Having trouble losing weight doing all things right

Tracking Progress:

heart Weight – So many things can affect weight, because of this it shouldn’t be the only way you track your progress. Things to keep in mind:
drinker Always use the same scale – Different scales can show different weights. You will get the most accurate number for tracking when using the same scale.
drinker Don’t move the scale – Carpet, uneven flooring, different types of flooring…can all affect the weight on the scale. So when you weigh, you want it to be approximately the same spot for the most accurate number for tracking.
drinker 3500 calories – To gain 1lb of fat you need to be over maintenance by 3500 calories.
drinker Muscle Repair – Muscles will hold onto water to repair, because of this it is not uncommon to see a gain for a little while after a workout. This weight comes right back off when they are done repairing.
drinker Sodium – Can cause you to retain water. This can also be amplified if you don’t drink enough to flush it out of your system. This is also another reason for temporary weight gain.
drinker Water – Not drinking enough water can actually cause you to retain water. Recommended amount is 8 cups or 64oz. I drink 64 oz to 128 oz of water a day. It doesn’t have to be plain water either. I like to flavor mine with crystal light or tea.
drinker Time of day – Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day. So for the most accurate tracking, you want to weigh at around the same time.
drinker Frequency – This is up to you, but if small fluctuations bother you than only weigh once a week or less.
drinker Lightest Weight – Will be naked, first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom
drinker Multiple times a Day – Don’t Do It. As I said before, your weight will fluctuate throughout the day. What you eat, what you’re wearing, ect will all affect weight.
drinker Clothes – If you weigh with clothing on, keep in mind that the scale will show your weight plus the weight of your clothes. (Jeans are heavy)
drinker TOM - A lot of women will retain water around their TOM, but its just temporary and will go away.

heart Measurements – This is a great way to judge progress. I take measurements once a month. Even if your weight seems to go up, if your measurements are going down, then you are moving in the right direction. For accuracy you want to try and measure the same spots every time. Places I measure:
drinker Neck
drinker Upper Arm – largest part
drinker Forearm – largest part
drinker Wrist – smallest part
drinker Bust
drinker Ribs Under bust
drinker Waist – where you bend (usually the smallest area above belly button, but below rib cage)
drinker Abdomen @ Navel
drinker Hips – largest part
drinker Thigh – largest part
drinker Calf – largest part

heart Pictures – Progress pictures are great. I like to take them once a month and at the start/end of any workout programs I do. You may not see the difference in the mirror, but comparing pictures will show you what the mirror does not.

heart Body Fat % - This is another great weigh to track progress. The electronic devices that track it can actually be affected by how much water you did or did not drink. For this reason, I prefer body fat calipers. I got a cheap one off amazon.com ($4 w/free shipping). This is also another thing you only want to track once a month or so. Like measurements, if this number goes down (even if the scale stays the same or goes up) than you are making progress.