What's going on with my weight loss? (Or, lack of...)

(Current stats: 5'8", 154.2 pounds, female, 18 years old.)

Alright. So, when I started CC, I was 158 pounds. In the month of January I lost almost five pounds, down to 153.2.

So, I was doing fine until February, pretty much right on schedule. This is what happened:

1/26: 153.3 pounds.

2/2: 153.2 pounds (only .1 loss, really threw me off. I'd done really well that week, but I just let it slide and said "Oh well, it'll happen next week."

2/8 (today): 154.2 pounds. HOW did this happen? I did really well this week with calories. I have not gone over 100% of my sodium in the past six days, so it can't be water weight. The only excercise I've done in addition to cardio has been pilates (a total of probably only an hour for the week), so I don't know what's going on or how to get back into this.

My activity level is sedentary, which is accurate, I don't do much besides the actual gym time and stuff and walking around my high school between classes. CC says I burn about 1820 calories, so I always eat between 1200 and 1400, plus eat back the calories I may burn during excercise if it's going to create a large deficit. Basically, I dunno what I'm doing wrong.

Sorry that was really long, I just wanted to give enough background info. I just NEED to look decent for July. No questions. And this kinda thing is just really baffling me. Hmm.

So, any ideas as to why the weight gain/no weight loss has happened would be greatly appreciated :); I'm simply confused.

Thank you!

edit: OH! and the 154.2 didn't just pop up in one day, it's been 154.2 for the past four/five days... since the day after last week's weigh in.

I'm sorry for "bumping" this, but I'm just really curious. Monday I was up to 154, and have stayed around there all week.... for no logical reason. I'm just really lost...

I'm sorry for bumping a second time, I know it's incredibly lame. It's just really driving me insane and stuff (I was 154.2 exactly, once again, this morning, too), and I wanna know if there's anything I'm doing wrong. Any help at all is sooo appreciated.

I am no expert...I haven't been here long.  But I have done a lot of reading here.  One thing that affects a females weight is if their period is going to be starting soon.  Weight creeps up...  Another thing is if enough calories aren't taken in.  1200-1400 cals may not be quite enough for you.

Hopefully someone else will post something that I haven't learned yet.  But I hope this helps...

Hmm, well you've obviously hit a plateau. Whether this is because your body has decided this is a healthy weight or because you are measuring foods wrong, etc, I don't know.

Try eating maintenance for a few days and then cutting back again. I'd also suggest incorporating some exercise into your daily schedule. Even 20 minutes 5 days a week is good to start.

Thanks 1kkatt so much for responding. It's not period weight, and I'm pretty sure the calories are fine. I'm sedentary besides my gym time.

And thanks feanor... I was really unaware you could hit a plateau after only 5 weeks of dieting, and only a 5 pounds weight loss? Ugh, and going up a pound before my body decided to plateau is a pain.

I guess I'll try eating my maintenance level... ah. And I do workout 4-5 days a week. Maybe I'll up it. Maybe. The 1200-1400 calories was just for my nonwork out days. I will usually add whatever I burn to 1200 and eat 100 calories within that number for the day.

Different people plateau at different times.  I lost 5 lbs at first, then hit a plateau after only about 2 weeks.  The next week I stayed at the same number and even went up for a couple of days.  Then, I dropped again and have finally lost 10 lbs but I have hit another plateau and have lost nothing in the past several days.  If it wasn't for looking at that dial and seeing that I have already lost 10 lbs, I would probably have gotten frustrated by now.  I am VERY careful about measuring and get "some" exercise in...although I would like to get more in....so I know I should be losing weight.  It just doesn't want to come off the way I wish it would.

Hopefully in a few more days I will start dropping again.  But if it doesn't happen soon, I can still deal with it knowing that I am eating healthier than I have in my life!

If i read that correctly you are looking at your burn meter based on being sedentary but you do cardio 4-5 times per week? Perhaps you are not eating enough? Perhaps you are more active than sedentary?

Oh, gotcha. Thank you again.

I had a coffee fribble last night from Friendly's (I know, not the correct way to fill up my calories... but it was SO good), and I'm down to 153.5 pounds. Do you think the plateau is over from just that one day? Or should I do one more day at maintenance?

Thanks justjulee. I'm eating enough, I'm almost sure. I am sedentary except for the time where I'm intentionally excercising. I eat back the calories I burn on the days I do cardio, so I still have about a 500-600 calorie deficit. :)

Sometimes eating over for one day can be enough.  I would maybe try one more day and then go back to your regular intake.  Enjoy eating at maint.  and enjoy the few treats that it brings.  mmmm....me I never count cals on the weekend.  I eat whatever I want just try to be careful of portion sizes.  I usually gain like 4lbs on the weekend but mostly because I am a salt fiend!!!!  I find that by tues  my weight is back down and usually even lower than it was on friday.

Alrighty. Thanks so much agana. I'll eat up to maintenance today, too, and see how it all goes. :D