Just frustrated... another one...

You need to eat more. See this thread

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447397-my-plateau-nutrition-story-learn-from-my-mistakes

Ok, so I have been using MFP, for several months, and then really started buckling down in Jan. ( Yes I became a new year's resolutionist ). Anyway, I tracked my calories my workouts and felt really good about it. I only weighed myself at the beginning of Jan, and then at the end of of the month. Ugh.. lost only 2lbs. So pick myself up from the disappointment. Watch my calories and workouts, and starting weighing myself every week.. Lost total of 4lbs.
Today I weigh myself and I have gain 2lbs back!!! so frustrated.
So trying not to be disappointed and give up. So I checked my reports over the last 30 days. I have roughly stayed at or below 1200 calories a day with a few exceptions.

So my questions to all my wonderful friends on MFP, what to do. Should I up my calories?? Am I just expecting too much???

Thanks !!

you might not have enough calories

The problem is that you shouldn't be eating LESS than 1200 calories. You're simply not eating enough and you're making your body think it's starving.
Edited to mention that the 2lbs you gained could EASILY be water weight or poo that's still in your system.

You aren't eating enough.
Try eating 1500 calories for the next two weeks and see what happens.
Its an odd mentality, but you need to eat to lose.

Why does every post have to turn mean?

I would suggest upping your calories too and ignore the mean people.

Why does every post have to turn mean?

I would suggest upping your calories too and ignore the mean people.

Please direct me to one mean post in this entire thread.

First piece of advice is to learn to be patient! With less to lose, you're more likely to get 1/2 to 1 pound per week so you may be setting your goals too high. Reset your MFP weight loss goal to either of those and see if your calories go up a bit. They might not if you're short...sorry to say. Either way, I agree that you should try to eat more. 1200 minimum per day, if not closer to 1400-1600 total since you're active.

Track your sodium if you're not doing that already. A few high sodium days and not enough water or activity to offset will cause water weight gain. Any chance it's that time of the month (TOM)? That will also effect the scale. I've been having this problem over the last week and am going to try a few things next week to improve the situation. The fresher the food (aka less processed) the better.

Only other suggestion is to take body measurements regularly as those can sometimes be a better indication of success than the scale.

Ok, so I have been using MFP, for several months, and then really started buckling down in Jan. ( Yes I became a new year's resolutionist ). Anyway, I tracked my calories my workouts and felt really good about it. I only weighed myself at the beginning of Jan, and then at the end of of the month. Ugh.. lost only 2lbs. So pick myself up from the disappointment. Watch my calories and workouts, and starting weighing myself every week.. Lost total of 4lbs.
Today I weigh myself and I have gain 2lbs back!!! so frustrated.
So trying not to be disappointed and give up. So I checked my reports over the last 30 days. I have roughly stayed at or below 1200 calories a day with a few exceptions.

So my questions to all my wonderful friends on MFP, what to do. Should I up my calories?? Am I just expecting too much???

Thanks !!

It's easier to gain weight than lose. And you didn't gain it in a month. Stop trying to lose 30lbs in a month. Be realistic.

^^Agree, and would like to add that from looking at your pic, and if I'm reading your ticker correctly, you only have less than 20lbs to lose in the first place. That might seem like alot to you, but in the grand scheme, it's not like you have a hundred pounds to lose. You're most likely not going to lose 2-5lbs a week like a morbidly obese person would in their first couple of months. It's more realistic to say that you'll probably lose more like .5-1lbs/wk at most. So, take measurements and have your BMI measured with calipers. Track these successes as well. Also, watch your sodium intake. Water retention most likely explains the weight flux. Most importantly, don't think you're failing just because the scale isn't moving. You've stuck to a healthy diet and exercise regimen for nearly two months. That in itself is a success.

As everyone said eat more. I was a believer in trying to eat low and never eating back exercise calories, and now that I do my weight loss is going great. I eat 1800 plus exercise calories everyday.