Eating less than 1200calories to eating 1200+ calories?

Even though you don't want to hear the phrase "starvation mode" I am saying it anyway since I am assuming you want a truthful answer. You will likely lose weight faster if you eat 1200 calories a day. Since you are very likely in starvation mode, your body is clinging on to all the calories it can since you are malnourished.

I also should have added, make sure you are taking a multivitamin since it is impossible to get all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to function on so few calories. If not you'll probably end up with brittle nails, hair, etc.

There is no way for anyone to answer this question for you. You have to do what works for you and remember that losing more than 2 pounds a week on average is usually considered unhealthy.

I would suggest trying this idea for a few weeks and see what happens. 1 week won't be enough so I would suggest at least 3-4 weeks to see what happens. The program has to be tweaked for each person so do what works for you. Good luck!

Self experimentation is a good way to find out for yourself. Try upping your calories for 2-3 weeks, and continue your measurements. See what happens. Above all, please come back to us with your evidence one way or the other.

Add olive oil to a meal... Sneak in some extra calories somehow... Eat food that's higher in calories. You''ll still continue to lose weight if you exercise. Your body needs at least 1200 cal. to function properly.

If you don't eat the required calories, your body will eat the muscle before it eats the fat. You will end up with a higher fat composition.

When you're hungry your body will look for fuel. If you're fat, it will start 'eating away' at the fat stores. If you're slim, it'll go for the muscle (due to the lack of fat) which is why crash dieting is so dangerous.

Can I ask, what do you eat to be able to stick to 800 calories a day? I struggle to stick to 1200 so I've been exercising every day.

You can try zig-zagging. Like eating 800 for a day or two, then eating 1500 (arbitrary number I made up, eat what ever makes you satisfied) for a day or two. It keeps the metabolism guessing and helps prevent your body from acclimating and plateauing so you lose the weight at a more steady pace than doing it piece-wise (like stair steps), especially when you combine this with exercise. I'm all about eating when you're hungry to you're full. Don't just eat to eat, that gets people in just as much trouble as forcing yourself to eat nothing.

If you have enough body fat, 800 calories a day is ok. Heck, if you're BMI is only 25 (like mine and you have some spare weight, not like a body builder who's bmi is 25 but they're only 12 percent fat) doctors at Kaiser Permanete say you are eligible to do the Novartis Optifast 800, which is only 800 calories a day (drinking the liquid shakes 5 times a day). In Optifast, you're getting in all the vitamins and minerals your body needs, so as long as you take a multi-vitamin you should be a-ok.

You can always get some whey protein shakes to add extra cals and much needed proteins when you don't feel like eating. Muscle Milk regular has 32 g of protein per serving and 300 calories and only a few grams of carbs. It also has enough fat in it where you can take a multivitamin with it and not feel sick. Muscle Milk is also one of the more tastier brands of shakes and gives you a high bang for your buck. I've been drinking their 27 g protein shakes (130 cals per serving) they sell at Costco and my back, hips and thighs have been getting more toned (even though I gained a couple of lbs, but I think this is muscle gain). Plus it satisfies my craving for sweets and chocolate!

EDIT: if you're looking for a meal replacement shake, consider caesin powder (also milk derived). It's much more slow absorbing than whey. Whey isolate and concentrate absorb in my stomach fast. I can feel it 15 minutes after I drink it. Gives me energy with out the jitters of vitamin B complex or caffeine.