i feel a tad embarrassed asking for help...

i feel silly asking for help after being on CC since july, but what i was doing just isn't working anymore, and it's starting to frustrate me.

back when i signed up for CC in july, i was 158 lbs. my goal used to be to get down to 130, but being 5'9", i think that might be too thin. so now, i'm shooting for somewhere around 135-140.

i lost the first 10 lbs no problem. i barely exercised. i just limited my diet to 1200 calories a day. well, i get off track for a bit, and went back up to 151 lbs. that's when i signed up for a gym, and started better planning my meals.

for awhile, my weight went down to 147 lbs, but now it keeps just going up and up, and now i'm at 152, and i'm not exactly sure why. i consume about 1200-1300 calories per day, more on the days i work out. i'm starting to feel like i should maybe try eating more, but naturally, that's a scary thing when i'm already gaining weight.

any advice or similar personal stories would be greatly appreciated =)

I just calculated your BMI and it says that 150 for you is in the normal range. 135 is still in the normal range, but it's on the low side. Your body might be fighting you a little on this.

How many calories are you burning a day? I burn a little over 2100, so most days 1200 calories is just not enough. It's possible you've put yourself in a bit of a starvation mode.

Hope this helps!

well..i haven't had a problem regaining weight (yet), but i would say to try to go ahead and increase your calories.

i'm at about 145 lbs, 5'5", 22 y/o, and exercise about an hour every day--i usually burn 400-500 extra calories.  i shoot to eat about 1700-1800 calories every day.  since you're taller than me, you'll burn more calories just throughout the course of a normal day, and also probably while exercising.  so i would say to increase your calories on a regular basis--just by 200 or so a day.  give it a few weeks then see what happens.

also, if you've just started exercising regularly, it's possible you've started putting on lean muscle weight--but i generally don't consider that when thinking about weight fluctuations and stuff.

its happened to many many people on this site..... when you feel like you hit a wall, sometimes the best thing is to up your calories 9granted you are excercising and eating healthy to begin with) this doesnt men go crazy, but up it 100-200 calories and stay there for 2 weeks to see if it makes a change... good luck. it might seem scary to be eating 100 calories more, but thast really some nuts if you think about it... or a banana.... enough to help.... not enough to damage your deficit :) good luck.

curlyd-
i keep my activity level set at sedentary and then add in my activities. at sedentary, i burn about 1800 calories a day. i exercise 3 times a week for an hour. i know 135 is on the low side, but i'm very small framed. thanks for your help =)

morgan-
i'm starting to think that i might be gaining a bit of muscle, because most of my workouts involve a lot of legwork with resisistance. (bike on high resistance, elliptical on high resistance, etc.)

This is gross, but have your bathroom habits been normal? I had a digestive issue that seriously disrupted my regularity - I put on 4 pounds in no time. The extra weight was, how can I say this nicely, 'flushed away' a day or two later.

actually. i'm not a frequeng "go-er." 2 times a week is normal for me. i asked my doctor and she said that it's normal as long as i'm not in any pain or anything, but it IS annoying.

For the "go-er" discussion (blush) I found out I wasn't getting enough fiber--and it's relatively easy to fix.  I try to get to atleast 12 grams, and that's still low.  christienwentboom, I would try to up your calories by 100-150 (all good stuff, like applesauce, celery w/ natural peanut butter, or an apple) for a week--see how your body feels...you might start dropping...

I grew up learning that  "an apple a day keeps the doctor away".  i was a weak sickly child (hence the dance lessons) so my mom took me to the doctor.  doc said i was anemic and needed extra vitamins and an apple a day to keep me "regular".  well i didn't like apples, but i loved applesauce.  so every day for dessert, i would have a bowl of applesauce.  i would even help pick out different brands at the store, they had to be creamy.  i was obsessed, but at least "regular".

just some suggestions. :)

probably a "starvation" mode. calculate your deficit. this shouldnt be over 1000..you probably need to eat a little more. I dont know how much more but figure it out.
Try finding my post on 'for all of you who still dont get it'