I give up!

If it was easy everyone would do it. I also checked out your diary, i'd try and add another bit of calories to your totals. I saw your quote "no excuses to be this big" well, you'd just be making up another right here. Spread your weigh-ins. Keep your head up and let the plateaus fire you up to work even harder. I weigh in tomorrow and I don't expect a good week. I got plenty of exercise but didn't eat the best. I don;t expect a big change, and if I don't It angers me and I use the anger as fuel to go do some work in the gym. THINK POSITIVE or you are bound to always end up in this situation

your body needs to adjust to ur diet changes give it 4 to 6 weeks to c results of fatloss try again stick with it

I completely agree; throw away the scale and measure key points of you body and keep track of them. It's amazing.

You're body's trying to make for the lack of food you're not taking in! 800 calories left at the end of the day? Not healthy. Since you need lean protein and all the fun healthy stuff to keep your body from conserving body fat instead of burning.
Eat more and continue that for a few weeks and see what happens.

Right there is your problem with so little calories your consuming your body is in starvation mode so whatever you feed it its gonna store it cause it has no idea when its going to get food again. Spread your meals out 2 to 3 hours and try to eat 6 times a day.

You should NEVER be under 1200 calories a day

I do measure everything I eat and keep accurate readings. I do cardio and strength training and have been doing this for a month now. I only get on scales every ten days or so.... Every time, I am heavier.

First off, hats off to you for trying to get healthy! This is an awesome website, and the food diaries are really helpful.

I took a quick peek at your food diary (this might be a repeat, I didn't read through everyone else's posts) but while I notice you do pretty well with your calories, your protein and your sugar intake are way over the limit just about every day. Can I make a suggestion? Take a good hard look at how much protein and sugar are in the things you eat (those protein shakes you're drinking are killers for both your protein and sugar). I'd try a lot harder to make a good portion of my calories into veggies, fruits, nuts, and good fats (like avocado and olive oils). Doesn't mean you can't still eat the mac and cheese, but keep track of your protein.

Also, sounds like you have one hell of a work schedule! I think you're doing an amazing job in trying to stay healthy amidst all that change. Cut yourself some slack, don't give up, girl!

No, no, don't give up. It is true you may not be eating enough. Have at least 1200 calories a day, and make sure what you eat is worth eating! I just joined 9 days ago. I lost two pounds, gained back one. I am not too happy about that, felt the scale was going in the wrong direction. Yes, it did, and it probably was water weight gain, at least I hope so. But that was 4 days ago and the scale has not changed. But I know I will lose it, i know I will. There is so much support here, so much encouragement. I look every day at success stories and get ideas on how I can become a success myselft. My problem is too many carbs, and tool little exercise.I know this, you I have had such a hard time increasing my exercise and decreasing my carbs. But at least I KNOW what the problem is. It is my stubborness or lack of willpower that is keeping me from losing weight, but I will not give up. Slowley, ever so slowly, I am getting carbs and exercise under control. Have not lost any weight, but knowing where the problems are, being aware of where the problems are, makes it a little easier. I have a long row ahead of me. I have to change my ways. I know this. In spite of my lack of progress, or in spite of my failure to lose weight at this time, I still sign in every day, I still log my calories and exercise (or lack thereof). So every day I can see what did not go right and try to make it right. Please don't give up.

Denise

Your eating low enough that your body makes a change to keep from starving. (i.e. it thinks something bad is coming.....like starvation, so it hold on to energy sources like fat)

I can't remember the chemical that gets released when this happens. You need to be eating more. Take a look at the fat shredder phase from p90x. They also have the equations for you to figure out how much calories you need just to live and maintain. Decrease that number and you will have a calorie deficit. Every 3500-3600 calories burned equals one lb loss.

Hope this helps. Keep up the fight and please do not give up.

btw, if your taking in lots of sodium each day, you will retain water. That can make a huge difference. I also don't check the scale, but once each week. Measure yourself each week. Take pics, at least for yourself.

MUSCLE weights more then fat!

Wrong muscle is denser than fat.

to OP just keep trying here. I do not know how much weight you plan to lose but some of the people here have been working at their weight lose for many months. You did not gain the weight in two months. Slowly increasing the quality of your diet and your exercise rate and you will find the point where you will start to lose weight again.
JUST KEEP SWINGING.

I gained too in my first two months. But I lost inches. I couldn't see it in my clothes unfortunately because the loss was in area that didn't stand out. I lost in my waist but not my hips becasue the squats were firming up my hip flexors and butt. I lost in my chest, arms and neck...unfortunately not the areas I truly wanted to lose immediate pounds on. But i stuick with it. I'm still waitign for the day the pounds start dropping. But, I can see definition peaking its way out and I feel ten times better than I ever did before. Your new body is on its way just hold fast to your efforts, tweak where necessary, and keep up the good work. (Like you..I too need to steer clear of restaurants)

I had the same thought myself this morning when after a really great week of eating well, and doing more exercise than I have in a long time I was up a couple pounds from last week. I am actually glad you posted because in spite of knowing better and being able to use some common sense my inner 2 year old was making an appearance and throwing a baby tantrum.

Bottom line, making the assumption giving up means going back to eating more crap, and exercising less is going to work out better just becomes laughable.

I won't give up and neither will you, we will just keep on doing what we know will work and eventually we will look back and wonder what the heck were we thinking.

I notice that some of your calorie counts are off. You have 6 ounces of steak as 100 calories. That is way off. Very lean steak is 200 calories for 4 ounces. Also where are the fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains? I think if you try to eat more real food and cut down on the processed stuff, you will do better and feel better. I know it's frustrating!

And to the above post- I've noticed that too. A lot of caloric values are put in by random people make sure you click correct values not lowest ones.

You're not eating enough. You are basically starving yourself right now.

Don't give up! keep trying.

Keep going! Muscle weighs more than fat ;-) maybe that's what's happening?