Strict with my calories amd stalled weight loss?

I have been using MFP since December and lost a total of 30 lbs. I recently went on vacation and gained 10 lbs but I worked really hard to get rid of it when I got home and I've lost 12 lbs in 7 days. However, I cut my calories down to 1,200 for the past 5 days and haven't lost ANYTHING in 3 days.

I'm really discouraged and looking for an explanation but haven't seen anything online. Has this happened to any of you and if so, how did you get over the hump? I am headed to the gym now, hopefully that helps :sad: :sad:

Exercise more.

I recently had a period of nothing happening but I think I got too obsessed with the scales! I just carried on as usual and weighed in a week later and lost 2lbs. You could be retaining water or something, I wouldn't worry unless it didn't change for weeks.

your body goes into starvation mode if you're getting less than 1000 NET calories a day. So if you're working out alot and only eating 1200 calories, you need to up it to accommodate for your cals burned

However many caloires your burning at the gym - you need to replenish your body with those calories. Say for example, your burning 500 calories/day at gym - your total calorie consumption per day would be 1,700 (1,200 from your original diet and replenishing the 500 you burned at the gym) - I find that I was not losing as well, but when I followed this plan - I am sheding lbs. now - also, try to lift 3 days a week as muscle burns more calories! Hope this helps!

i was at a month long plateau after i hit 45 lbs. i was being really strict and having less than 1300 calories a day and exercising, so i couldn't figure out what i was doing wrong.

i raised my calorie goal to 1600, and i would do a couple days of that, a couple at 1300, and a couple in between. it's not exactly zig zagging, there's more specific rules for that i think, i kind of just ate more when on the days that i was hungry, and less when i wasn't.

anyway, after an entire month stand still, as soon as i started doing that, i started losing 2lbs a week again (knock on wood!!)

good luck!!

Thank you all SO much for your input! I'm really glad someone mentioned the zig zag thing. I was just telling my mom today that maybe it's because I haven't cheated in two weeks! I always notice that a cheat day followed by a strict day results in more weight loss. I thought maybe it was just a quirky thing with my own body

My boyfriend is returning in two weeks from 14 months in Afghanistan so I'm trying to get my short term goal accomplishes at least - I'm only 3 lbs away.

Thanks again and I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I was to tired to leave a good comment. I am feeling better now. My comment was "exercise more." Cheat days are very important, they keep your metabolism up. Your metabolism will slow down in 72hrs. So every 3rd day, increase your calories.
On the other hand, we should work on "eating more calories." Some would say "that is bad/crazy advice" IF you're not eating at your AMR(TDEE) your metabolism is supressed. To unlock it, so it's more efficient. You need to eat at your AMR(TDEE) and still burn fat. HOw can you eat at your AMR and burn fat? do more exercise.

I didn't really know where to post this, and this this seams as good a place as any. I've hit a 2 month platue! Baaaa soo frustrated! I went from consistently losing 10pounds a month for 4 months, then... Bam! 1 pound in the past two months? Really? I get that the last 10 pounds is supposed to be harder to lose and that it takes longer, but this is ridiculous. I have been really good about keeping to my daily goal eating back my workout calories, and then I did a few zigzag weeks of eating ( upping my calories) hopeing that would help kick it back in to gear, but, nothing! At all! I'm so very frustrated. Any one else out there have this happen? And did you ever figure out a solution? And advice would be great, thank you so much.