Doesn't make any sense.. why won't the weight come off?

Hello everyone.. I started calorie counting over a year ago. Within the first 6 months I got down about  35 lbs (At -500 calories/day) and then the weight loss just stopped. I got lazy over the winter and didn't exercise so I continued to get nowhere.. but..

In mid March, I finally decided to start exercising regularly again so I could lose the rest of the weight. Basically, I've added an extra 300 calories burned per day, and I eat the same amount of food. I've also switched to eating a lot more protein, less sugar, more organic foods.

And yet, somehow.. my weight STILL refuses to budge. It's been a month and a half now, and I haven't lost a single pound... even though I'm burning 300 extra calories per day. This seems like it's defying logic. How is it possible to burn more calories every day and not lose a single pound? I should have lost about 4 pounds by now since starting exercise.

I would think it's just muscle gain, but I can't see any difference in how I look... and while I've gotten a little bit stronger, it's nothing very noticeable.

Does anyone know what this could be? It really has me baffled, and frustrated. I've made so many changes and nothing will work. It's been so many months since I've even lost 1 pound.

If you're burning more calories, you need to increase your caloric consumption to compensate.

You should still be burning about 500 calories than you're consuming.

I'd treat this as good news; I'll take any excuse to be able to eat more.

How many calories are you eating a day?  Does your exercise consist of just cardio or do you also do weight training as well?  Based on your answers, it could be a few things.  You may not be eating enough.  You could be adding muscle if you are weight training.

I'll give you an example from my last month as it pertains to weight training.  I lost a net 7 lbs in the past month. But, I lost 13 lbs of fat and gained 6 lbs of muscle.  I keep track of my body fat as well to help me figure out what's going on.  Also, when I'm going to burn more calories, I tend to consume more calories as well.  I usually add in a bit more protein on the days that I add in extra workouts.

How many calories are you eating?  What are your stats?  What are you doing for exercise/for how long?

 

But the problem is that I'm not losing any weight. If I eat more to compensate, how am I ever going to lose weight? Overall, I should technically be at -800 or so now per day, but my metabolism must have slowed from before.. I know it's nice to be able to eat more, but again, how am I ever supposed to make progress then? I can't magically make my metabolism rise back up.. and I do resistence exercise almost every day, before that's suggested.

Coah_K:

I'm eating 1800 calories per day. Every so often I'll have 2 or 300 extra, but on most days it's right at 1800. I've been eating that amount for a long time.

As for my stats.. I'm 5'6"/165 lbs/16 years old (I'm assuming that's what you meant?)

For exercise, I alternate daily between biking for 30-40 mins and running for 20 mins. I also do 3-4 sets of 50 pushups, 50 situps, 10 pullups, and do some crunches/burpees/other things like that.

 

ok. 

1.  You are probably not eating enough for the work that you are putting in -- as a teen male, 1800 is the minimum you should be eating.

2. You are close to goal -- it becomes harder to lose weight the closer you are to your healthy weight

3.  I see lots of cardio and calisthenics but no actual resistance/strength training, or did I miss something?.  A 16 year old male can do some weight lifting.  And it might make quite a difference, to your shape if not your actual weight

4.  Are you really, really diligent about logging all your calories?  It is easy to eat more than you think when you don't log the bites and stuff

I agree that you should be seeing something but a growing male is a tricky subject -- you are shifting stuff all over the place -- your hormones mean that you don't run by the rules of the adults.

Be patient.  I know it's tough, and it's tougher because you had early success, but if you are doing things right (and it sounds like you are), you will get to where you want to be.

Drink lots of water and make sure your fiber is up there near 35g -- that can also help.

 

Probably like everyone else has said, you are not consuming enough calories. In short, the answer is simple, EAT MORE :)  I even wonder how you are able to exercise on 800 calories! I would not have any energy! The amount of calories you burn minus the amount of calories you eat should be 500-600..... Eat more, I guarantee you will see a difference! Oh and great job on the first 35!!!!

  bpcrue : How are you continually measuring your body fat? I'd like to be able to do this at home, and my scale is supposed to be able to measure body fat but it does it according to my weight - and doesn't take into account any muscle mass.