Need advice

You are a very active mother to start and you add exercise. Unfortunately, you are NOT filling up the gas tank to allow your body to run properly. You probably need to set your account to lightly active to start, then set your account to 1/2 lb per week weight loss since you don't have much to lose and then on top eat additional calories when you exercise, generally 50% of them if MFP is calculating. Or you can set your account to very active and just aim to eat that daily. More than likely, it's going to be 2000+ calories. And yes, you can lose at those levels at TDEE is greater.

The weight the came off quick is just from reducing carbs, it's water weight. When you reduce carbs you reduce glycogen.

Also, if you want, post your stats, I can run some numbers for you. Also, why type of exercise do you do?

This may sound crazy to you, but I think you might be better off building muscle than losing weight. You are already at a healthy weight, which means your body is going to fight you every step of the way. A lot of times, when women want to lose 10 pounds, they are looking for an aesthetic change, and not actually weight loss. The desired aesthetic result can be achieved through heavy weight lifting.

If you want to see examples of what I mean, you can search the forums for weight lifting success stories and posts about how "the scale lies."

Hi, I just looked at a few days & I am NOT an expert...I struggle myself. But, I noticed that your calories are low on several days - like only 1,000 or so calories. I think you need to try to hit your goal in terms of calories. ( I wish you could donate the extra calories to me. lol) On one hand, I think it's great that you are that disciplined, but I do believe it's hindering your weight loss because your body is holding on thinking it's starving.

Psulemon, my eyes about popped out of my head at 2,000 calories. Seems like a lot. I'm pretty sure I have my activity level set on active. I will look. My stats are 137 pounds at 5"6'. I would like to get between 125 and 130. I usually do an hour on the treadmill at 4.0. I also do light weights and sometimes use the bow flex. Thank you!

Based on your stats, I would have you around 1900 calories. I like my macro's around 35% carbs, 40% protein and 25% fats, but since you are doing lower carb, do 25% carb, 40% protein and 35% fats. Also, I would suggest switching your routine. Increase the bowflex to 3-4 days a week and lift heavy weights. To optimize strength gains, try to limit yourself to 10 reps of less. If you want to do 4 days, make one day an endurance/full body workout, so light weight/high weight. And then do about 2 days on the trend mill. A program high in resistance training will enable your body to maintain muscle and cut fat. Also, don' t worry so much about weight, worry about how you look in the mirror (the link below is what happens when you gain new muscle, so sometimes going through a bulk phase and then a cut phase will optimize results and look). Do this for a month, you should see some weight loss and progress in pictures/measurements. If you don't, repost here and we can evaluate this more. Also, if you want, add 250 calories a week, until you hit 1900 calories, to slow the amount of water weight you will gain. It is not uncommon to gain a little water weight when you add calories as you add carbs which store water. Your body will adapt within 4 weeks of being at 1900 calories, sometimes faster.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat

Your time of the month? Are you weighing yourself at the same time of day (mornings are best)? And yes, too much salt helps you retain water. Have your workouts been harder. maybe you are gaining muscle?