Guilty About Eating

1000 calories is NOT in the "normal" range, especially at your weight. That's too little. Food is fuel. There should be no guilt as long as you're not stuffing your face. However, if you're not losing weight you're not at a deficit, so you may think you're eating 1000 to 1200 calories but you aren't. If I'm understanding correctly, you've been stalled for 10 months? Get yourself a food scale and you'll be shocked by how much you're actually eating. Also, there are no "right" foods.

SarahSchirduan wrote: »

I use a food scale for every meal to make sure that I am eating proper portions for my bodyweight (4oz. meat per day, 4oz. greek yogurt for protein, etc.). And I thought it was so your body doesn't go into starvation mode...? Is it lower or higher?

Starvation mode is a myth.

I wouldn't go by the bodyweight thing either. Just log whatever you eat into your diary and make it fit into your calorie goal. It's great to hit macro goals for nutritional reasons, but weight loss comes from having a calorie deficit. If you're not losing weight, you're not in a deficit. That's why most recommendations will be to weigh your food so that you can log as accurately as possible and that will show (within a margin of error) exactly how many calories you're eating.

Okay, so you definitely need to start weighing in grams. Also, by the information given it's pretty much confirmed now that you're eating way more than even 1200 calories. You should not have a 10 month stall on such a small amount. Do you exercise at all? Are you sedentary?

Where did you get 1600? If that is the recommended calorie goal you got from mfp it that includes your deficit and that is what you should be eating to lose weight. If you are eating under 1200 you will be hungry. That is the minimum for women to eat. It is not healthy to go under 1200 on a regular basis. If mfp gave you 1600 then eat that and try not to feel guilty. I know it is hard but even when you are trying to lose you need to eat to fuel your body. Good luck! You can do it!

SarahSchirduan wrote: »

Oh alright, I must have been using it wrong. I've been trying to eat 1,000-1,200cal for about 7mo. and using the food scale for 6mo. with a weight stall of 10mo. Maybe I should also cut my calories to 800 to create the deficit? And I will switch my scale over to grams. Thank you so much!

DO NOT cut your calories to 800. You've completely misunderstood.

Get your accuracy and logging down first. If you're not losing weight on (minimum) 1200 calories, after 4-6 weeks, then a visit to the doctor should be in order. NOT cutting your calories to dangerous levels.

SarahSchirduan wrote: »

Oh alright, I must have been using it wrong. I've been trying to eat 1,000-1,200cal for about 7mo. and using the food scale for 6mo. with a weight stall of 10mo. Maybe I should also cut my calories to 800 to create the deficit? And I will switch my scale over to grams. Thank you so much!

No, just no. There was a period in my life where I was only netting 800(ish) calories (undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, which ended up causing my body to not metabolize almost all carbs), and close to three years later I'm still dealing with some of the effects of it (lots of muscle loss that decreased my BMR/RMR, hair loss, brittle skin and nails, sagging and loose skin, etc).

You really should check out this link. At a bare MINIMUM, MFP wants people to eat at least 1200 calories (and if you're eating this little, you should also be eating back a majority of the calories you burn from exercising):
http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources

SarahSchirduan wrote: »

Hi guys! I'm having a small hiccup with my weight loss. It seems that every time I eat something, I feel guilty, even if I'm still hungry after I finish my meals. I know for weight loss I am supposed to eat below my calories, so instead of eating the recommended 1,600cal, I am eating between 1,000 and 1,200, which is still in the normal range, so not sure why I'm still hungry. But I am still not losing weight while eating all the right foods. Is there anything that would help speed this up?
SW: 175lb
CW: 165lb (Past 10mo.)
GW: 120lb

You should be eating all of the calories MFP tells you to eat. They are already giving you a deficit to lose weight. Eating 400-500 calories less than that is unnecessary. You should not go below 1200. That is the minimum amount for adult women. If you exercise you can eat a portion of the calories you earn as well.
If you have not lost weight for 3-4 weeks check the accuracy of your logging. Measure and weigh all your food and drink. Be sure you are including things like cooking oils and condiments and choosing the correct entries from the database. It is unlikely you are really eating 1000- 1200 calories and not losing any weight at all.
If you are hungry and getting enough calories try changing the foods you are eating. Eat more protein, fats and fiber to help you feel more satisfied.
Feeling guilty over eating will not help you lose weight. Food is there to fuel your body. Everyone needs to eat. If you don't fuel yourself properly then you will not function well.

SarahSchirduan wrote: »

synacious wrote: »

If all this is the case then you need to get a second opinion because apparently you are a statistical anomaly with regard to weight loss and the human body.

This is why I was so confused and feeling guilty! I felt like I must be doing something wrong because everything came up normal! My doctor said, "Maybe your body was just meant to hold on to 45 extra pounds" which I don't think is very healthy for a 5'4" 22yr old.
I really appreciate these responses everyone!

That doctor needs their license revoked. Really though, I really hope you find the answers you seek, but in the meantime PLEASE eat more calories. You're not losing, but you're not gaining either, so at least there is that! Then go get a second opinion. This is not normal and you should not have to go on a very low calorie diet to achieve weight loss. In fact, that will do more harm to your body than good.