HELP!!! I have stopped loosing weight!!

[Lindsipettit]

I'm 5'5 174lbs. I have seemed to quit dropping pounds. I have been good since January with eating better and for the past mth I have started exercising. I figured when I started that I would loose weight more quickly. I have lost about 30lbs so far. I have been at 174 since May 5th... Last week I went down to 173 but back up to 174.... Its very frustrating!!! Please ideas and suggestions would be appreciated. I know I have read somewhere to either switch up cardio or diet. Surely body can't be used the working out yet?!?! Not sure. I'm still learning. HELP!

[Boss Man]

Firstly, if you have to weight. Do it once a week first thing in the morning after a toilet trip. Any readings that involve retained waste matter and undigested food will be skewed somewhat.

Weight can fluctuate through the day based on things like weight of ingested food, weight of waste, water retention possibly from excess Salt or Salt sensitivity, stress that produces Cortisol, leading to fat stores, fat maniuplating hormones that help to burn or store Fat. Muscle gain from training too.

You may have started your TOM possibly, or you may be needing to tweak the diet, perhaps even he exercise, if you're overdoing it.

Give us a little insight into meal types and times and any exercise you do .

[Lindsipettit]

This is generally what I eat...
Breakfast- Multigrain cheerios with skim milk or oatmeal and hard boiled egg. Sometimes whole wheat toast with sugar free jelly.
Lunch- Salad w/ chicken and lots of veggies or Turkey sandwich. A spinach wrap with turkey and vegetables or a lean cuisine meal.
Snack- Fruit (orange, apple, or grapes) and low fat string cheese
Dinner- Some sort of protein such as chicken, vegetables, and a starch of some sort. Usually beans or brown rice. I also make whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce or some concoction i make up.

Exercise:
Monday- 30-40 minutes Elliptical, and upper body workouts.. I generally use machines
Tues- 30-40 Minutes Elliptical, and lower body workout
Wed- off
Thursday- 30-40 minutes elliptical, upper body, and abs
Friday- 30-40 minutes elliptical, and circuit training (I am new at this and learning)
Sat- 30-40 minutes elliptical, lower body workout
Sun- off

I have been increasing the resistance and speed each day for elliptical. So I figured this would be fine so body wouldn't get used to it.
Yesterday, I actually did cardio on the tredmill to switch it up and see if I can get out of this rut. So that's pretty much it. I am still learning about exercising and such so any input would be appreciated.

How do I loose fat instead of weight???? Should I get some test done to see what % fat is at? Do they charge for this @ golds gym??

[Boss Man]

This is generally what I eat...
Breakfast- Multigrain cheerios with skim milk or oatmeal and hard boiled egg. Sometimes whole wheat toast with sugar free jelly.

(Increase the amount of Whites with the Egg to about 1-2 added Whites and you should be fine with that Cereal option. To boost your Protein intake.)

Lunch- Salad w/ chicken and lots of veggies or Turkey sandwich. A spinach wrap with turkey and vegetables or a lean cuisine meal.

(Seems fine)

Snack- Fruit (orange, apple, or grapes) and low fat string cheese

(I'd go for more calories here. Things like Peanuts, Low Fat Cheese, Chicken, Turkey etc etc. Keep the Fruit and give it 10-15 mintues to start digesting to help it digest.)

Dinner- Some sort of protein such as chicken, vegetables, and a starch of some sort. Usually beans or brown rice. I also make whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce or some concoction i make up.

(Again seems fine.)

(You can also have a small snack about 2-3 hours after this. Things like a small Sandwhich, some Low Fat Cheese, Beans on Toast as examples.)