How can I stay under 200 pounds?

It could be your body telling you that under 200 is not sustainable for you. Without knowing anything about you your height, sex and your calorie goal and being able to see your food diary it's difficult to judge.

I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

What are you using to get your calorie counts for your food?

I would suggest logging here 100% of the time. Be consistent for 2 months - log EVERY single day, every bite you eat.

I'm guessing that you won't have a problem with your weight bouncing around as much if you can see what you are really eating.

Also, be aware of other things that can affect your weight: your hormonal cycle, too much sodium, muscles retaining fluid from exercise, etc.

I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

You're not eating enough.

According to the Fat to fit calculator your BMR is 1722 cals a day and even if you do nothing all day - which I doubt. your TDEE is 2066.

You should actually be eating somewhere between the two.

I would slowly increase your calories to 1800 a day - Log everything properly, do some cardio and if you can add in some weights to help keep your muscle mass.

Do this for at least 6 weeks and then see how your body is reacting - take measurements as well as weight yourself ans don't freak out if you gain at little at first - your body is starving on 1200 or less so it will take w while for it to sort itself out.

FYI - I'm 5'2 and eating 1600-1800 a day and losing. You don't have to go so low - it's not healthy and as you've found out it often doesn't work. :flowerforyou:

This.

just keep trying - you'll get there sooner or later

My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore...

Maybe you should listen to your doctor he knows you better than anyone on here. If need be ask him for a referral to a dietician.

How is your exercise routine? If you are very active and is not eating enough calories, you will not loose weight. Also, if you are exercising then you may need to change up your routine a bit

Just found the quote button! That'll make things easier.

I do at least two 45 minute martial arts classes each week, and I walk for about 30 minutes 2-3 times a week.

Defo not eating enough.

My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore...

Holy crap - get a new Dr now!

Edit - most Dr's have no training in eating or nutrition. You'll screw up your metabolism eating that low.

Well that was the first time I ever went to that doctor, and I've seen him once since then. I *had* been eating around 1600-1800 when I saw him, and was actually gaining weight, which is why he told me to go lower, but I didn't have confidence in him yet so I raised the number that he originally gave me. I figured he would be okay since he is a diabetes doctor (I went to him because diabetes runs in my family on both sides, I thankfully do not have it) and I've never had problems with doctors that specialize in diabetes.

Honestly I'd go back up to 1700 and log everything religiously for 6 weeks, also take measurements and photos. Then see how your body is then. It may take a while to find the calories point you need to lose - but I'd bet my cats that 1200 is too low and 800 is just stupid.

Question for you...do you eat breakfast?

I know many members here will say that when you eat your calories doesn't matter. But I know that my husband and I both struggle with a very different metabolism (for a lot of reasons). And I suspect that part of his problem is that he consistently skips breakfast. He eats less than I do overall, but still seems to gain weight. I know some of this is the types of foods he eats. But I believe wholeheartedly that if he began eating breakfast regularly, things would change for him.

It's important to keep your body fed throughout the day.

I've just got under 200 for the first time ever, and I know that if I have one day where I eat high sodium or a significant amount over my target I gain up to 5lb, but so long as I have a lot of water and stick to my target calories after this it drops back down in around 4 days, then continues to drop. I'd recommend using the diary on here and opening it so people can give you advice.

Also, please go and get a second opinion from another doctor. 800 calories a day does sound very low, but there may be a reason for it, we don't have your full medical records! So see someone else if you can, preferably who specialises in things like this, so you get reassurance and the input of someone with a wide range of knowledge. People on here are very helpful, but if there are other issues then professional support is the best route to go down.

I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

You're not eating enough.

According to the Fat to fit calculator your BMR is 1722 cals a day and even if you do nothing all day - which I doubt. your TDEE is 2066.

You should actually be eating somewhere between the two.

I would slowly increase your calories to 1800 a day - Log everything properly, do some cardio and if you can add in some weights to help keep your muscle mass.

Do this for at least 6 weeks and then see how your body is reacting - take measurements as well as weight yourself ans don't freak out if you gain at little at first - your body is starving on 1200 or less so it will take w while for it to sort itself out.

FYI - I'm 5'2 and eating 1600-1800 a day and losing. You don't have to go so low - it's not healthy and as you've found out it often doesn't work. :flowerforyou:

with all due respect, this does not even make sense. You say that you doubt this person's TDEE is 2066 and then you recommend that they bump up their calories to 1800???? If their TDEE is 2000 then they should should be eating at a 25% deficit which would be about 1500 calories a day. You also recommended eating more than what this person BMR is - 1722 according to you - which is actually more then they are burning. I am not sure how this person would lose weight if they are eating more then they burn in a day ....

No. You do not understand what TDEE and BMR are, and how intake relates to them.

A person should eat more than their BMR. Your BMR is the "burn" your body creates simply by existing. It does not include exercise, housework, sitting at a desk, walking around an office, cooking, etc. etc. etc. Your TDEE does include all these things (it is your TOTAL burn). You should eat above your BMR (to support basic bodily functions) but below your TDEE (to create a deficit).

A -25% TDEE cut is pretty big. 10-15% is good for most people; a moderate deficit is also more sustainable in the long run and will help retain lean body mass. 1800 cals/day seems pretty darn reasonable to me.

ETA: when you do increase your calories, keep in mind that you may see a temporary gain or plateau - as long as a month or so. Be patient and give it some time; you'll start to drop again. Also, it will be very important to measure your food and log accurately, so you can be sure that your intake is accurate. It's very easy to overestimate what you eat, often leading people to blame their "high goal" when in fact they were simply accidentally overeating/surpassing their goal.

Someone covered what o was going to say about your deficit and all that. Bit for example I am 6'1" to get below 200 pounds my calorie intake was around 1600, I am active and ajusted my macros and kept strict to my strategy, I did a ton of cardio that was targeting my fat burn heartrate zone around 135 -165 and did pushed hard. There is no quick fix ! You need to make this a lifestyle change to achieve and maintain.:happy
CHUBBY HUBBY ME by keola64@rocketmail.com, on Flickr
IMAG1966_BURST005_2 by keola64@rocketmail.com, on Flickr

My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore...

yeah you need a new doctor, or one that can admit they don't know much about diet and nutrition and can refer you to someone else for the right information. You are short, so eating at 1200 isn't as terrible as many people here are going to tell you, but I certainly wouldn't go any lower. (and yes you most likely can eat more than that, too)