Maintenance Question for Vets

My goal is/was 190 and I reached it back in August.  I kept losing down to 186 over the next couple of months.  I have since uped my calories (1,600 per day) and my carbs (75-100 grams per day).  My weight increased to about 193, within about a week, and it just sits there.  I weigh myself everyday and its always within a pound of that.  Currently been there since Novermber.  I would really like to be sitting two or three pounds under goal rather than over.  I think I'm maintaining well, have the lifestyle down.  Should I try to lose down to say 180 and then switch back to this level of carbs and calories and see what happens?  My pea brain tells me I'll then be in the 187 range which I would love.  Thoughts?

When you added back the carbs you started to build up your glycogen stores again. For every pound of glycogen you also add 2 pounds of water - give or take. If you slowly dial back the calories but keep you carbs the same you will be able to slowly lose back down to 187 without depleting your glycogen stores. It will take you longer to lose the weight - say 3 to 6 weeks depending on how you cut back calories. When you do it this way you won't have the regain from getting your glycogen stores back. 

Make sense? 

You can also go the ketogenic route and lose down to about 180-182 and then have a bounce back. 

What Karik said. I would only add to it that your post reads like you would prefer to take off a few more pounds. Do it now... it becomes more challenging the further away from your weight loss phase that you get. Not impossible by any means, just more challenging. I am a believer of the room to cushion your goal weight- and I used it up and then some before getting things back on track. Many experience a similar outcome. 

My body is still really repressive t my changing my diet and calorie intake.  Honestly, I prefer a very low carb life but its just easier some days to eat them when I'm traveling.  I think I'm going to drop into the low 180's and reset things.  Thanks.

supposed to say "responsive"

If you make a mistake in your post, you can hit the "More" option at the bottom of your post, then hit "Edit" and correct your original post. Thought I'd mention it in case you didn't know that.

psychoticparrot

Thanks, this site makes me crazy.

It's always extra carbs that bite us on the ass. I would go even 10 pounds below your goal now. Things will even out later, don't worry.