Another caloric needs question please

(Even though I've had an account since Nov)  I started last month.  At the time had a sedentary life style and only required 1200 cals.  I work out three times weekly (plus I live/work on a produce ranch) and I take my dogs out daily for a min of 45 min.  I've lost five lbs :)  I am concerned I may be sending my body into starvation mode... should I increase my cals?

Thanks!

Woah boy --- you're going to get a flood of responses to this question, m'dear. Yes -- you should definitely increase your calories. There are all kinds of calcuations you could do - different theories as to the way to find the best number for you - but they are all guesstimates --- go up to 1500 for a while and see how you do  -- then adjust from there.

1200 is barely anything and is probably less than your basal metabolic rate :(

I did 1300 once when I knew a lot less about calories and it made me absolutely MISERABLE. You must be feeling awful ya poor thing! Up those calories, but keep it healthy and keep exercising -- you are going to feel SO much better, and probably lose faster, too. :)

1200 is what this site said I should stick too.  It's been fine so far I've stopped eating junk, exercising and drinking water like I should... as a result my energy is thru the roof!   When adjusting the numbers to figure in the added activity it said 1400 cals.  I'm just afraid of adding too many and stalling myself.  I've been doing this since the 25th.  I think 6 lbs in a week and a half is not bad.  (water weight) 

I think the site's calculator tends to under-estimate what you should be eating.

What I used to go by was having a net deficit that was no more than 20% of your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. Your net deficit is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure - Number of calories you eat.

(TDEE) which is equal to your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) times your activity factor:

Activity factor:
Sedentary =BMR X 1.2
Lightly active = BMR X 1.375
Moderately active = BMR X 1.55
Very active = BMR X 1. 725
Extremely active =BMR X 1.9

Some people use another system (and I suspect this is how the CC calculator is programmed) to subtract anywhere from 500-1000 calories from your TDEE. I think the 20% of TDEE is a more reasonable method because it adjusts for the size of the person proportionally.

Didn't know I was gonna geek out on you, did you? :P Hope that's a bit helpful.

As long as you are adding healthy calories, 200 more should help you.
An extra helping of whole grains, fruit and a lean protein would bring you up to 200 calories.

Try it for a week or two and see what happens.

Will do, thanks guys!

Yes, bumping up your calories will probably be excellent for you, especially if you've noticed a slow down of your weight loss.  Too much dieting can slow down your metabolism, too!  I found that one out the hard way.  So if you up your calorie intake, especially with healthy foods, your metabolism will get revved up again, and as long as you keep up your workouts, you probably won't gain weight.  If you do, you can always lower your calorie intake. 

Good luck!