Calorie allowance of 1200?? Won't I go into starvation mode?

Without knowing your details in particular, I can surely say that you need to up your calories. I eat 1600- 1700 a day and still have reasonable weight loss. Are you eating back your exercise calories in full or in part ?

There is not really such a thing as starvation mode. 1200 calories will eventually wear down your immune system as you cannot get enough vitamins and nutrients with calories that low. You will end up sick and in bed and generally feel like crap.

Well, starvation mode is more like 400 calories.

But, yes, as tiptoe said, do 1 pound a week. It's much easier.

Also how are you measuring your exercise calories ? Do you have a pedometer or heart rate monitor ?

dawn01 wrote: »

dammitjanet0161 wrote: »

Agree that the 2lb a week is the issue here, changing to 1lb a week and allowing yourself a few more calories will definitely make it more bearable.

I started at 14 stone too and opted to go slowly at 0.5lb a week as was only looking to lose about 2 stone initially (I'm a few inches taller than you). I set MFP to sedentary as I have an office job and it gave me 1790 cals. For the first 10 weeks I consistently lost 1lb a week pretty painlessly.

I have changed to 1lb a week and got more calories to 1700. More like it. On 1200 cals/day my meal times were painful especially when you look at your plate and see the tiny amount that you have to keep you going until next meal.

Thank you guys, this has been really helpful. Can I add you as my friends? Xxx

Add me. I'm on here heaps and have an open diary (but don't look at today, it was a mess)

dawn01 wrote: »

What are macros?

Macronutrients, Fat, Carbs, and Protein. The type of "diet" you are on is the ratio of these from one to another. If you are having problems feeling full, try eating more fat and protein and less carbs. They take longer to digest/enter the bloodstream and release more hormones that make you "feel full."

Good on you for reducing your goal for the week. It took a long time to make the body, it will take a long time to change it. You just need to stick with it.

Hi! I have to eat around 1200 4 days a week or as close as I can manage. It is possible to be full if you are eating frequently about 5x a day. Making sure that you are getting 1 protein that is 4oz or 3/4 or 1/2 a cup if they are say yogurt or cottage cheese. 1 fat that is 1 tbsp per meal like olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, or avacado. And 1 carb for the day which I use 1/3 cup berries but it can be 1 pc of toast whole grain or 1/2 c oats. Ims sure if you could figure it out you could add more carbs just the portions would be like 1/4 of a apple or something. On my other days I do 1500 or more those have 1 carb every meal and no fat. And one free day up to 2300 cal. But I was really surprised how filling 1 cup or 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with 4 tbsp salsa and 1 tbsp avacado and 2 cups salad is. I also do 2 cups veggies every meal. Veggies are very low cal and filling add on a little vinaigrette and tuna or chicken and its pretty filling and low cal. Add me if you like!

MFP originally told me 1200 calories a day, but I was struggling in the beginning to do that and hungry all the time. My adjustments to 1 lb a week made it more bearable, but I find now (60 days into this), I actually am fine with 1200-1300 a day. I'm eating regular-sized meals and not starving. I'm just making better choices than before! Although I do slip in some chocolate now and then, and a glass of wine here or there. I'm nearly 10 lbs down, so I think you can get there, too!

Good luck!