Seemingly doing everything right, yet gaining instead of losing!

Hi all, I have been on here for a good while now, but I don't post on forums much. I'm at my wits end at this point, so I thought maybe someone here might be able to offer some insight into my problem.Two years ago I weighed about 15 lbs less than I do now, ate about the same and exercised a little less. I was losing on that. It has been more or less a steady climb since then, with short periods of hard fought weight loss in between. Here is more info than you need, I'm sure:

I'm 24, 5'7" currently around 147-148 lbs. I eat about 1700 to 2000 cals a day depending on exercise and how hungry I am. I exercise 5-7 days a week doing 50 minute brisk walks with short running spurts or a tae-bo video or riding a stationary bike. I do strength training, I drink lots of water (over a gallon a day) and eat lots of fruit, vegetables, fiber and protein. I would like to get my cals down closer to 1500 per day, but I'm usually still quite hungry so I cave in and eat some more. For the past few weeks I have been keeping track of my calories in/calories burned and according to the math I should have lost at least 1.5 pounds (in the past few weeks), yet I have gained about that amount. What am I doing wrong?? I even saw my doctor to have my thyroid tested, and it is fine. Any ideas?

It sounds as though your body has got used to the exercise and food regime and adapted to maintain your weight on 1700-2000 cals a day.  Either that or you're eating a lot more than you think (the most common reason for weight gain)

Try a day or two where you consume 2400 cals a day as this could pep up your metabolism.  Try eating different foods.... new recipes, for example.  Choose your foods carefully so that they are as filling as possible.... and avoid anything like sugar and salt.  Try some different kinds of exercise as well... swimming, for example.

And then try going back to your 1700 cals.   Unfortunately, because you're already a healthy weight for your height  then you'll find it very difficult to lose more.  Because all that exercise has probably left you quite muscular, your 'ideal' weight is going to be at the upper end of the BMI scale... and depending on your frame-size you may never be at the low end of the band.  Are your expectations realistic, in other words?

And maybe also think about your health and the bigger picture rather than simply your weight.  Eating healthily and doing regular exercise is a fantastic thing to do in its own right.... not simply as a means to an end.  Enjoy your body for what it is rather than wishing it were different and life might be more enjoyable.

I realize that I am within the healthy range, but it is the upper end of that range. I've gained rapidly with little to no change in my diet, neither of my parents struggled with weight until they hit their 40's or 50's... and I can't stop gaining, not to mention start losing. I guess it is the principle of it more than anything else, it is a puzzle that I can't solve.

I will try upping my cals for a couple days and see if that helps... I think I am counting my food pretty accurately, but I could be wrong.

I would love to try swimming, but the nearest pool is about 18-20 miles away and I can't afford the YMCA membership right now anyway. :( I'll try to think of something else that is different than what I've been doing but still free. :)

Thanks so much for your suggestions!