Frustrated! >:-|

calories can sneak in everywhere make sure you measure precisely when you cook your food... like the oil you use, sodium, dressings and juices.... they are all filled with tons of calories.
Another thing, how much calorie do you burn eating 1300? if you burn 500 you should eat it back.... because that would make your net calories 800 … If you exercise a lot you need to up your calories with healthy foods.

It can be frustrating can't it ... all I can say is that women's bodies do really weird things occasionally and sticking with it is the way to go.

So, work out accurately how many cals you should be eating (rather than just going for 1300 - you may be eating too little), keep recording and keep exercising and give it a bit longer.

IF you've still gained say after 6 weeks go see your Dr, get a full blood workup done and get a referral to a (properly accredited) dietitian as there may be other factors at play!

last time i lost weight i literally lost an entire dress size before the scale shifted. that was because i was gaining muscle faster than i was losing fat. once the drop started it was steady. your body might well be in shock. All sorts of things can cause a gain - i've had two in two weeks from my period and then digestion issues, but theyre temporary and fading now. just make good decisions, be precise, and be patient x

I suggest what others have suggested about measurements. It's a far more accurate gauge of progress. Also, this is new, and it sounds like you made a LOT of changes really FAST. Our bodies don't really like change, even if that change is for the better. Let it catch up. Also be careful not to burn yourself out doing it all so fast. Replace one bad habit with a good habit. Also, our bodies flux at least 3-5 pounds in one DAY. You could have just stepped on the scale at a crappy time of the day. Best to do it in the morning, after you go to the bathroom. Or if that's not possible, the same time of day each time you do it. Also, your menstrual cycle can affect how much water you're retaining the closer you get to your TOM. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine. Also, muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of anything is still a pound! It just takes up less space than fat does. But besides that, you definitely didn't gain 3 pounds of muscle in 2 weeks. I think a trainer told me it takes a year to build a pound of muscle? Either way, the opposite is true too that it's very doubtful you could put on 3 pounds of fat since you would have needed to eat 150 cals over your maintenance per day over the 2 weeks to do that and if you're eating 1300 cals you aren't doing that. So don't worry so much

It may not be what you are eating that is the problem: Sleep deprivation or stress can cause imbalances in the chemicals that regulate appetite, metabolism, and fat storage! I read your profile that you want to look good for grad! Even though you may not feel stress, your body does! Try some Yoga if you think it is stress! Hang in there! Don't give up and yes do buy a tape measure to check your progress, because the scale could be measuring water weight!

I was wondering how you came up with 1300 as a goal... what is your height and weight? You only have 22 lbs to lose... you should not be using big deficits.

If no one is going to say it, you need to eat MORE. Eating 1300 is not enough, especially if you are exercising! Everyone is throwing every excuse in the book at you...starving yourself won't do it. You don't need to be super finicky, I hardly ever count olive oil and I cook with it everyday!

I don't count olive oil either. I expect your body is trying to hang on to fat. Give it time and eat sensibly. String out your calorie intake over three main meals if you can. And keep note of any snacking. Try not to get any "naughty" notices if you do you are not easting enough.

I am having the same issue. I am 164 lbs and 5'6", I work in an office all day, so I cut my calories way back and with the addition of an hour workout at least 4 times a week. I have GAINED a pound or two. I would think that when I record EVERYTHING, and I see that my caloric intake is ATLEAST 4000 calories a week, it would be going down, not up. Its a let down to see my weight stay the same or even go up. I will continue to "try", but another month of this I might just give up.

Don't just give up! That is not how to beat it. Sedentary work is not good for weight loss. But persevere it will start to shift.

you added weights right, that is most likely why you gained. It happens to me when I switch up my workouts. When I add strength training I will gain because I am increasing my muscle mass. Give yourself another few weeks. Muscle burns more fat that cardio. But be careful not to bring your calorie intake to low.

Try increasing you calorie count by a few hundred, don't under eat. As for cardio, try keeping yor heart rate at around 130-140 bpm. Wish you the best, just keep working at it, change things around until you find what works for you.

this was me 2 weeks ago...I actually ended up changing my settings to eat more calories and I finally started losing
- just keep swimming Nemo!!!!

Just over two weeks ago I made a commitment to myself to get healthy (I'm 36). Yay me! I made HUGE changes to my diet, cutting my daily calorie intake nearly in HALF! I've been mostly satisfied because the amount of food I've been eating is about the same, just a lot healther (more veggies, less processed foods, LOTS of greens).

For the past 15 days I have been averaging 1300 calories a day. I've recorded everything from the exact ounces of homemade granola I ate to the glasses of wine I had last weekend. On top of that I have upped my exercise routine to 30 minutes of cardio 2-3 x week, plus strength training.

Guess what...I've GAINED three pounds! How could that be? I understand that muscle weighs more that fat, but my body doesn't look or feel any more compact (in other words my pants fit the same). Usually weight loss is most evident at the inception of such lifestylel changes, but that isn't the case for me.

Any thoughts? Thanks for listening (um, reading)!

~J

You need to eat more, you're eating too few calories.

Please take your time and read this blog. It wil help you so much. When I started MFP I had te same problem you have right now.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

probably been said but 2 weeks is too soon, weigh in at a month, and check measurements, keep up the good work, it's your body testing you to make sure you're commited lol

I gained 2 lbs the first week also. Be patient. Down 11 lbs in the next 6 weeks. Keep at it!