Hard to lose weight

My workout schedule is a 4-day split with weights every second day, low reps heavy weight. I do cardio 5 days out of the week, pretty intense for at least an hour. I was eating 1200 calories and not losing anything. I bumped them up to 1600 calories, and it felt like I was getting firmer, but right now I can see more fat. I eat nothing but clean food- oats, protein, apples,tuna, fat free yogurt, chicken breast, egg whites, veggies, and pure whey isolate. Lots of water and green tea. I feel like I'm doing more lately, and gaining weight. Its really tempting to drop my cals to 11-1200. I'm 5'4, 120 lbs, and female. Does anyone have any ideas?? I don't know how much I should be eating!!

That's because you're a healthy weight. :) You don't need to lose any weight. And you were starving yourself with all that work and minimum calories. I think your body needs to learn to trust you again. It's scared you're not going to feed it and, with all your activity, it's trying to make sure that it's going to have enough energy so it doesn't die.

If you feel soft and what not, I think you may need to focus on toning (as well as some cardio). Losing weight don't strengthen muscles. Wish it did though. *w*

 

How long have you been lifting weights?

Since you're at a healthy weight, I'm assuming you want to tone up and lose fat. You can tone up while eating maintenance calories. Listen to your body. When you're hungry, eat. You will see a change in your body composition if you stick to lifting weights. Don't rely too much on the scale...you might actually gain a few pounds but lose inches at the same time.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you, just a little bigger. I'm 5'6" 130lbs. I was trying to get down to 125lbs, but my body doesn't seem to want to budge at my current weight. I've accepted that this is probably my "happy" weight. However, instead of trying to lose weight, I'm trying to lose inches and tone up. I started lifting weights and I can already see a difference in my abs.

Anyway, good luck. Don't get discouraged!

Thanks. I've been lifting for years and the problem is, I used to be leaner. Now I look softer, even though I've been training harder. So I started counting my calories. On average I didn't eat more than 1200. So I figured maybe I should eat a little more, maybe it would boost my metabolism a little. I ate 1600 for a while, and felt leaner again. Then I randomly got soft. I put on more muscle, but I also feel softer. I don't weigh myself. I go by how I look. I really want to eat less, but I 'm not sure if thats the way to go or not. Maybe low calories for two weeks, then higher for two weeks?? 

I'm in the exact same situation.  And I know what you mean by feeling "soft." I went through this for awhile and honestly, it has taken about six weeks but I am finally starting to not feel so soft and feel leaner again. I would recommend keeping your calories where they are but maybe adding in some more cardio. I think it's better to exercise a bit more then it is to drop calories since yours are already low. 

It's frustrating, I know. But see if you can put up with where you are for a couple weeks. It may just get better, it did with me but it took awhile.

You seem to work out really hard. When you look at the scale, what you see is probably muscle weight, not fat weight. And that's good =)

Thanks for your input. I don't weigh myself though!! I usually go by how I look, and I am not as lean as I used to be.