I have a major problem!

you need to count every single calorie

http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

I need help. I am about to give up.

I am 5 foot 7. I was 210 pounds. I have a medium frame. In April of 2013 I decided I wanted to be healthy. I decided I wanted to be in a tri-adventure. I started eating healthier. One huge subway salad a day was my MAIN meal. I also ate cheese, things like nutri-grain bars, some fruits, milk, orange juice, 2 quarts of water. I became completely caffiene free.

My ONLY form of exercise was biking. I did frequent short distances, sometimes interval training.

I was loosing 2 pounds a week. I had so much energy. It felt amazing. In three months time I lost 27 pounds.

Then I was laid off work. My big healthy salad turned into food pantry spaghetti, grilled cheese, and junk. I got into a huge fight with my mom. My energy was gone. I gave up. For the next three months I gained about 20 pounds back.
I went from motivating others to being unmotivated myself.

But I did manage one good thing in this time frame. I had smoked up to two packs of cigarettes for 16 years. I was able to quit. I associated everything I did in life to smoking cigarettes. I was a horrific feen! The simple thought of quitting smoking made me ANGRY. and then- poof! I was done. It was quite easy. In fact, I have been asked to speak at smoking cessation classes. Perhaps some time I can write about how I did it- maybe it can help some people here too! Anyways, I have now been smoke free for FIVE months!

Then I realized I only had 7 more months left to get ready for my tri-adventure, so I started exercising again in the beginning of November. I started at 207 pounds.

I began eating even healthier.

I am a vegetarian and think it may be a part of my problem. I am thinking that perhaps I am not getting enought calories. I am unsure.

During this month I began eating three to four giant healthy salads a day, each with protein in them (beans, cheese, nuts, eggs, or a combo). I do not eat ant bread, but make veggie wraps here and there with tortilla shells. Empty carbs have been kicked out of my diet.

I put ranch (and now olive oil) on these salads. But I am not going overboard with it- just enough to LIGHTLY coat it for a bit more flavor. I am not drenching it! I allow myself a small helping of junk food one time a week. I eat cereal here and there. Some fruit.

I am NEVER hungry. I have so much happy energy! I know that salads are high in nutrition but low in calories.

I read on RAW food diet websites and paleo websites that when one eats their food natural he or she doesn't even need to count calories, as veggies are low calorie food. I agree. I know a lot of people think that they are not really eating that much and they are shocked to find out just how many calories they consume.

Not me. about 95% of what I eat is raw and I feel full all day long. I live a pretty sedentary life except for the times I exercise:

I started exercising my rebounding. Then dancing, and now jogging 2-5 miles bundled up outside for to 30 degree weather. I do this about every other day. If I am REALLy sore, I take two days off. I listen to my body. I make my exercise cardio. I rest when needed, and then go back at it.

I have only lost 2-3 pounds in a month.

I can NOT figure out why.

Does my body think it is in a caloric deficit even though it is getting PLENTY extremely healthy foods? This is not what I read
before though. I'm so confused.

I really want to remain as natural as possible. I don't want to add a bunch of cereal, bread, pasta, or what have you to gain calories (P.S. I will NOT add in peanut butter. I won't buy the stuff. It is my downfall. I love it way too much and can just sit there and eat it all day!).

I just don't know what to do.

If so, what else can I eat AS A VEGETARIAN that can increase my calories in a healthy manner? I really need some ideas as I think I am below 1,200 calories on most days. But please do not say I am starving myself. Because I am not! I eat like a crazy rabbit! I crave these salads. They are so good! I feel good!

OR... Jogging for up to 5 miles... Since I just started I assumed I would loose pounds before I gained muscle weight- especially since I am 60-70 pounds or so overweight... But my legs DO get a good work out from this. Could it be that I am gaining muscle weight? OH- WHY DID I NOT MEASURE MYSELF WITH A TAKE MEASURE?!?! I will buy a tape measure Tuesday.

I'm just very, very sad and need your help figuring out why I am accidentally sabotaging my weight loss goals.

I used to loose two pounds a week, but now it feels like 2 ounces. Affording a personal trainer is not an option due to finances.

What can I do to rev my metabolism?

And I don't want to end up with huge muscles! NOT FOR MY! My goal is to slim down. Will jogging help or hinder this goal?

Please help! I now have six months to loose weight, and gain endurance for my tri-adventure! It will be 36 miles on my road bike, 6 miles of kayaking, and 8 miles of joggin through a wooded trail with 20% of my body weight on my back.

I too was eating 1200 calories, until my trainer explained to me that my body was probably thinking it needed to store up fat because I was eating too few calories! Your body is made so that if it thinks you are stressed, or are eating too few of calories - then it tries to conserve.

I will write it again- I am under calories.

To maintain my current weight I would need to vonsume 3,500 calories.

95% of what I eat is low calorie veggies. There is no way I am eating 3,000ish calories of vegetables.

I read on RAW food diet websites and paleo websites that when one eats their food natural he or she doesn't even need to count calories, as veggies are low calorie food. I agree.