I have been eating 600-800 calories a day...

If you start eating at your real maintainence level now, you probably will gain a bit of weight. Your metabolism is in tatters, eating at maintainence for a time will help repair the damage. That's ok...you know what to do to take the weight off again, just don't do it the way you've done this! Eat better, eat at healthy levels. Your body deserves to be treated better.

its never too late to eat

What she said

I have the same problem, I started on this site on the 25th of July and now I feel stuffed after eating 5-700 calories. I am still losing weight though. Kinda worried that I am not eating enough.

I think for me when I was eating to low of calories, I was tired all the time and felt crappy. But as soon as I got on track, I felt better. I eat between 1200-1250 calories a day. And I've lost 28 lbs. So if you say you feel full after eating but the calories don't add to your calorie allowance, maybe eat oatmeal for breakfast, with some fresh fruit. Lunch have a grilled turkey burger with a salad and for dinner maybe some baked chicken, asparagus and a whole wheat roll. That what I did, chose items that were same in proportions, but higher in calories. But everyone is different.

Yes, up them gradually. Add 100-200 every week or so.

Add some healthy oils...coconut or olive oil. Very calorie dense, but GOOD FOR you. Maybe you want to consider increasing your calorie intake every other day. Not quite as scary as jumping in with both feet. Regardless, you must eat more eventually. Be wise about it and don't let fear and worry take over.

should i slowly work up to my goal??? also how can i tell im in starvation mode?? i am wondering if I should eat something just to boost my calories now..?? (its 10:37 pm though is it maybe too late to eat)??

You said you've been hovering around 6-800, with occasional bouts of the low 1000s, so yeah, add like 100-150 or so per week.

Significant metabolic slowdown can be broadly checked by figuring out your maintenance (let's call it m)then averaging out your daily intake (f for food) for as long as you have data for. If m-f is positive, you're theoretically at a deficit (d). Now, however many days you had data for f, let's call it t, multiply by your deficit, then divide by 3500 (amount of total deficit required to lose 1 lb) so (td)/3500= expected weight loss. Now compare to actual weight lost over t. about 10% variation from this is expected given differing metabolisms. 15% wouldn't be horrible, since metabolisms slow down to some extent during a diet. If you've lost I'd say half of what you should have (ex. your expected lose was 30, and you've lost 15 or less), you might have messed something up. Of course, 50% is just a guess, others might have a different take on the threshold, but it seems significant enough to me to not be explainable by simple variance in individual metabolic rates.

so again; m-f=d, then (dt)/3500= expected loss. If actual loss is <= 50% of expected loss, you may have done some damage to your metabolism. Oh well, humans are adaptable, eat at maintenance for a bit and it should sort itself out.

I think they were directing the breakfast thing at me. I am on disability and have serious trouble sleeping, I just don't get out of bed until 11-12pm. I struggle with chronic pain and I am finally trying to drop some weight as my MD's have asked that I do.

TBH I wouldn't worry too much about the figures and the actual amount of calories you are eating... you know your body at the end of the day and how you feel! As long as you feel full/satisfied, aren't fatigued or feeling sluggish, aren't gaining or losing on 1000 calories than why change it? Everyones bodies are different and you just may have a naturally slower metabolism than that of somebody whos maintenance calories are higher... if you are concerned by the low numbers though then just try and throw in some extra lean protein to each meal like some eggs for breakfast and some lean meat for lunch and dinner.

there is no such thing as starvation mode, you will not gain weight by eating too few calories, dont worry about it

600-800 calories is too few. It's true, your body will go into starvation mode and harbor any and mostly all the calories you take in. When I started my new lifestyle in 2007, I started by eating small meals throughout the day which helped my metabolism get a boost, which is what I really needed because I was use to eating two huge meals a day.
i also started exercising daily. The first year, I lost 100 lbs exactly. To date I have lost 210 lbs.

One mistake I have continuously made is eating more carbs than I should so every few months, I re-evaluate my intake. I eat hard boiled egg white, chicken, never beef, lamb or pork. I eat as much fruit and vegetables as I can. I never count calories because I feel like I'm not eating enough, I stick to suggested serving sizes on packages. I also try not to eat processed foods, even though it's quite difficult.

Tip: Stay away from frozen meals (healthy choice...) they pack lots of sodium!!

Email me if you have questions:)
Vanessa Villalpando

I must also add I am very afraid of gaining weight. I work out everyday and if I dont get a chance to work out that day, I become super angry with myself.. Also I usually feel gulity everytime I eat anything and I do check the scale a lot ( even though my scales at home are broken/dont work properly and only when I was at my doctors office and my aunts house, I was finally able to tell my actual weight. If I ever eat something that is sorta like a treat ( ex. cake or a burger) I get mad at myself, etc. which is why I dont ever treat myself unless I am going somewhere (like a party or out with friends) and thats all they have to eat.

That last part is what scares me. That is not a healthy relationship to have with food.

Trust me, I get the fear of bumping up calories. I just moved from 1800 to 2000 this week. Didn't gain a thing--actually lost weight!

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

Are you sure your calorie counts are accurate?

^^This is exactly what I was just wondering... I think that maybe you are eating more calories then you realize. Do measure and weigh everything you eat?