I've gained back 8lbs!!!!!

Eating under 1200 is way too low especially when exercising 5-6 days a week.
I can retain anywhere up to 10 pounds of water weight. Keep that in mind and don't be hard on yourself =]

As for rewards try to pick outside of food. If you want something like a cheat meal make sure it's JUST a meal not a whole day. I've been eating a ton of strawberries and they've been keeping the hunger down and are low in calories.

I personally would recommend upping your calories so that you don't feel the need to overeat. If this is something you want to maintain be realistic in the fact that 1200 calories isn't going to be something that lasts forever.

Yeah I agree eating below 1200 and working out as much as you do is like a plan for disaster. Do you eat your workout calories back?

UNDER 1200? Looks like you need to re-evaluate how much you SHOULD be eating.

Agree, no wonder you are eating everything in sight. Your body needs energy to fuel the work outs, I am also doing about 4-5 workouts a week and my calories consumption is 1,600 and it might go up even more. You are starving yourself!

Like a lot of people will say, you shouldn't be eating under 1200 unless a doctor has told you to and is monitoring you. As you don't have much to lose set mfp for 0.5lb a week and try and aim for those calories plus some of your exercise calories back. It might seem like it's a slow way to do it but you want to take it slowly, it will make it a lot easier to maintain.

Lose weight the sensible way, eating close to your maintenance and then magically, when you're at your goal weight you won't be starving hungry or regain the weight.

I read somewhere that the longer you resist something, like eating, the harder it is to keep resisting it. So, if you eat less than 1200 calories every day, which can't be enough food, for any period of time you are more likely to binge making the whole endeavor counter-productive. Now, I am not an expert by any means, and haven't made much progress myself, but you need to eat more than 1200 calories per day or you are going to screw up your metabolism. And, if you eat more you can indulge within your goals more. 1 piece of chocolate here and there is not going to make you gain 50 lbs. And the little indulgences will keep you satisfied so you avoid binge days. I honestly eat around 1900 calories per day and have still lost a couple of pounds without much exercise (I'm talking a nice bike ride once a week and walking to class, nothing extra) If I ate more like 1800 per day and threw in some actual exercise I would drop the pounds like nobody's business. You shouldn't starve yourself. It will not pay off in the end.

EAT MORE! 1200 is an evil number! Eat back most of your workout calories and up your calories, NET should be closer to 1400-1500 if you're working out that much, maybe even more. You should not be starving, EVER. That's why you binge.

UNDER 1200? Looks like you need to re-evaluate how much you SHOULD be eating.

i agree

Consider finding your maintenance calories at your goal weight, then just eat that amount. The weight won't fly off, but when you consider the ups and downs, slow and steady may win the race. Plus, build your rewards into your calories that you have. I try to eat healthy foods, but if I crave or want to try something, I just find a portion that fits into my calories allotted. Sometimes I'll do extra exercise if I know I'm going to have a few beers and need the extra calories. Also, it's better to log and go over, then to not log and binge, at least if you log you can aim to make up of the overage the following days.

I like that...."Food is NOT a reward"

This is the most important part of the weight loss journey in my opinion. This is the time where someone does 1 of 2 things. They get discouraged and give up OR they dig deep and keep going! You have it in you! You can do it, I've had weeks where I've been very frustrated! But you will fight through it and be stronger for it beleave me!

What incredible support! Thank you all! It's so comforting to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I do plan to up my calories and try that route.

The other factor that I forgot about is that I quit smoking 4 weeks ago. I realize that may be part of the problem.

Thank you all!!!!!!!!

UGH! I quit smoking in 2007 and put on 50 lbs! I was not dieting, just eating and eating! Good job on only 8 then! You can do it! Just up the cals a bit more and keep your body moving as much as possible!