Hard to say really. I usually do not eat back my calories -- I've had my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) tested, and it's only 1,050 calories a day. So, my metabolism is so slow that it doesn't need many calories. I wear a heart rate monitor and have my heart rate zones programmed in, so I *think* it is calculating correctly -- but I'm never sure that I really burn what I think I am burning when I exercise. So, on workout days I try to hang around 1200 calories. On days I don't workout, I frequently only eat 1,000-1,100. And I have not lost a single ounce since 1/8/12.

Some people say "eat more" to lose weight -- but that never, ever works for me. If I eat more, I always gain weight no matter how much I exercise.

Everyone is different, so you should experiment not only with # of calories, but the spread -- meaning the % of calories for Carbs, Fat and Protein. I do believe that hypo people don't tolerate a lot of carbs like others do, but it's just my theory. Also, try not to eat processed food -- eat as "clean" as you can.

I don't, unless I've burned a huuuuuuge amount. But that only happens when I'm particularly motivated (haha, next to never) so it's hardly worth mentioning.

I have to agree with tecallahan - the 'eat more to lose weight' approach has never once worked for me. Any time I do eat more, the only way to go is consistently up.

So, definitely do experiment. Eat them back, don't eat them back, tweak the protein-fat-carb ratio, spread your meals differently throughout the day... You have no way of knowing what will work best for you until you've tried it all. It might take a lot of time, but once you figure it out, it gets easier.

I have learned I CANNOT eat back my exercise calories, even when I burn more than I eat. I just gain or hold steady. I cannot eat much in the way of carbs either. Starchy foods bloat me up. My carbs come mostly from fruits and veggies.

I've been burning super huge amounts of calories lately, so I've been eating back about 1/4 of them, and all I've managed to do is maintain. So I'm forced to go back and not eat any extra at all. Sucks, because I've been eating back calories because I've been hungry! Not something I am much accustomed to feeling!

I pile on water when eat stuff like pasta but I love spag bol so treat myself once a month and do it when I have my TOTM as have extra water on anyway and when they end it all comes back off! .. then back to very low carb. This seems to work for me and get my biggest loss the week when water comes off 2-3lbs off my total plus the 4lb of water that went on.

I think they call that carb cycling -- you have days where you allow yourself high-carb and then go back to low carb. It keeps your body from figuring out what you are doing and prevents your metabolism from regulating itself based on how many carbs you eat. It works for many, but not for me. I tried to go mostly low carb and allow myself a high carb day once in a while, but I gained weight.

There are so many factors to why we don't lose weight -- thyroid levels are part of the equation, but adrenals are also part and insulin resistance could be part.

Nutrition is also a huge part -- you need to optimize your nutrition - eat green veggies, fruit, lean meats and fish, nuts & seeds, avoid gluten, dairy and sugar, drink lots of water, etc... If you eat 1200 calories a day, but it's got bread and donuts and candy bars, you really aren't going to lose weight --your body is taking all those carbs and store them as fat on your middle. Just cut out processed foods as much as possible.

I pile on water when eat stuff like pasta but I love spag bol so treat myself once a month and do it when I have my TOTM as have extra water on anyway and when they end it all comes back off! .. then back to very low carb. This seems to work for me and get my biggest loss the week when water comes off 2-3lbs off my total plus the 4lb of water that went on.

I think they call that carb cycling -- you have days where you allow yourself high-carb and then go back to low carb. It keeps your body from figuring out what you are doing and prevents your metabolism from regulating itself based on how many carbs you eat. It works for many, but not for me. I tried to go mostly low carb and allow myself a high carb day once in a while, but I gained weight.

There are so many factors to why we don't lose weight -- thyroid levels are part of the equation, but adrenals are also part and insulin resistance could be part.

Nutrition is also a huge part -- you need to optimize your nutrition - eat green veggies, fruit, lean meats and fish, nuts & seeds, avoid gluten, dairy and sugar, drink lots of water, etc... If you eat 1200 calories a day, but it's got bread and donuts and candy bars, you really aren't going to lose weight --your body is taking all those carbs and store them as fat on your middle. Just cut out processed foods as much as possible.

well that's why I treat myself to carb things I miss the week before TOTM and I don't have anymore from second day after its started as my body is starting to let go of the water and in and out of bathroom quite frequently! I usually gain 4-6lbs and that comes off plus another 2 lbs, sometimes 3 if I'm lucky, but I don't lose much the rest of the month!

I also try and make sure I burn at least 600 cals a day, the week before as I get chocolate cravings bad!.. so a bit everyday until cravings go off. I usually get small box of cadbury's heroes and just have a couple of individual ones rather than a whole bar!.. I've still been managing to lose but its really slowed down.

I'm trying Q10 as it heard it helps boost energy and metabolism and is naturally found in our bodies but depletes as we get older, hoping it will help to get last few pounds off and stay off as peri-menopause is kicking in!

I was just diagnosed with Hypothyroidism but have not been put on any meds yet. I have all the symptoms though and have not been able to lose weight no matter what I do. I have my calorie intake set at 1200. I am 5'1 and 150 and Iam trying to lose 25 pounds. Does anyone know if I am eating too few calories or do you think I should wait until the Doctor puts me on meds before I start changing anything? Just been getting frustrated since I cant seem to lose anything and I have been trying for about 3-4 months now. Any advice anyone can give me would be great! Thanks!!

There are some things you can try while you are waiting -- I don't understand why they diagnosed you and didn't give you the meds??? Doctors suck. Anyway, you can try:
- Eliminate gluten completely
- Reduce your carb intake - try to get your carbs from green veggies and maybe a little fruit
- Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water every day (75 ozs)
- Eliminate processed foods and eat as fresh/organic as possible
- Try to get rid of sugar substitutes and use Stevia as sweetenter
- Read labels and avoid foods that have soy
- Only eat cruciferous veggies that are cooked/steamed -- vegs like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts have something in them that suppresses the thyroid -- but it goes away when cooked.

That's a start. I think 1200 calories a day is ok -- you might want to back off of very intense exercise and keep in moderate for a while so that you don't wear out your adrenals (too much cortisol). It's ok to do slow reps with heavier weights rather than fast/intense... walk rather than run, etc.

Hmmm.... that's all I've got! We're here for you and we feel your pain!
Terri

No gluten in my diet made me very sick, I tried the foods a few years ago. I appreciate all of your suggestions, but remember we are all individuals with different reactions. Some of us are dealing with multiple diseases. I always say--think out of the box---try different things and see what works. I find it difficult when people say there is only one way to do somethings and offer the same pattern for everyone.