ?

Judging from the pic, I assume you are heavily involved in pushing weights on a regular basis. Since high intensity weight training ( and HIIT ) relies primarily on glucose / glycogen for fuel and since both are primarily sourced by carbs, I'm not sure why carbs is first on your hit list of options for change. To ensure you can sustain high levels of intensity training , I'd think you want to have as many carbs at your disposal as you can get within the contraints of your target calorie level.

Wouldn't it make more sense to see if there is any wiggle room in terms of your overall fat grams intake ( I'm assuming your intake of protein grams is ' untouchable ' ) instead of carb intake ?

Yes, I push weights on a regular interval, and give proper rest for muscle and tendon recuperation during the course of the month, its at least minimum 2 days (body part), sometimes more dependent upon what my aging body tells me (its more often more than 2, and average about 4)

In addition, this month, I have doubled cardio from April (this one goal I had for the month, thinking it would compliment the diet (deficit), and this is done at varying times (but after weight training if on the same day). Im approaching my 6 week review, and is why I am seeking advice, before I again set goals and diet containment.

Thus far Im at #43 cardio, 30m, for the month (todays number, finished about an hour ago), next month I push to either 35 or 40 minutes, as my aging body hasnt told me yet Im doing too much yet (I listen to its signals).

I dont know why I picked carbs other than to say I was believing that this manipulation (by reduction) MAY cause further reduction of fat loss some how. Yes, I understand dropping carbs, is dropping energy, but I can mentally manage that if the manipulation.....brings a small increase in fat reduction (this is what I meant by manipulation within the diet), and then go back up properly if it does anything, additionally positive.

My primary source of FATS are from: Flax Seeds Gels, Fish Oil gels, Almonds, and nat. PB. (I eat atleast on serving a day, sometimes two (if it fits in the caloric requirement),,,,,,cut here maybe? In reality this the ONLY fats I allow. Its approximate, 20% or so of my diet, with protein being first (primarily, chicken, tuna, fat free cotto, FAT FREE yogurts (has carbs), salman, fresh fish), I try to push to get around 1g per my weight, and I admit sometimes I fall short of that (in a deficit, its sometimes difficult to get the proper equations they sometimes recommend)

On the carb side: I eat Oatmeal (lots of it, during the week and again fitting in the caloric equation I set), sweet potatoes, long brown rice, whole wheat pita breads (love it), and fiberONE cereal. Fruits vary: but I have stawberries, grapes, grapefruit (main one I eat more), raisins, mainly.

That should give you a general idea. I admit sometimes, the FATS side (listed), overtake the carb equation sometimes (I have to back off the PB, LOL), but it doesnt overtake the protien, the carb equation usally does, if you understand what I mean.

I guest Im just sort of fishing for a manipulation with the ratios (protien, carb and fats), to see if I can push a small benefit of some sort. Or is this wishful thinking and just worry about the deficit, and keep trucking along? Thanks for the reply.

Diminishing returns I mean, the closer one gets to the goal, and as body fat drops and get sort of low, the harder it gets to lose that last bit----TRUE OR BS Wangell? Just curious.

Another question: I have double cardio as I said, Can I do a minor manipulation here (understanding that I am in defcit caloric wise)? thoughts on this? What are your thoughts on (the body tapping into the fat stores during cardio), and when, etc. I think you know what Im getting at without adding more.

I can handle anything, so If I get something from this, I will try it, its all in the HEAD, and allowing yourself to listen to the body's singnals to a portional degree, if your pushing to hard (diet wise or exercise wise). any help is appreciated.

Additonal info (breifly): I set cap limits on daily intake of food (meaning I calculate what my body NEEDS in calories in relation to what I am doing EACH DAY). for example, Today, with 1 cardio session, Back and BI weight training, and work, I calculate approximate, 2540 needed. I then back off between 300 to 500c), and this has worked for me, BUT even WITH increased cardio, the fat loss is slowing (diet has not changed, caloric deficit has not changed (as above), but coming off, so I am looking for things to manipulate in the diet (ratios), cardio, etc advice.