Working my tail off, but still have a substantial tail????

I have been literally working my tail off exercising and eating between 1200 and 1500 calories daily for almost two weeks.  I do a very strenuous workout DVD every day (Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim with interval training, jogging, etc -- 50 minutes of sweating and working) and I count my calories precisely, but this week I lost on .2 (yes, POINT TWO) pounds.   I even went to the gym and did a little extra a couple of times in the past few days!  It is my TOTM and I do have excess water retention, but still it seems that I would have lost something.  What is going on?  And how do I keep myself from just quitting?

I have lost weight before, three years ago, and I lost an average of three pounds per week, taking me from 204 to 136.  But ever since I lost momentum at that point (my father died and I stopped being disciplined for several months), I cannot seem to lose.  I actually tend to gain when I get started exercising and calorie-counting, so I give up.

I am now a miserable 158 (5'6.5") trying to get back to 143.  At this rate, I will never make it (well, I will, but only after a LONG time!!).  I cannot possibly up my workouts (no time!) or lower my calories.  I hate feeling this discouraged.  Has anyone else every experienced this?  What do I do?  HELP!!!!

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Two weeks isn't enough time for a noticeable difference.  Also, if you're working out that much, you may not be eating enough.  Perhaps that's the reason you are now gaining?  I am 5'6" also and find that if I don't eat at least my BMR calories, I do not lose weight.

I've discovered that losing weight is not a race, it's a marathon.  You just have to pace yourself and keep at it and eventually you will reach your goal.

It looks like you are looking for instant gratification for what, like 1aprilfool says, is "a marathon." You body is being thrown into a whole knew routine, and maybe you are jumping in with both feet when you need to stick a toe in first.  Excersizing develops muscle, which in turns make your body burn more fat, but just two weeks into the game you could be gaining muscle and losing fat at roughly the same rate. .2 is a loss, and should be seen as a success. Realisitcally 2 lbs a week is the MOST you should lose in one week. Anything between .5-2 is healthy, and is that not the true goal?

Personally, when it is my TOTM, I stay away from the scale that entire week. I know what it will say and I tell you, that thing lies. I will be 3-10 lbs heaver during that one week than any other time. When its done, I'm usually back to where I was or less so putting myself through that when I'm already on an emotional roller coaster anyway is pointless. Ironically, the main way to alleviate water retention, is drink more water. It forces the body to flush what its holding.

Use other methods of determining loss. Measure your waist, chest and hips instead, are your pants getting looser, etc. The scale is not your only source of progress.

Eliminate the use of the word "never," if you believe you are never going to make it, you will be proven right. If you believe you will.... well, guess what, you will be right there too. 99.9% of any of this is attitude. Do you want a quick fix until the next crisis, or do you want this to be for good? If the latter... then learn now that you may even have a couple weeks straight where you might not lose a thing and perhaps its time to mix things up and that is still "ok."

I don't think you are eating enough. Have you plugged your numbers into the website? How big a calorie defecit is there between what you eat and burn? how much water do you drink?

from experience 2 weeks is not long enough to have your body adjust to your new routine. it take 4 to 6 weeks and even then, if you are gaining muscle and losing fat the scale won't move but your measurements will change.

do not give up - give your body some time to adjust and keep doing what you're doing - .2 is better than nothing

Thank you so much for your replies.   It is amazing how much emotion is tied into this whole weight loss/getting healthy journey.  It is always so good to be jolted back to reality with replies from other calorie counters!  Thanks for easing my mind and discouragement.

To reach my goal weight by my goal date, CC says I should consume 1227 calories.