Scale not going down

oliviajohn1

I've been focusing on losing weight from around end of March. I lost 2.4lbs in the first week, then nothing and then another pound but as soon as I got to under 14st I've been stuck at 13st 13, sometimes going to 13st 11/12. Most of the time I count my calories and if they are not below, they will be just a bit over. I've also gone from eating a lot of carbs to replacing them with more protein (just because I wanted to even out my diet a bit more). I always exercise just because I really enjoy it. However, the workouts I once found really difficult I can now do much easier and after doing them I don't feel as 'strong' as I once did - if that makes sense? I used to be a competitive swimmer so exercised around 14/15 hours a week so it's not as though my body is alien to exercise. In terms of swimming, whenever I go back to it my body soon gets used to it again. Could this be the same thing? It's really annoying because I enjoy working out but it just doesn't feel the same anymore. I don't know if this affects it either but my sleeping patterns aren't great and I may not always drink enough water.

sijomial

Most of the time I count my calories
Suggest you change that to counting them all of the time as calories determine fat loss.

I've also gone from eating a lot of carbs to replacing them with more protein (just because I wanted to even out my diet a bit more).
Probably/possibly a good thing but minimal impact on weight loss if calories remain the same.

However, the workouts I once found really difficult I can now do much easier
Good news - exercise did what it's supposed to do, you got fitter.

and after doing them I don't feel as 'strong' as I once did - if that makes sense?
Sorry doesn't make sense to me! Can you lift heavier weights? Lift the same weights with more reps? That would be how I gauged strength rather than by feelings.

In terms of swimming, whenever I go back to it my body soon gets used to it again. Could this be the same thing?
No. Your body can't create energy from nowhere. In a severe calorie restriction yes your body can cause you to slow down but that changes the number at which you are in a deficit. If you have a true calorie deficit your body must draw from its energy reserves to make up that shortfall.

It's really annoying because I enjoy working out but it just doesn't feel the same anymore.
You enjoy exercise and you are getting fitter - seems like good news to me! You seem to be looking to exercise to cause your weight loss rather than from controlling your intake. Although it's possible that way it requires a lot of time and dedication and it's always far easier to eat more than you exercise. I have to exercise enough to raise my calorie allowance to between 3500 & 4000 a day to have virtually complete dietary freedom to maintain my weight.

I don't know if this affects it either but my sleeping patterns aren't great
Stress (of all kinds) can cause water retention but can't prevent fat loss in a deficit. It can also affect your energy levels so your activity level drops and your perform worse at your exercise so reducing calories burned.

and I may not always drink enough water.
Irrelevant for fat loss. Are you showing signs of dehydration?