Could time off help?

[alessa]

I just finished stage 4. While I can lift more than when I started and am presumably stronger (I say presumably bc I am not sure if I am stronger or just more willing to lift heavier weights), I have not lost bf, and my clothes are not fitting better, worse if anything. So I do not feel great. While my eating is not perfect, I do not binge. I have not had a holiday pigout or anything since I started (or in many years for that matter). My downfall is more like having a protein bar each day or sf/ff fro yo, in other words, I do not always eat clean all day long. That said, I do eat tons of green veggies daily and my meals are veggies and fish or lean protein. My daily calories have been around 1700-1800 for a few months. Initially I was a little higher but brought it down since I wasn't getting results. I never have one of those pigout days that I used to get away with when I was much younger. I know I couldn't deal with the repercussions, but like I said I do have something w/ artificial sweetner at least once/day. Though it may not be great for getting the perfect body, I don't see where it should be such a major impediment to any bf loss whatsoever. I have also increased cardio over the last month so now in addition to walking for transportation about 90 minutes daily (slow city walking), I am doing intervals 2-3x/wk and ss 1x/wk. In the past I was able to maintain with only ss. It may sound like a lot of cardio but doing less was not working.

I am wondering about a couple of possibilities: my body does not do well with intervals (contrary to everyone else) OR is just having its own little rebellion. I am supposed to go away for a week to visit in-laws and am wondering if my body just needs a workout break. I have not gone a week without working out for as long as I can remember. Even after both kids, I was back at the gym within 5 days. I don't know if I will even be able to do it, but I am at a loss as to why I am not losing any fat. I used to eat fro yo every single night and was 2 sizes smaller (just last year and prior to that, not so long ago). I am eating with more discipline than I ever have and normally this would give me quick results, so I do not know what is going on with my body. I hesitate to go much lower with calories bc I dread the regain that would probably result.

Any thoughts on taking a week off? While I had my thyroid tested and it was normal, I still feel like my metabolism must be at rock bottom for me. Sorry for rambling post, didn't mean it to get so long!