I highly recommend that you start weighing (with a kitchen scale) everything you put into your mouth and logging it all in something like MyFitnessPal. Track everything you drink as well.

How much liquid are you drinking every day - and what are you drinking?

And, I agree with Peachpie - please post some sample meal plans so we can attempt to troubleshoot for you! :)

Thanks for the input. I drink water, tea, and coffee--that's it. I have put my fitbit app and MyFitnessPal on my phone and ipad...haven't started using them yet, because I don't have this week's meals weighed out properly enough to get an accurate reading. Have you tried the scanner part of MyFitnessPal? I eat no processed foods except Barilla high-protein pasta--or very, very few anyway.

I generally prep meals for breakfast and lunches over the weekend. This weeks breakfast is turkish wrap (like a big tortilla--it's what I had on hand) filled with about 1/3 c refried beans (no fat) 1 oz sharp cheddar, green salsa (all veg), and grilled pepper strips for breakfast. Lunch has been pad thai--rice noodles with peanut sauce (2 TBSP with soy sauce, spices, etc. for the whole week--five servings) about 1 oz peanuts, bean sprouts, tofu, and two grilled chicken tenders. One apple, two bananas. I also had probably three cups of coffee with a total of I would estimate 2/3 c low-fat milk (have Nespresso machine) and eight almonds. Most likely not nearly enough water. I generally eat 3-4 pieces of fruit a day. My hubby cooks dinner. Tonight (I'm in Europe) was salad with chopped up leftover BBQ rib meat, green salsa--no cheese or dressing, and a handful of tostada chips, maybe 5-7 full size chips.

I see a huge red flags - tortilla, beans, bananas, rice noodles.

if I eat that on maintenance - even if I exercise- i would be gaining weight. A lot of weight. And I would never lose any weight.

My body is very carbs sensitive. yours looks like it also may be like that, if you can't lose weight.

I add more fat - and reduce carbs. Like really reduce.

Listen to Hala.

I am too carb sensitive. In today's egg scramble I had a garnish (I.e. 1/8th cup black beans...rinsed!!!) and my blood sugar went UP from it.

Even though beans are a slow carb and high in fiber, they can impact blood sugar and thereby, increase weight.

I prep over the weekend too. Take advantage of the people hear to post your menu EARLY so they can weigh in.

In looking at your breakfast-unless you are diabetic, I would get rid of the BIG tortilla. You already got a slow acting starch in the refried beans. FOr the pad thai-lose the rice noodles. Try the meat and sauce over stir fried broccoli. and use extra bean sprouts.

I love bananas too-but they can be medium to high glycemic on the carb scale based upon ripeness. Stick with apples NOT bananans.

On dinner-please no tostada chips. If you must have a carb, black beans IN the salad would have been a perfect low GI substitution. Also you could do cheese as it has fat which helps in keeping one satisified.

Got it--thanks!

I absolutely could NOT eat what you are eating and maintain (I am only 3.9 years out with a 219 pound loss/maintaining at 128 to 135 pounds) -- as many of those things are sugar.

tortilla - sugar

beans - sugar

rice noodles - sugar

peanut sauce - usually has sugar

apple - sugar

banana - sugar

milk - sugar

tostada chips - sugar

I still weigh and measure everything -- STILL. I definitely believe this has contributed to my success.

Thank you!

To maintain I have to avoid grains and most fruits. Even fresh ones are full of sugar.

when my weight is at the bottom of my range - I can and do eat more fruits - but mostly berries. when I am trying to lose weight - I limit fruits to 1 or 2 servings a week.

And if I want to lose weight I limit starches. including grains.

What do I eat? real food - dense proteins and veggies, good fat (olives, avocado, bacon, butter, mayo, etc) . When I was working on losings my regain - i stopped drinking any alcohol, and I had one "cheat meal a week" so I would not feel deprived. I allowed myself to have almost anything (taht would not make me sick -so no cake or cookies, or candies). That was the time for extra starches, or more fruits (fruit salad with whipped cream - yes - that was a meal), or slice of pizza (it better be really good).

I don't eat bread, grains, pasta, beans, soy products, dairy (allergies) and most fruits except berries, kiwis, and grapefruits (I can have grapefruit once in a while)

The boating you are talking about can be cause by some starches or too many fruits. Some of them are hard to digest for me. I love love love cherries. But if I eat them - I then need to sleep in another room lol. Because what we don't digest very well - our gut bacteria may, and that will turn into gas... Once a year I buy some cherries. Then I am good for the rest of the year- season. Just ask my BF.