I've been at 126lbs. for 5 months, a 6 pound gain since I began lifting 5 months ago but I still have a little fat on my butt and inside thighs. I've been maintaining at 2200 cal. per day so should I drop down and if so how much or just add cardio to get off that last bit of fat.
I often wonder the same thing. It definitely varies somewhat from person to person... but the CRAZY (fascinating) thing is how there can also be TONS of variation w/in the same individual.
I'm a perfect example of this, (and I'm sure many others have had similar experiences) - I recently dropped just over 20 lbs. in under a 2 month time period, eating a fairly modest amount (1800 cals/day) for a small frame female; (and most of the weight loss was fat/water, based on: the mirror; the fact that all of my weights are up or unchanged; and a fairly accurate bf scale).
I have to admit, it was almost magical/uncanny, just how freakin FAST the weight/fat fell off; and, as usual, when I "crunched the numbers", the weight loss just doesn't add up (I should have lost a lot less, based on the "paper calculations").
In fact, looking back over my history of dieting, the past 7.5 weeks has been the fastest EVER that I've lost weight/fat on a "*normal" amount of food (*i.e. the exception being the 500 cal/day hCG diet/Simeons Protocol... during which the weight loss was only slightly faster).
Interestingly, a year ago (starting about the last week in Dec. 2009 to the end of March 2010), when I finally got my appetite under control, I also was eating 1800 calories/day yet
working out slightly MORE (compared to now); yet it took a full 3 months to lose just 7.5 lbs. (at which point my weight stalled). Contrast with this year: from the 2nd week in Dec. 2010, to this past Friday, I went from 130 lbs. to 108.5 lbs. The MAIN difference between this year and last year was: my macronutrient intake... strangely, (last year when I experienced slow weight loss), I was eating a MAXIMUM of 25% carbs... whereas, currently, with the crazy fast weight loss I just experienced, I was eating ~45-60% carbs.
To the OP - my point: this can be REALLY confusing and there are definitely a lot of factors involved. The best thing is to find a trainer/nutritionist who you are confident with and who has the knowledge to custmoize a diet/training program for you that will allow you to reach your goals. I certainly don't understanding everything, (despite hours of reading/researching over the years); but I'm working with a trainer/nutritionist who has tons of credentials, and, more importantly, really knows his shit and has created a program that's allowed me to accomplish my goals.