running/eating right and still not losing

Okay thank you everyone for your input.
I cannot continue on this cycle because it is really exhausting. Obviously I need to change what I am doing because this is not going to be attainable for much longer although I have been doing it for a while now.
I will try to get over my fear of gaining and listen to what you guys are saying!

Especially if you really only want to lose 5 lbs, such a huge deficit is not doing you any favors. And to answer your other question, yes, I have increased my calories after not losing anything for months, and it worked. My diary is public if you want to see how much I eat. I would recommend setting your goal on here to lose 1/2 lb per week.

What's the worse that would happen if you listened to us? You might gain a couple pounds? Well, you're running 5 miles a day and eating 1300 calories right now, so you certainly know how to restrict yourself...don't think that'd be a problem.

That being said, I know it sounds totally and completely counterproductive. Why exercise if it means I have to eat more and all that...and how can eating more make me lose weight?! Trust me...it makes perfect sense and it does work. The more you run, the more you need fuel...start depriving your body of that and it will start holding on to everything in order to keep that pace (and you will eventually burn out, which it sounds like you might be close to already). Give it a try. A few weeks of eating more. See what happens. (Just try to make it good food you're adding back in! If all else fails, add in a protein shake for some extra easy calories if you find eating more = eating too much.)

I lost the majority of my weight from running and doing exactly what MFP suggested. MFP was set to 1lb loss per week which has a 500 calorie deficit built in to it. I tracked my calories burned with a heart rate monitor and then ate back 100% of my workout calories. I dropped weight consistently at about 1.25 lbs per week over the course of 8 months. So yes, you need to eat more because at 5 miles per day, 1300 calories is not enough and I'm willing to bet your body is making up for your nutritional inadequacies by feeding off of your own muscle tissue.

No I am not eating back the calories burned because I feel that my calorie intake would be too high and I don't understand how that would possibly make me lose weight. I would start eating more but I am worried that I would gain weight instead of lose.
Is there anyone out there who has had any experience with this and could assure me that this would not happen?
Thanks so much for all your input!!

I am also a runner, though I'm not doing any running right now since I'm pregnant. I noticed that when my running mileage got higher and I didn't adjust my calories up, I stopped losing. When I started eating more, it's like the weight melted off. I learned after a while that if I did not Net at least 1500 calories, I didn't lose. Definitely eat at least half of your exercise calories back! I think you'll be surprised at how it jump starts your weight loss. :-)

You are running too much.. Running and for that matter all Cardio is overrated.. I have done many articles on the downfall of traditional cardio.. running 5 miles takes a chunk of time when you can get way more bang for your buck.. I will summarize

When you run you are your brain is telling your body "Hey, we need fuel to travel distances" so your body reaction for when you eat is to store the calories in your fat cells... yes your fat cells... because your body does not need much muscle to run.. so your body burns the muscle and feeds the fat.. slowing your metabolism.. the exact opposite of what you want..

what is the answer.. strenght and Metabolic conditioning.. when you do this your brain say.. we need to drop this fat because this person is a fighter, a warrior.. so your lean muscle mass increases and in turn sheds body fat because it is not needed.. use barbells, body weight, kettlebells, jump rope for your workout.. you will cut the fat in no time with the right nutrition.. High Protein, Low Carb.. Protein from lean meats, fish, cottage cheese etc.. and primaraly fiborus carbs (those in veggies).. gwoall prosesed food..

If you need some direction on the workouts let me know and I can guide you in the right direction.. I have been doing this a long time and have a long list of success stories..

best of luck to you.. Keep the faith and motviation going..

No I am not eating back the calories burned because I feel that my calorie intake would be too high and I don't understand how that would possibly make me lose weight. I would start eating more but I am worried that I would gain weight instead of lose.
Is there anyone out there who has had any experience with this and could assure me that this would not happen?
Thanks so much for all your input!!

I direct you to the "PLEASE READ ME" stickies at the top of the "General Diet and Weight Loss Help" section. Namely:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing (This directly answers your question about gaining.)

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

Wow thank you everyone for the advice! I didn't expect to get so many replies and it is really encouraging me to actually make a change in my diet.
I know that what I am doing is probably harming my body more than helping, but I feel so trapped in my ways that it is so hard to make a change in my lifestyle. I'm sure I appear to be crazy to all of you guys but it really is hard to get out of this rut!
I love all of the advice and personal feedback I am getting, thanks so much!

Just make sure you take care of yourself. Your fear of gaining weight, coupled with your restrictive diet throws up red flags for me for anorexia. If you have a family history of eating disorders, you'll want to make sure you're especially careful. I'm not saying you are there, but you do seem to be in a position of risk, especially if you get scared if you increase your food intake and gain a few pounds at first.

No I am not eating back the calories burned because I feel that my calorie intake would be too high and I don't understand how that would possibly make me lose weight. I would start eating more but I am worried that I would gain weight instead of lose.
Is there anyone out there who has had any experience with this and could assure me that this would not happen?
Thanks so much for all your input!!

I'm a perfect example. I was eating about 1200-1400 calories a day and had increased my exercise tremendously. I hit a plateau that I just could not break. That's when I found MFP; started following it EXACTLY as written, and lost the last 15 (+1!!) I was trying to get rid of. Trust the system.

my body goes through plateaus when it gets used to my exercise routine and food i eat .. im actually trying something new this time around and paying attention to switiching workouts and food every hand full of days to see if that makes a difference. ive been told by trainers and others that if you are doing the same thing every day yoiur body gets used to it.

EAT YOUR EXCERISE CALORIES BACK!!!

MFP already has you at a built in deficit. You should have a NET of AT LEAST 1200 calories. So if you have it set at 1300 and eat that much, and run 5 miles, burning 500 cals, you are at a NET of 800 cals. WAY TOO LOW!! If you're nervous about gaining weight, I would try keeping it at 1300 but eating your exercise calories back first. If you do, you will have a NET of 1300 but have eaten 1800 calories. It's the NET CALORIES that you need to look at and it should be at least at 1200. Good luck!