I was a 5-6 day a week runner up until last month when I ran a half-marathon and have not wanted to run since. I also put on an unwanted 20 pounds.
To make up for the missing running, I have been doing the elliptical (hills at level 6) and the treadmill (weight loss intervals at level 10 so 1 min 6.5mph at 2 incline/1 min 4.2 mph at 0 incline then 2 mins at 10 incline then repeat for an hour) for up to 3 hours a day 5 days a week which is comparable to how much I ran. I also work out with a personal trainer doing weights and interval training for 3 hours a week.
I am on My Fitness Pal and stay pretty consistently at or below 1200 calories (2 egg whites and a banana for breakfast, an apple and a cheese stick for lunch and salad, lean meat, vegetables and a sweet potato for dinner) and yet my weight has gone up 3 pounds! How is this physically possible? I don't think this is fat turning into muscle weight as I already had muscle. I am devastated. I am not sure how much harder I can work. Some guidance would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am 5'6" and apparently 137 lbs. I just want to cry.