How come I don't lose weight...

OMG I feel you! I'm so frustrated as well! Today when I weighed myself I for sure thought I lost some weight. People have even told me you've lost weight but nope I didn't and instead gained 1.5 lb this week. I weight myself every Thursday. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I work out 5 days out of the week and gain calories to eat which I like to use those because I eat very well during my work day but not during dinner which when i need those extra calories. That's how I thought it was suppose to work and now I'm confused because I'm not going over my calorie goal including the calories I gain from exercise so why am I not losing???

When I first signed up it asked how much I wanted to lose per week and of course I went with the 2lb a week. I have over 100lbs to lose. My calorie goal is 1310 a day. I thought if I stuck with that calorie goal it was already taking into count me wanting to lose 2lbs per week. The first week I lost weight. I lost 3 lbs. I was so happy because I felt like finally I found something that works and is easy. I also felt not as limited with my food as long as I stuck with my calorie goal. I love this website cuz it has everything in the database. I've been on other websites and its so much more complicated. HELP!

Could be several reasons:

1. Are you using a digital food scale to weigh everything? Most people drastically underestimate food portions and measuring cups are deceitful and inaccurate. Best <$20 investment you can make is buying a digital food scale. You'll be shocked at how much you're actually eating.

2. Are you honestly logging everything that goes into your mouth including all beverages and things used to cook with (butter, oils, marinades, etc.)? Are you doing this every day consistently?

3. Are you verifying the nuturitional information for the items you select from the database?

4. Are you overestimating your calorie burn from exercise?

5. Are you drinking enough water?

6. Are you getting 6-8 hours of sleep every night?

I spent the first three weeks here bouncing up and down - it took nearly a month for me to start to see a small, consistent loss. One thing to read up on might be BMR and how much to eat. I started out probably eating too little once I really got on board with measuring out all food and logging true exercise calories (had to buy a HRM as MFP was seriously overestimating calories burned for me!). Good luck!!

I'm with you on "keeping the faith" .. I feel smaller, but the scale doesn't show it. I'm NOT giving up tho! Do love the encouragement from all of you.