Completely frustrated--weight GAIN!

Ok, I'm new here and have officially been dieting with calorie counting for 3 weeks.  I have had 3 days where I didn't count and ate a little more than the 1500-1700 I am allowing myself.  I started at 199 went to 193 and today am 198!  I feel like I've been eating nearly nothing (not depriving myself, but I have been VERY careful to keep at my calorie number) but it has been way less than I usually would eat.  I exercise regularly.  I feel like nearly throwing in the towel!  I gained about 10 lbs over the last 6 months and just wanted to start getting rid of that.  My goal isn't very strict---I want to get to 175.  I have lost a total of 50 lbs prior to this.  (top weight 250).  I feel like I am STARTING on a plateau!  Plus, I have an upcoming event and really wanted those 10 lbs gone before it---but now it looks like that won't happen.  :(

Don't panic and don't give up!  It could be lots of things.  Some things to consider:

Are you weighing yourself the same time everyday with the same clothes?  If not, fix that.  Personally I weigh myself first thing in the morning, buck naked, so there's no room for blaming it on cloths, or what I just ate or drank.

It could be water weight.  Did you eat something with a lot of sodium?  Or is it that time of the month?

It could be added muscle.  Were you fairly sedentary before then started exercising?  If so, use other indications besides weight, like how your jeans fit, or even take your measurements.

Last, are you counting your calories accurately and including everything, like drinks, dressings, butter, etc?  If you are guessing at portion sizes, try weighing and/or measuring everything for a few weeks to make sure you are judging portion sizes correctly.

Deep breath!   like the previous response it can be alot of things out of your control pushing that number on the scale, it doesn't mean your efforts are not paying off! 

If you really think you are hitting a plateau then change up your work out routine completely alternate piramid sets and change muscle groups also look at what cardio you are doing and change it up a bit on the intensity or duration. 

The fact that you have gone from 250 to in the 190's is a huge sucess in itself!!! You need to be proud of your progress and now just make a few tweaks to let your body know you are still serious.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and if you have been drinking sodas cut back for a little.  Things high in potassium like bananas can also help if it is water weight.  Make sure you are giving yourself adequate rest. 

I am in the same boat with my weight and in fact just joined this site today to try and get back on the horse and get some support.  Good luck!

Ok, first of all if you feel like you eating nothing I would suggest that you are eating high calorie foods and want to find some low calorie options that allow you to eat more.

Remember that eating too little can cause your body to store so dont' have any more than a 500-700 deficit per day and if you are exercising make sure you are eating enough to fuel your body.

I love jelly as its around 10 cals per cup and I use it as a filler if I am hungry after dinner.  I also use fruit as a filler a lot as it can help fill the gap without whacking up your calories or a low calorie yoghurt at 50 cals.

I have reduced my bread because I found that was using up a lot of my allowable calories and have changed my lunches to soup and other lower cal options so that I can eat more actual food for the same calories.

Hope that helps? :)