Disappointment...

Hi guys, this is my first time posting here.  It seems as though I've run into a wall and it's really starting to get discouraging.  I weigh 180 lbs, I'm 5'8" and 20 years old, I started 3 weeks ago (this is week 4) at 190 lbs.  The first week of dieting rendered 10 lbs of weight loss (most of which was probably water weight).  I have a daily routine of running atleast a mile in the morning (some times a mile and a half or two, depends on how I feel), then I bicycle for atleast 30 minutes (60 on a good day).  Then, every other day, I go to the gym and lift weights for 45 minutes to an hour.  I eat about 1200 calories a day, (I'm not starving myself, I eat healthy, and I take a GNC's Energy for Men Vitapaks with my breakfast).  I just cant seem to lose the weight, ever since that first week its sat right at 180.  I've noticed my arms and legs beginning to tone up, however, I cant seem to get the fat to budge from where I'd really like it to leave, my stomach.... anyone got any suggestions? 

I hate to point out the obvious, but you're eating too little.

As a male, you need to be eating 1500 calories on a Sedentary lifestyle.  Since you are exercising quite a bit, you're going to need to consume more calories than 1500.

It sounds to me like your body is panicking because it doesn't have enough fuel for your vital organs to function, so it's storing everything you're eating as fat and burning away your muscle.

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EDIT:

I calculated your Expenditure.

"You burn 2300 calories during a typical day. Remember that this estimate is based on your body weight, height, age, gender, and your average level of activity. "

If you're consuming 1200 calories on a Sedentary lifestyle (this is TOO LOW ANYWAY, but I'm trying to make a point), Your current deficit is 1100, with no exercise. NO EXERCISE. 1100 calorie deficit is huge.

I'm just guessing here, but let's just say you burn 400 calories with exercise, that's 2300 + 400 = 2700.  You're eating 1200 calories, your deficit is 1500 everyday.  Too high.

Eat back your calories!!

Eat back your Calories!!

Eat back your Calories!!

I agree...what nocturne said.  Your body is probably panicking a bit.

I know as a new dieter, it's hard to comprehend that you need to eat more to lose more.  but you have to make sure that your body is getting at least the minimum that it needs to survive.  and that's not even taking into account the exercising.  1200 is barely enough for a woman.  For a man, it's really too low.

Yup, they're right.  And maybe even have a calorie spike day.  Eat a "healthy" 1800, fruits and veggies and lean meats, and work out.  The return to your normal routine.  I think the whole "Shock your body into weight loss" has a lot of merit....

I just dont understand, I mean, I eat until I'm full.  Should I be forcing myself to eat more? That seems counter productive...

You might not think you are starving yourself but it is obvious your body thinks otherwise.  You HAVE to eat to lose Honey!!!

Once you force your body to understand its going to get as much food as it needs it will let go of the extra weight and you will feel hungier and have a lot more energy.  Trust us.  We have been here awhile.  I work at the YMCA and I have talked to the trainers at great length about this and they agree.

Yes, you need to force yourself to eat, if you're losing your appitite, that is a good sign that your body is starving.

Get rid of all your diet food, 1%, low fat, stuff.  Start eating less lean cuts of meats, eat more nut or nut butter.  You can figure out a way to eat less GRAMS of food, and more CALORIES.  There is a difference.

like peanuts or something? roasted peanuts make a good snack :D

You may eat until you think you are full, but that is just your body tricking you because it's slowed down your hunger mechanism.  The body can do that when it is not getting enough calories.  This is it's way of "conserving" I guess you could call it.

Yes that's a perfect start.  There are a ton of healthy foods out there that are high in calories, like peanuts, avocados, granola, ect.

Even an 8oz glass of whole milk is like close to 200 calories, you can't find room in your tummy for a glass of milk before bed? =3

So, what if I do start eating more, and start putting on more weight?

you feel full because your metab has slowed down because you were stressing it out.

start eating. meal shakes are easy to do if you feel stuffed.
juice as well.

putting on weight..you might. but it will fix itself once your body sees that its getting enough food again..

so what you should do is just eat and bite the bullet and deal with it.

Okay so, you agree that by pure odds you will be consuming more Sodium because you are eating more, right?  You will gain some water weight.

You agree that because you're eating more, you will be storing more "waste" in your body, yes?

You will gain some "scale" weight at first, and depending on how scared your body is, it may take awhile to start losing again.

You just need to trust in the math, if you have a safe deficit everyday, you will lose weight.  1100-1500 deficit is just too high, that's close to 1lb loss every 2 days, wayyy too hard on someone's body. 

Sadly, our bodys do not know what a diet is, only the difference between being fed well and starvation.  If you lose weight too quickly and continue to undereat, it will not know that you're only trying to lose weight, and not actually going to die.

bah, why do bodies have to be so difficult? hehe.  I guess I'm gonna start trying to eat more... though stuffing my face after I'm full will prove difficult, maybe it'll work.

I wouldn't go overboard, try eating 1400 everyday for a week, then 1600 everyday the next week, ect ect, until you're eating what you should be.

It depends on the person, but generally, easing back into eating more is better.

Well, just for some reassurance, is my excercise routine enough? I mean, is burning between 400-600 calories (I guess 500 average) a day too much excercise, too little, or adequate? Coupled with a good diet, how am I doing?

I think that's a good amount.   You can lose weight without exercising though.

By eating 1500 a day, this gives you an 800 calorie deficit, a loss of 1.6 lbs a week.

2300 (your BMR, Sedentary) Minus intake of 1500, equals, 800.

If you're going to keep exercising like that you're going to need around 2000 calories, give or take 100 depending on exercise.

Haha, all this trouble just to get rid of those damn freshman 15....