Should be losing weight but now I'm gaining?

Don't be discouraged - it could be just a temporary water weight gain. Are you near your menstrual cycle? Are you consuming a lot of salt? (Salt can be hidden everywhere!) Be sure you are reading labels and do not add salt to anything. Also, drink lots of water which usually helps release water retention. Our bodies tend to store water when we do not have enough. So dehydration can make you gain. (Or just make you stop losing)

There are some suggestions.

On the exercise - cardio is good. If you are over 40, resistance training is key to maintaining muscle which will boost your metabolism. (The more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolism) I am not talking about bulky body builder muscles, women just get shapely, lean muscles.

Anyway, keep on with your plan. 1 or 2 weeks is hardly enough time to say it isn't working!

Be patient and hang in there.

I need some help too. For the past six months I've been eating 1200 calories a day, and going to the gym 4-5 times a week, plus gentle exercise on a 6th day. I've come to a stop and I don't know what to do next. I don't feel comfortable dropping my calories any lower as it inhibits my stamina and recovery from exercise.

I need some help too. For the past six months I've been eating 1200 calories a day, and going to the gym 4-5 times a week, plus gentle exercise on a 6th day. I've come to a stop and I don't know what to do next. I don't feel comfortable dropping my calories any lower as it inhibits my stamina and recovery from exercise.

How long have you been stuck for?

I've been the same weight for six weeks. A wee bit frustrated because I'm trying my hardest and I'm getting married in four weeks!

With as little weight as you have to lose, you should be aiming for 1/2 - 1 lb per week at most and when you exercise you need to eat more (at least 50% of your exercise calories).

It's because you are eating below 1200 a day that you aren't losing any more. Find out your TDEE and eat (TDEE less 15-20%). It might take a few weeks, it's not a magical bullet but it works. Try this calculator http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

I weigh myself every day. Despite losing at the exact expected rate (1lb/week), it comes in 2 big drops, about 2-3 weeks apart. I gain weight for 2 weeks and then overnight one day I lose 2 pounds. These are natural fluctuations (In my case I drop around 1 week after TOM and 4 days before). So stay consistent, it'll go away!

I so needed to read this today! For the last three weeks I've been eating well and exercising consistently (3 bootcamps/week and 15k of walk/run) and the scale Will. Not. Budge. Unless it slides up a little...:grumble: But I also need to remember that I seem to lose weight like you described... it comes in one or two big drops per month rather than a consistent smaller drop each week. Thanks for the reminder! I was getting ready to lay down on the couch with a truckload of ice cream, lol

I agree with Maurice and the moderator. When you exercise a lot you need to eat more. I exercise daily am 39, 5'4" and eat around 2200 cal/day. If I go much below that I quit losing. I also aim for a gallon of water a day but that is all I drink so it's not that hard. When I was eating around 1300 cal/day I quit losing also but as I slowly bumped up my calories the weight started coming off again and it's been coming off slowly but steadily since. I follow my TDEE-20% and use a 35% carbs, 35% protein, 30% fat macro setting. Those percentages also took me a long time to figure out but you need carbs and fat as well. I get most of my fat from nuts. I'm not saying this will work for you but just suggesting this as things to look at to try and jump start your weight loss.