So for the last month I am hovering over 130 and just can't seem to break it.

I agree with the poster above. A couple pounds of fat loss can easily be masked by water retention, especially if you have recently added to your fitness routine. TOM can also play a roll as well. Do you weigh yourself everyday and track that in a trending app (libra, happy scales)?

ladybug4233 wrote: »

Cassandraw3 wrote: »

I agree with the poster above. A couple pounds of fat loss can easily be masked by water retention, especially if you have recently added to your fitness routine. TOM can also play a roll as well. Do you weigh yourself everyday and track that in a trending app (libra, happy scales)?

Yes I do weigh each morning and use happy scale. Just get frustrated that every morning it is 130-131 no matter what.

Do you think I should keep my activity level at active or take it down to lightly active?

Taking a look through your diary, you didn't log 3 days in the past week. Without knowing what/how much you ate those days, you could have easily eaten at maintenance or over. Looks like your goal is set to about 1660 before exercise calories. That sounds about right for your activity level.

An example of my week: Monday and Tuesday I kept a moderate deficit with my normal exercise routine. Weight trended downward. Yesterday was a rest day and I ate more calories at dinner than I normally do. I ate close to my maintenance calories for the day. This morning, I jumped up 2 lbs from where I was yesterday morning. I knew this would happen since more of my calories came from the evening vs being more spread out throughout the day.

I think it comes down to logging every single day. Good or bad. That way you can see what is really effecting your progress.

ladybug4233 wrote: »

I am a bit frustrated and I think I just need some encouragement. This time last year I lost 30 pounds and I had no problems. I was working out (mainly cardio) about 6 days a week and weighing all the food I ate. I gained 4-5 pounds back and I am trying to loose them (and maybe a couple more.). I am weighing and logging everything I eat (using a food scale) and working out. The difference this time is I have added resistance (weight training) along with my cardio three days a week. I am sore most of the time. I do eat back some of my exercise calories. The reason I say some is I have trouble eating 2000 calories a day. Like yesterday I ate about 1400.

I am aware of the flow chart and I have read it. I intentionally get 10,000 steps a day (Apple Watch) on top of any exercise calories. I have that marked as active should I change that to lightly active?

I know I only have 5-6 pounds to loose and everyone says they are the hardest but I didnt have any problems last year.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Candie

I know you really already answered this, but I want to stress it one more time, and feel free to ignore me.
Whenever anyone says they have a "tough time" eating more than something low like 1400 calories, I have to question their logging. A couple of weeks of focusing on really anal, detail oriented, ridiculous logging may be the key. I know you said you use a food scale, but if there is anything you are not using it for (packaged food, single serving, peanut butter, anything) change that. Analyze each of the database entries you are using - are they accurate? Do the calories match the package or the USDA published values for whole food. Then do a gut check - are you logging EVERYTHING - beverages, condiments, cooking oils, nibbles, cheat meals, midnight snacks.

You don't have to log that way forever, but a couple of weeks will make sure the problem isn't something that's super easy to fix.

Also, if you only have 5-6 lbs to lose, it is really easy for the 0.5lbs per week you should be losing to hide behind water weight fluctuations on the scale. It might be your water weight is just more variable than it was last time.

Hang in there, and good luck :drinker:

If you are having trouble with your calorie goal, reducing your activity level will not make it easier.

If you are sore from lifting, you are retaining water.

If you are a SAHM of 3, are you doing any unlogged snacking? I will unashamedly admit to eating probably a whole serving or more of goldfish over the course of the day, straight from the kids snack bowls. Licking the spoon/knife after making them yogurt or a PB sandwich, etc. Those add up.

I’d check whether you’re eating enough protein (~1g per pound of your goal weight), never mind doing too much cardio and keep up the resistance training.