Good Morning !
Here is what I eat: Home cooked whole foods.... lots of vegies, a bit of fruit, whole grains (brown rice, quinoa etc)...no bread now for a week (not even home-baked whole wheat, like I used to..just low carb wraps, and wasa) baked, steamed or braised lean proteins, Between 100 and 150 calories worth of dried fruit, jam, sugar, dark chocolate or honey, about 150 calories worth of olive oil and butter. I am weighing and measuring every morsel . Somtimes I don't get in all the water. During the holidays, I did lose my focus, but I managed to maintain...it has been 6 weeks since then, with only one day OP the whole time. Most of the calculators say I should be losing at 1,500 calories. This morning I weighed 207.4 This is why I am getting frustrated.

Good morning! I know how frustrating all of this is. I was going on 6 weeks with only 1 - 2 lb loss for the whole time. I was strict with my food (fresh fruit, veggies, lean meat, everything homemade), taking in 1600 calories a day, working out 1 hour a day, 6 - 7 days a week. This last Sunday we had a party, and I went over on my calories at least double, well let me tell you from this mornings weigh in, I will have a good weigh in on Saturday. I hope you get past this very soon! Of course it can be discouraging, but YOU are doing a great job, keep at it, sooner or later it will come off, it has too! I agree with other posters, change things up a bit, up your calories by 500 a couple days this week, and toss in a new workout, even if it is for one day. Good luck!

Thanks, Jackie.

I really think people put too much, ummm weight, into these on line or any other BMR and other "calculators". Don't let them mess with your head. THEY ARE ALL GUESSTIMATES. Even the breathe-y one, which I have done. They tell you something and then you think that that is the way it's supposed to be, so why aren't I losing? Because lots of things are supposed to be a certain way - and they aren't. Lots of things are supposed to be fair, yet they aren't.

I think 6 weeks is long enough to show you that you are taking in more calories then is needed to create a calorie deficit. That is the bottom line. There's no starvation mode going on here.

If it were me, I would lower those calories. I'd lower them by a good 200 calories. And I'd stick to it like glue. I'd watch that dried fruit as it is all sugar and extremely calorie dense.

There is no way that I would let myself get stuck up by "what's supposed to be". You're working very hard, kick it up a notch. Forget conventional so called wisdom. Take the bull by the horns. Take matters INTO YOUR OWN HANDS. It's time!!! I look forward to hearing of you entering into ONEderland!

ETA: forgot to mention exercise - what's the deal-io with that?

I have cut the calories to 1300, or under as of yesterday. The only other thing I think I need to do is make sure I am getting in 48 oz of water or herbal tea. As far as the dried fruit goes...it is minimal, and I always weigh it. I hope this works.I am giving it a week to see. Thanks Robin.

One of the reasons I mentioned that dried fruit is that if I were going to shave off some calories, that's what jumped out to me. It's not giving you much filling power or nutrients and that might be one place to scale (haha) back.

And please give it more than a week! Look how long you gave that 1500 calorie thing a try, right?

Keep us updated. I'm excited for you!!!

Hang in there marigrace! I am rooting for you!

Is it chickens or pigs that root?

Not a good comparison I know! So me and this little guy are rooting for you!

Thanks, Cathy !

How long have you been at 1500 calories for? I personally find that if I stay below my BMR for too long my weight loss slows, but I can reignite it by eating over my BMR for a few days. I now try to have a least one day a week where I eat higher than my BMR, though generally less than maintainence level.

I'm sure you are, but are you measuring everything? It's way too easy for portion sizes to creep up, and all of a sudden you're maintaining.

Also, sleep is important, and stress can also cause you to hold on to weight.

I was at 1550 till about two weeks ago. Then I took it down to 1500, and for the last two days to 1300... I weigh and measure everything. No change as of yet....