starvation mode!!

Try adding a protein bar to add calories without adding a whole meal..

It's not that you are starving, but it may slow your metabolism, making it more difficult to lose the weight. Try exercising less, or fitting in a snack or two each day. Something small, but calorie dense.

Hi there! Welcome to MFP!

That's a tricky question, and one that has often started pretty heated debates on this website lol. From what I've seen with personal experience, it reaaaaallly varies from person to person. For example, if you have a lot of weight to lose (100lbs+) you'll probably be okay with the amount your consuming for now. However, please, please, please, if you're body starts to tell you it needs more (late night peanut butter cravings anyone?) LISTEN to it. If you have substantially less to lose, You might want to consider Jenae's suggestion. Nuts and avocados are also awesome ways to sneak in a few extra calories, or you could even use those extras to reward yourself with a small treat once in awhile. If you don't have much to lose (I'd guess 20lbs or less) you really need to be eating those calories. You're body doesn't have the same fat stores to pull from, and your metabolism will slow down accordingly.

I'm no expert, but for now I wouldn't panic. I have days, sometimes even weeks like that. Just make sure you're listening to your body. If you feel great with the way you're eating now, it's probably fine, at least for now. If you still feel this way in a week or two I'd try upping the calories a bit to reach that 1200 mark, and just see how you feel.

Hope this helps

The way I understand it is that your body is basically stupid. If you aren't giving it enough fuel it thinks there isn't enough so it starts storing food for the "long winter" that it thinks is coming up. This causes you to gain weight even though you aren't eating very much. From what I have been told it is best to eat 5 small meals through out the day. This is supposed to help keep your metabolism up at all times. So, that's what I know about it... Hope it helps!

I would like to hear feedback on that as well. I am having trouble since I started excercising to reach my calorie goal for the day. Today I consumed 706 calories and had burned 476 from excercise. I start with 1200. It said my net calories were in the 230s. But I couldn't imagine eating anymore today. I have 31 pounds to lose, is this going to hurt my weight loss?

well I have 2 pieces of advice for you:

1) hitting an exact calorie target is very difficult. if your actual goal is 1200, try giving yourself a range to shoot for... say 1100 to 1300. this will make it a lot easier for you to work in a variety of foods and give you some flexibility. it will also just make food planning a lot easier on yourself and it will generally work out to an average of 1200 a day.

2) if you are not getting close to 1200 a day, you are probably not eating often enough. if you are not eating something at least 5-6 times a day, then you need to add in some snacks. the best way to get your metabolism burning calories like you want it to is to constantly be giving it something to burn. I know it sounds a little counter intuitive but it really does work... and if you are not getting close to your 1200 calorie target, you certainly have some room to fit some snacks in your regimen.

I hope this helps...
David

I am having the same problem except I am falling short 300 to 500 calories. A friend advised me to fill it with fresh fruits. He said that it helps bring up your calorie intake in a healthy way. I am also trying to eat six times a day (not gigantic meals) instead of once with heavy midnight snacking. He said that this will allow me to spread out my calories and not have them sitting in my stomach when i go to bed. Hope this helps and if you find out other ways plz let me know

I think you should use it as just a guide. I try to stay between 800-1000 calories per day because I feel like if I ate 1200 calories per day and did not work out every day, I would not lose as much as I want or need.