Should I increase my calories?

I think every body is different and everyone needs to find what works for them. Personally, I think that if you were eating 1200 cals, then burning 600 then you were only eating 600 per day and that is very low (unless you've had instruction from your Dr/RD etc).

You haven't said how tall you are but 1600 sounds like a reasonable amount from the details you've given. Give that a go for a few weeks and see what happens. It will take a little while for your body to sort its self out so do give it a little time. Main thing though is don't give up, it may take a little longer that you'd first hoped but you can do it!!

Good luck!!

I have a similar doubt.

My (lowest recorded- i've had different results on different sites) BMR is 1526, and my TDEE is supposedly 1831.
I'm 19, 5ft 3 (160cm) and I'm 152 pounds (69 kg) right now.

Should I add to my 1200?

1200 calories is not a suitable target goal for someone who is as active as you are.

I agree that 1600 is probably a better goal, just in general terms. Very, very few people will see weight GAIN from eating 1600 calories a day with your amount of exercise.

Also, when you make a major change to your diet or exercise, give it at the very least least 4-6 weeks to see some changes before you give up and try changing again.

1200 calories might work for someone who is very petite or completely sedentary, but probably not for you.

If you are not going to eat back exercise cals I would certainly recommend going with at least your BMR. Otherwise I woudl try eating back exercise cals first. I eat them back based off of a 1200 cal limit (averaging 1600 to 1800/day) and have been losing consistently.

start eating back your exercise calories. use a protein shake to do that.

We are probably the same. Mine is set at 1550. I don't always eat that much and never eat exercise calories. Does take week or two when you change calories to see difference. I also have my carbs, fat, and protein set differently. Those are the ones I watch close.
Beth

The increase in cals makes sense. I would suggest eating 20% below your TDEE, whether more or less than the 1600 you set at

I have a similar doubt.

My (lowest recorded- i've had different results on different sites) BMR is 1526, and my TDEE is supposedly 1831.
I'm 19, 5ft 3 (160cm) and I'm 152 pounds (69 kg) right now.

Should I add to my 1200?

Just for reference, I am 5'1", 149 and I have been eating between 1700 and 1900 calories perday. Losing about half a pound a week, but I have a large frame and only have 10-15 pound left.

I would increase as well. I was on a 1200 cal/day diet too and at first had decent results. As of late i had noticed a huge stall in any type of loss though and knew something had to change.
I was also working out the same amount as you are now.
I met with a trainer who suggested I consume a min. of 2200 calories a day. This seems like a HUGE amount to me (being used to thinking that 1200 was the magic number) but i was told the key to this is to consume only good clean food (absolutely nothing processed, lean meat, whole grains and veggies and limited fruits, and TONS of water) and to make sure the calories are evenly spaced between 5 meals a day, every 3 hours. I've only been foloowing this for 2 weeks but I've already noticed more energy, more muscle tone, and my body is now asking for food about every 3 hours, which to me seems as though i've jump started my internal oven
I also alternate my carb intake, keeping them fairly low for 3 days and on the 4th day boosting that intake and eating carbs at almost every meal.
Hoepfully this helps, I know its a struggle to figure out what may or may not work and the last thing you want to do is add in MORE calories because it seems counter productive to how we think less is better.
I'd love to know what you decide and how it all works out, and good luck!

Don't worry about it over 2 weeks your ups and downs could be due to water weight.
Start looking at your monthly losses if they are 4lb to 8lb a month then great. If over 8 lb then it may be too much too quick.

I have been the same as you and it's been disheartening!

I started at 1200 - which is what MFP set me at and at that stage had no idea about BMR and TDEE. I exericse 3-6 days per week and burn anywhere (so my HRM tells me!) between 300-1000 cals per workout. I didn't eat back my exercise calories, as I now know I should have and netted a lot less than my BMR a day.

I had a good read of Dan's https://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Place-of-a-Road-Map-MFP/342385002516919 and the penny started to drop. Over the past couple of weeks I have read as much information on this as possible and joined the Eat More to Weigh Less group for guidance and information.

I upped my cals to 1500 and have tried to eat a little more on the days that I do Insanity. So far I haven't lost anything, but I think my body probably needs to get used to me eating more!!

Today I feel low, I feel demotivated, I feel like giving up......but I am sure that upping my calories was the right thing to do.

Good luck!

I too am at where you're at Anna. I was eating 1200 cals a day, spinning 2-3 x a week plus and I have GAINED 7 1bs this past year. I just recently found Dan's Road Map and the Eat more to Lose Weight forum. I've upped my daily calories to 1600 a day, started doing heavy lifting 3 x a week and am now walking (dropped heavy cardio for now). It's not been a week yet. I haven't weighed myself and won't. I have already noticed my body is getting hungry 2-3 hours after eating, which is a good thing I think. I keep reading it takes 4-6 weeks (at least) for your body to re-set, and the most important thing is to NOT lose patience. Just trust in the process and hang in there no matter what. I ran my numbers by Dan and he said to stick with 1600 a day, work out 3-4 x a week and not eat back the exercise cals at this point... I have 20 1bs to lose and am at 36 % body fat. Good luck and try it. Lisa