Why can I not lose weight?!

[asdfg11]

I'm a 16 year old girl at 5'5 and 147 pounds. Last year I weighed 120 pounds at the same height but recently just gained a ton of weight. I condition with my volleyball team 1 hour a day 5 times a week and we practice two hours a day six times a week. It's hardcore contioning and practing too, and every day off we have I run at least 30 minutes at a decent pace. My diet is almost flawless too...I've always been a healthy eater because thats the way i was raised. I have egg white veggie omlette and fruit and milk for breakfast on a typical day with a turkey sandwich with wheat bread and fruit and for dinner i have a lean meat like chicken with a vegetable and brown rice. for snack i eat sugarless pudding, triscuits, powerbar or maybe some fruit. it's not a thyroid problem or any medical problem because i had that thoroughly checked. please give me a diet that will work. why can't i lose weight? i want to be 130 pounds. (i don't really look that fat cause most of it is muscle but id feel better if i lost a few pounds.)

[Ranaesheart]

First, it should be noted that based on 147 lbs and 5 ft 5 inches tall, your weight and BMI fall within the normal category.  Per the calculator, your ideal body weight range is 111.17 to 150.23 and current BMI was calculated at 24.46.

From the history you have provided, in my humble opinion, I believe your body may be in starvation mode.  This is when your caloric intake is not sufficient to maintain your weight based on the level of energy you are expending.  Your body then thinks you are starving and does everything it can to hold on to your weight and your metabolism becomes quite efficient in the energy it expends.  It really is a marvelous self-preservation tool!  

Given your height, weight, sex and age (had to use 18 for the calculator to work), and based on a very active lifestyle, you should be eating 2,550 calories a day to maintain your weight.

Based on the exercise you reported, you are using a tremendous amount of calories with your activity level (based on current weight of 147 pounds).

266 calories per each hour of competitive volleyball
266 calories per half hour to run at 5 mph (12 minute mile)
383 calories perhalf hour to run at 7 mph (8.5 minute mile)

In this scenario, you actually need to eat more calories in order to lose weight.  That may sound funny, but it is true.

Your diet is already low-calorie and low-fat.  You may want to journal the actual calories so you can monitor what is happening.  Take that total, subtract the calories you're using in exercise and you need to come out somewhere in the range of 2,000 calories per day and that will allow you to lose weight safely (approximately 1-1.5 pounds per week).

It should be noted that losing 1 pound requires a net reduction of 3,500 calories. So, if you cut back 500 calories a day, you should lose one pound a week. Exercising also plays a dramatic role in weight loss and the calories burned can be counted towards the 3,500 calorie deficit needed to lose a pound.

According to the final calculator, based on a current weight of 147 lbs and a goal weight of 130 lbs, it is recommended that you lose 1 lb per week.  This would put you at your goal weight December 14, 2008.

Would highly suggest you print this information off, discuss it with your parent(s) and your physician and obtain their advice and support in your efforts.  Hope this information is helpful.  

Take care and eat some more calories .. ok?  (((Hugs))) Ranae

[acuriousshopperalwaysasks]

hmmmm. I think that you didn't really acquire that much fat as you think. Because of the routine you are accustomed to. I think that your weight gain is actually due to your body's muscle gain. Lots of exercise converts fats to muscles which are actually heavier than the latter.