Hi Jen

Congratulations on your past success. It is only to easy to take your eye off the ball and gain a few pounds back. Unfortunately it is always harder to lose them second time around, but be patient and they will go.

Firstly you have said that you have recently increased your exercise amount. That is good and what your body is doing is converting your fat stores into muscle. If you measure yourself you probably will have found that you have shed some inches even though the scales have not moved. This is quite normal as muscle weighs heavier than fat. For a really toned body you will weigh slightly more, but look a lot better.

I do not think that you should lower your carb level, but you should watch the amount you eat. Even though you are doing lots of exercise you really want to keep your calorie level around 10 to 12 times your body weight, so 2,000 is too many calories. Don't go the other way and have less than a 1,000 a day as that will have negative effects as well. At the moment you are probably giving your body enough fuel through your food so that it does not need to tap your fat reserves.

The last 10 pounds of any weight loss are always difficult as your body is more reluctant to lose them, so just hang on in there.

Whilst you are only 20, remember that you need to adapt this to be your permanent lifestyle. Do eat more healthly. More veggies, less atkins bars, low carb candy etc. These will not help you in the long term. I know that being young these will be more attractive and healthy living may not seem a necessity, but keeping your food more natural will help your skin and hair as well as your waistline.

Keep at it.