what am I doing wrong?! help!

I've been trying to lose weight for the past three and a half months and I finally got down to 128 and my goal is to be 125 or a comfortable size four. I keep gaining weight though? I know I shouldn't fret over a few pounds but it really gets to me. I eat around 1200 calories and work out atleast four days a week with either running or bicylcing for 30-60 minutes. I also do ab workout each day. What should I be eating and what am I doing wrong? Any advice is welcome... as long as it not negative =)

maybe you'vehit a plteau in which your body needs more calories than you're consuming, so it's latching onto everything you eat, so you're gaining.  maybe up your cals a bit and see how that goes.  and after all, it's only 3 lbs.  i know we all have a goal weight, but be proud of yourself for being so close to it!!

I'm no expert ... so i only speak from experience and what I've learned in the past 6 years doing it on my own.  As far as the eating, I'm not sure b/c I don't know what foods you are eating, how often you eat, etc.  There's really a lot that goes into the food section of a healthy lifestyle.  It seems that you have given yourself a set point by eating around the same amount of calories everyday.  Since your body is used to burning 1200 calories everyday, that's exactly what it is going to do--- even on those days that you indulge a bit.  Try increasing your calories one day and then decreasing them the next.  Imagine if your body was used to burning 1500 kcal.  Then suddenly you decide to give it 1200 kcal.  Voila!!! you just burned an extra 300 calories by switching your routine--------when increasing calories only go as high as the amount needed to maintain your weight (preferrably only twice a week.)......Okay if you are wondering why it dont work with the set point at 1200 and then eating more..this is why.....Let's just say that 1200 is the normal burn (set point) when you do eat 1400 kcal, the body is set to burn 1200.  (that's 1200 out -1400 in) You end up w/ a surplus of 200 kcal.  However, when you set your body at 1500 kcal (or whatever fits you), then eat 1200 kcal - the body is set to burn 1500.  So you end up w/ a deficit of 300.  I know you are thinking....."but I work out and burn more"...Truth is your exercise routine seems to be pretty set too.  Plus, your body require more calories on the days you work out. 

W/ exercising try something new.  It works the same way.  If you don't introduce your body to new things it falls into a routine.  The body will burn more calories when it is challenged.  Throw in some muscle conditioning exercises besides the ab workouts (like lifting weights, pilates, yoga w/ light weights).  Try something fun like dancing, swimming, or anything that you haven't done in awhile that might not be so easy to do anymore (like monkey bars - okay I'm a little old for this but thank God i have kids -- that way i dont look too crazy in the park). ....lol

The daily ab workouts aren't really neccessary.  Pick 2-3 non-consecutive days to really exhaust the abdominals.  Follow-up with cardio and plenty of stretching.  Trust me, this free up time for other stuff.  Every now and then I do take a week and work my abdominals 5-6 times to completely exhaust them but I let them rest a couple of days afterwards b/c they do need time to recover.......

I can go on and on ........ and on but I'll stop right here.  I hope that it helps at least a little bit

I have been using P90X and here's what I learned from it.  You should not work out the same muscles every day, which would mean don't workout your abs every day.  Alternate your days and muscles you use.  I'll give you examples from my work out.

Monday - Chest & back & abs
Tuesday - Cardio
Wednesday - Shoulders & arms & abs
Thursday - cardio
Friday - Legs & back & abs
Saturday - cardio

Any combination will work. You can do back and biceps or chest and triceps.  Switching up your routines keeps your body from getting used to the work out.  Also Yoga is great.

You really should up your calorie intake. You are more than likely burning more calories then you think and your body is holding on to what it has.  As the last poster stated your body  memorizes the set work out program you are doing and the set calories you intake.  You need to keep your body guessing.  You need to reset your body, throw it off so it works more effectively for you.