What am I doing wrong????

In the same boat...frustrating for sure

Also, that's 12 lbs since 2012, not since I started up 3 months ago.

I am 5'6" too. I typically eat between 1500-1700 cals a day, but I'm doing far less intense exercise - two 15 minute miles 4 days a week, three 20 minute miles 3 times a week. I haven't plateau'd yet and I think it's because I eat a high protein, low sodium diet and try to contain my carbs. My diary is open, you're welcome to take a look and see my food and exercise to give you a sense of my days. I recently went back to work and am working for a weight loss center, which is why you see the recent addition of those products as a I sample them to see how they work. Just know 36 of my pounds, I lost before going back to work.

It might perhaps be something very simple: the weight of your newly-gained muscles. Muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue. If you say you lost inches (are your clothes looser?), then you probably have lost fat tissue - which is so much more important than those stupid pounds. A very smart woman once told me to not become a slave of the scales; instead, measure your waist, your hips and your thighs. This is a much clearer indication of whether you lost any weight. Scales are your biggest enemies, as they lie to you.

me too! I think mine is the heat as it makes me swell up and retain water. I also think stress has alot to do with it. I have alot of it on a daily basis and it makes me hate myself

Three things you might want to consider:

1. You're currently eating at 75% of your TDEE. Your body might be feeling like it has to hold on to everything. Try upping the calories a bit more. Remember, your BMR is just what your body needs to stay alive - it can't really build anything off of that, and it's unlikely that it's going to want to shed weight or build muscle if it has what it feels to be insufficient material to work with.

2. How much of your intake (proportionally) is protein vs carbs and fats. You may want to look at your macro balances and tweak them a bit.

3. You may be over exercising. Your body needs to have recovery time to rebuild the muscle that is broken down in a vigorous workout.

In my own case, I'm eating around 1 gram of protein per lb of body weight, keeping my macro ratios around 40% protein, 40% fat and 20% carbs. I work out 4 days a week, and I do not do cardio at all. I do a lot of very basic exercises, work with kettlebells, weights of various sorts, and use a TRX. Squats, lunges, deadlifts, rows, push ups, planks and burpees aren't glamorous, but they work.

Since I changed my macro balance and upped my calories (around start of June) I've dropped around 20 lbs and a couple of sizes.

It is healthy to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Rememer as a women you body goes through it's monthly cycle. There is typically weight gain, which is usually water weight, during part of the cycle. Instead of worrying about the scale so much, observe how you are feeling and how your clothes fit. Don't give up.

I am 5'5" and feel like I plateaued at 146...I'm now down to 136 and I think the big difference was my exercise - I obviously track my calories here and like you - often eat back my exercise calories - I don't like to be hungry! I am doing far less cardio and more weightlifting. Weight lifting (low weights, high reps) 3 times a week & cardio and/or abs 3 other days. Also keep in mind, you don't really have ton to lose (which is where I was at) it is likely going to be a slow process. Took me 90 days to lose my 10lbs - you aren't going to put up a big loss # week in and week out like you see on Biggest Loser, but if you stick with it, it will add up!!

Yeah be patient... I know it's hard when you want to see results. Time of the month plays a bigger role for me than I want it to- I have to disregard a whole week basically.

I'm 5'5" and I exercise every day, and i eat between 1500 and 1700 calories a day, sometimes 1800+. I eat back some but not all exercise calories.

In addition to my workouts I have a Fitbit and it helps me keep an eye on my general activity level, or NEAT. I get 10,000 steps in most days by taking walks in my neighborhood and by trying not to sit down for very long at any given time. I think it makes a big difference for me.

Three things you might want to consider:

1. You're currently eating at 75% of your TDEE. Your body might be feeling like it has to hold on to everything. Try upping the calories a bit more. Remember, your BMR is just what your body needs to stay alive - it can't really build anything off of that, and it's unlikely that it's going to want to shed weight or build muscle if it has what it feels to be insufficient material to work with.

2. How much of your intake (proportionally) is protein vs carbs and fats. You may want to look at your macro balances and tweak them a bit.

3. You may be over exercising. Your body needs to have recovery time to rebuild the muscle that is broken down in a vigorous workout.

In my own case, I'm eating around 1 gram of protein per lb of body weight, keeping my macro ratios around 40% protein, 40% fat and 20% carbs. I work out 4 days a week, and I do not do cardio at all. I do a lot of very basic exercises, work with kettlebells, weights of various sorts, and use a TRX. Squats, lunges, deadlifts, rows, push ups, planks and burpees aren't glamorous, but they work.

Since I changed my macro balance and upped my calories (around start of June) I've dropped around 20 lbs and a couple of sizes.

Everything she said, plus:

Your macros (carbs/fat/protein) need some changing. From your diary, you are VERY carb heavy. Try 40/30/30 for carbs/fat/protein percentages.

Make sure you are using an actual food scale to measure things. Eyeballing doesn't cut it. Even measuring cups are dicey for anything that's not a liquid. Use grams/ounces whenever possible and weigh everything. You might be grossly under- or over-estimating what you're actually taking in.

I know that eating more to lose weight sounds counterintuitive, but it works. You have to give your body something to work with, or it tries to hold on to every little calorie it can.

And perhaps most importantly - give it time. Your body has to learn new things too. It doesn't adjust instantly.

It could be you over estimating the amount of calories you are burning and therefore actually eating back more calories then you need.

This was what I was thinking do you use a heart rate monitor or just use MFP's guesses? Maybe just eat back half your exercise calories (as MFP can be way off for some people), try to cut out some of the processed sugary stuff (on top of nutritional drawbacks it makes you crave more food) and drink more water. Well done though still a good loss.

Are you using a tape measure? When I stalled on the scale, the tape measure reminded me that I was still getting smaller. The scale could say 500 on it if it wants, so long as I am becoming smaller and feeling healthier then I'm good.

I looked at your diary and I can say for myself I would not be able to lose eating that much sugar or processed foods. However we are ALL DIFFERENT and some people can lose as long as they are within their calorie range. Weight loss is simple math so you probably are not burning as many calories as you think.

I worked for WW for years and saw many many many members who would come to the scales very disappointed bc they stayed within their points but weren't losing. Most of them were eating lots of processed foods high in sugar or sodium. I also saw lots of really overweight people who ate processed food s within their points range and they lost big. However I think the bigger you re the more your body responds to the smallest of changes. The less you have to lose, the harder it is to see big changes.

Try eating as many non processed foods (grilled chicken breast, fish turkey, egg whites and fresh fruits and veggies) and see if it helps after a couple of weeks. I also try to cut as much bread out as possible while trying to lose and add it back in a little here and there while on maintenance.

Good Luck! Hang in there!

Yeah, and I have to disagree with the anti-carb folks. My carbs are 50% of my diet and I haven't stalled yet. I'm also seven weeks in. Thirty pounds gone and six inches off my waistline.

If it's food intake, it is more likely that the number of calories logged are inaccurate or exercise burns are over-estimated. Otherwise, it's simply water retention from repairing muscles used during the workout.

However, you have a lot to lose. When you have a lot to lose, what consists of those 1500 calories a day doesn't matter as much as it does when you have 10 to lose. I'm not judging, I have quite a bit to lose too. Just saying.

Most everyone who does strength training while "dieting" doesn't lose as much as quickly as you would if you were only doing SOME cardio 3 or 4 days a week. It takes longer to see results when you are doing what you're doing, especially since you are a taller woman, and not very overweight.
But, on the up side, you're muscles are getting stronger, and tightening up your skin so that when you DO lose the weight, you won't have any baggage or loose skin.
I would keep doing what you're doing for another few weeks. Don't weigh or measure for a whole month. Then in a month, record it and see the results. If it's still not what you want, I'd try not to do as much strength training, and just stick to some cardio.
What you are doing now is great, whether you are losing as quickly as you would like, or not. You are taking care of your body, and you are not treating your body as a trash can! (Eating unhealthily). Focus on different goals, like running for 30 minutes by the end of the week, getting in 150 minutes of exercise in one week, no carbonated drinks for one week, etc. Those are goals you can use until it's time to weigh/measure next month!
Good luck, hope this helped!