Help! Why am I not losing weight?

I've been calorie counting for about.. 5 weeks.  At first I wasn't keeping a very precise count because I didn't have a scale.  But a week ago I got a scale and have been keeping a very precise count of everything I eat.  And this was the week I didn't lose any weight at all!  I take Bikram yoga 5 times a week and ride my bike a minimum of 20 miles each day, often more like 30.  My calorie intake varies day to day, but I never go over 1600 in a day.  What did I do wrong this week?  

I also take my measurements and those, too, haven't decreased this week.  I'm so disappointed.

It's possible your body is just adjusting to your eating patterns and exercise routine and you'll resume losing again next week.  If you ever watch the Biggest Loser, there are weeks when for seemingly no reason, a contestant just won't lose any weight....then they drop a big amount the following week.  No reason to throw in the towel just yet.  Stick to your calories and your exercise regimen and see what happens next week.  If nothing changes, then you make have to shake things up a little bit by modifying your routine/eating plan to re-challenge your body.

I too am having the same issue. I have lost 15 lbs since the beginning of the year not really even trying, just kind of watching what I eat and exercising a few days a week. But about the middle of August I decided I really needed to kick it into high gear, step up my workout routine and religiously count my calories. At first I started out working out 4 or 5 days per week, burning about 200-300 calories during 30 mins of cardio, and roughly 50-60 weight-training, and I was only eating about 1300 calories. But I wasn't losing any weight! Although my clothes were fitting better and I dropped a pants size. Then, I decided after a horrible month long plateau that maybe I wasn't getting enough calories and decided to eat 1500 calories and exercise more and change my routine a bit, so I decided to start doing 20 mins on the Arc Trainer and 40 mins walking at a very fast pace, highest incline, on the treadmill, burning between 500-700 calories in that time-frame. I have been doing this for about a month and I have not seen ANY weight loss or loss in inches. I weigh 131 right now and I have one cheat day a week, usually Saturday or Sunday, and generally I cheat during dinner. Never anything crazy though. I don't understand what I am doing wrong. I eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables, a ton of fiber, lots of lean protein, nuts (in moderation), but I do notice that I seem to take in a lot of sugar and carbs. Most of that is from fruit though, but I am not sure if that is effecting my weight loss or not. As of right now I am unable to workout because of an Achilles Tendinitis injury, so I am kind of staying steady as far as weight. Any suggestions for when I can get back on my feet would be super helpful!

Original Post by damirishgem:

I too am having the same issue. I have lost 15 lbs since the beginning of the year not really even trying, just kind of watching what I eat and exercising a few days a week. But about the middle of August I decided I really needed to kick it into high gear, step up my workout routine and religiously count my calories. At first I started out working out 4 or 5 days per week, burning about 200-300 calories during 30 mins of cardio, and roughly 50-60 weight-training, and I was only eating about 1300 calories. But I wasn't losing any weight! Although my clothes were fitting better and I dropped a pants size. Then, I decided after a horrible month long plateau that maybe I wasn't getting enough calories and decided to eat 1500 calories and exercise more and change my routine a bit, so I decided to start doing 20 mins on the Arc Trainer and 40 mins walking at a very fast pace, highest incline, on the treadmill, burning between 500-700 calories in that time-frame. I have been doing this for about a month and I have not seen ANY weight loss or loss in inches. I weigh 131 right now and I have one cheat day a week, usually Saturday or Sunday, and generally I cheat during dinner. Never anything crazy though. I don't understand what I am doing wrong. I eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables, a ton of fiber, lots of lean protein, nuts (in moderation), but I do notice that I seem to take in a lot of sugar and carbs. Most of that is from fruit though, but I am not sure if that is effecting my weight loss or not. As of right now I am unable to workout because of an Achilles Tendinitis injury, so I am kind of staying steady as far as weight. Any suggestions for when I can get back on my feet would be super helpful!

 Achilles tendon injuries absolutely stink!  I hurt mine once and it was a year before I could really do anything.  Try taking a look in the sports medicine category on About.com.  They have a lot of guidance on sports injuries which helped me alot when I strained my calf earlier in the year.

You might want to try cutting down on the fruits for a little bit.  Fruits are metabolized differently from other sugars due to their fructose content. My trainer had told me only to eat fruits early in the day (there was a scientific reason for it which I just don't remember at the moment).

In all probability, you need to eat more.  That's the first thing.  The second thing is that you need to start lifting some weight..

1.  You are burning probably close to 3000 cals a day (I do 12 mils on the bike and burn 800+ cals according to the HRM, and eating 1600... not enough.  Figure out exactly how much you are burning, then shoot for a 500 cal deficit.  Look to lose 1lb per week, then you can lower it some more.

2.  Lifting weights helps create muscle.  Muscle burns calories more efficiently.  Muscle is more dense than fat, so you will look slimmer, although your weight may not change.

3. Drink more water, and eat more frequently.  And if you aren't -- eat breakfast... This appears to have a beneficial effect on regulating the metabolism -- always stoking the fire so to speak.

I think GI Jane listed these two articles in the past. Might be of some help.

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sp orts_body_training_performance/the_hierarchy_ of_fat_loss

http://www.stumptuous.com/strength-without-si ze-how-to-get-stronger-without-getting-bulky