Need some advice

[Scythe]

Hi, new here to the forums

Alright, about 5 months ago I started on a diet and excercise streak that went around 3 months. Originally I was about 165 and cut down to about 134 (I'm a 5'7" male), and am now staying stagnant at about 155

The thing is I lost the size-mass and numbers on the scale, but my overall 'shape' stayed the same. Still have fat on my stomach, under the arms/sides of the chest and the like. The diet I was on was about 1600 calories a day, excercise was mostly cardio. I am getting the impression that I lost more muscle mass then actual fat due to neglicance on the carb/protein ratio and no real weight lifting (like I said was mostly cardio)

So I am wondering what I should go about doing now to get into a good body shape? Some people are telling me to eat more and do weights to bulk up muscle wise, others are telling me to eat less and continue on a fat-loss plan to lower my body fat % (which I think is at 19%). I'm no nutrition/excercise expert so I'm asking on a few forums, anyways what do you guys think my plan should be? I'm 21 and a guy. I actually have a 31 waist but I still have that 'gut'. Please let me know if you need any more info or if I was too vague in explaining something

Thanks!

[Chain]

I'd say start doing strength training and a bit of carido, but focus more on the strength training. It sounds like you lost some muscle. The carb/protein ratio isn't as important as the # of calories you are eating, and you weren't eating enough at 1600 calories. You should eat over 2,000. Strength train 3-4 days a week and do cardio 2-3 days a week in addition to a proper diet. I think that will get you the best results