feel like giving up.

so i usually go to the gym 3-5 days a week for an hour and stick to 1500-1700 calories a day. i also went from being 137 to 117 and have fluctuated between 117-120 however, recently i feel like i've been slipping due to stress from school and other academic commitments. this past week i've only been to the gym once and i'm pretty sure i ate a over 2000 calories each day due to stress from studying for my exams and whatnot. i've been trying to lose 10 pounds for the past few months but i feel like i've only been maintaining losing and the gaining again. it's so frustrating! and not to mention i had a slight ED in the beginning and had lost weight quicker then but have been trying to recover... i jsut don't know where to go from here. i feel like giving up but i really want to lose that last 10 pounds and i feel like i'm going in the total opposite direction now. i'm so scared to step on that scale and i'm scared of thanksgiving because i know i'm going to face a serious challenge. how do i get back in the game and how do i keep from being thrown off balance again? i really don't want to gain all the 20 pounds that i lost but i feel like i'm heading in that direction...

Try maintenance for a while.

I was having the same problem. So I decided to take a break by maintaining my current weight...not unraveling all together. Still eat healthy (just a little more), still exercise, still log. I've been doing this for some time now and also still fit into those smaller pant sizes. I plan on losing 5-10 more pounds, but the break is doing wonders for me physically and mentally.

It isn't as easy as it sounds. But your body will have time to re-adjust to the 20lbs you've lost, you can eat a little more, and you can test your metabolism. Then when you re-enter weight loss mode, your body will have a better response to the re-applied deficit.

Calculate your estimated maintenance intake. If you're eating way under that now, slowly increase your calories until you've reached it. You should be able to eat between 1800-2000 calories a day without gaining, assuming you stay active.

Or maybe try slow but effective mini-mini goals. Like lose 2 lbs in two weeks, maintain for 2 weeks, lose two more pounds, maintain for 2 more weeks, and so it goes.

I agree with skookum, take a break... I lost a bunch of weight this Spring and took the Summer off.. I didn't count calories and I wasn't overly zealous about exercising... when it was all said and done, I had only gained 1.5 pounds... and, now I am refreshed enough to throw everything back into losing again... good luck, I know how frustrating it can be!

Taking a break and doing some maintenance is a great idea, I can see myself using this in the future and I never thought about myself!  Thanks for your comment!

This time of year, I think many people have a bit of a slump in motivation and energy.  The days are darker and shorter, and even if you have great holiday plans, the reality is our expectations can be overwhelming.

Try being good to yourself, I like the maintenance suggestions of your other replies.  You can use the time to settle in and try to appreciate what you have accomplished.  That is a great weight loss, and I'll bet you are just needing a little break and some comfort during the next month or two. 

You can write a few affirmations and light a candle, enjoy a warm drink and cuddle up with a cozy blanket.  Do somethings you love and limit your obligations so that you can find balance for yourself.  Maybe even say "no" to a few requests for your time or presence during this time.  Only you can decide what will work, but do try loving you as you are...you will be happy and get back to the weight journaling and loss when you are less stressed and more rested.