At a standstill for over two weeks...

hcs82

I've been counting calories since December 6 - from that date until about two weeks ago, I lost 15 pounds. Since then I've gained three and find it impossible to get losing again! I'm very frustrated and getting really upset with myself.

I kickbox (at an academy, not a home video or anything) three days a week for an hour at a time, since July. The classes are more like a boot camp as we do many, MANY situps/pushups/sprawls/run/jump/etc. throughout the class, so it's not just hitting. I eat 1400 calories or less a day and drink more than enough water. My sodium is high due to soup for lunch and baked chicken breast at a lot of dinners but that wouldn't be inhibiting the loss to this degree!

Can someone give me honest, healthy ideas of what to do to get back to 2 pounds lost a week? Or more of course I'm going to make my food diary public for the help. I don't eat perfectly every day but generally contain the bad foods to one weekend day.

melsinct

To me it is pretty clear you aren't eating enough. If you don't fuel your body properly, it can't function properly. You are routinely leaving 1,000+ calories left that MFP is suggesting you eat. Doing a crazy workout like kickboxing can't be fueled with a measly 1400 calories! At least eat *some* of your exercise calories back- try eating half back for 2 weeks and I bet you'll see a change.

melsinct

I also should have mentioned, 2 lbs./week isn't recommended for many people unless you are extremely overweight. Aim for one pound/week, it is much more realistic, sustainable, and healthy.

hcs82

Thank you. I am considered extremely overweight, right now I'm at 227 and I'm only 5'5". My end goal is 150. So I don't think two a week is overkill...but I appreciate the note.

On days I work out (Monday through Thursday, I mix up which classes I attend) I do end up snacking more before class to get some protein in, so sometimes I do have more than 1400 calories but I never eat back the 1000 I burn! I don't know that I buy into this 'eating back your calories' thing because it just makes no sense to me. I definitely don't think I'm starving my body by any means. My doctor doesn't get the 'eat back' thing either, nor my head nurse mom.

hcs82

Any more feedback, please? I don't think my fat intake is too high to rebuff the calorie counting...I've never experienced this before, I've always been able to lose when I count calories in the past.