Would it be better?

Hello!

I've been member here for about 2 years and I love this site, recently I discovered this forum for Young Calorie Counters, so I was reading it and found out that everybody suggest that teenagers should eat 1500 as a minimum.

These are my stats: I'm 17 years old, 4'11' (149 cm), and 110 lbs (50kg), I usually go to the gym like 4-5 times a week, trying to burn about 600 calories (using machines tools -i don't know how accurate are but I trust in that-), I exercise for about 1-2 hours every time I visit the gym, I absolutely looove exercises, I also do yoga. Even though I'm in a healthy weight and all my stats sounds pretty perfect I have some trouble with my tummy and legs, I know I could be a little bit skinnier, so I want to reach as soon as possible my 105-106lbs goal, it's pretty hard because are the 5 final pounds and all that, but I was looking around and I got shocked about people who eats 2000 calories a day, I think on eating that amount and I probably get really fat (I wish I could eat that amount without gaining), I usually eat between 1200-1400 calories a day. So, I was wondering if I increase my calorie intake to 1600-1800 my metabolism could boots and burn that fat faster and more efficiently, because I'm also worried if my metabolism if getting slower for these things.

Another thing I think it's important to say is that I have thyroids problems, PCOs and insulin resistance, so I'm controlled with pills and I just have to keep and healthy diet, but I'm already doing this pretty well, at least I think so.. I don't eat a great amount of fats, don't eat sweets (obviously I have some weekends that I pig out and I even try to count my calorie intake, but it's not the common), I measure and log every food I take, even a bite, eat a loooot of fruits and some veggies, whole wheat bread, no sugar or fatty things, so I don't know what else could I do, I have been in this weight for a long time..

Could you please give your advice? =) I'll really apreciate it!

if you're eating 1200-1400 calories and not losing while going to the gym 5 days a week and burning 600 calories you are basically starving yourself and have severely reduced your metabolism. It can be difficult to lose weight with PCOS and i am no expert on it so I don't want to give bad advice but in a general sense, it is a sign that the body has reached its ideal weight when it refuses to budge despite dietary changes and exercise.

Like you said, you have been at this weight for a LONG time, which indicates that this is not simply a plateau that will pass and you will resume losing...you are healthy and your body is attempting to protect itself. You are only 17 and have been dieting for a long time so you have likely done some damage to your metabolism and your body doesn't utilize energy in the most efficient way from fear of starvation, which is essentially what you've been doing by eating so little and exercising so much.

You will likely gain a few pounds if you increase your intake, but that is normal and will stop once your metabolism recovers. After you increase your intake to a normal level and the weight gain levels off you can decrease your calories to a more moderate level to resume losing, otherwise you will always have to eat 1200 calories with no net loss, therefore it is essentially pointless.

I would like to point out that it is against CC policy to promote starvation diets, and for a teen to eat less than 1500 for a female and 1800 for a male this is considered starvation. Please increase your calories for your health and to ensure that your body is getting adequate nutrition. If you have questions or concerns feel free to message me. Good luck!!

Original Post by chrissy1988:

if you're eating 1200-1400 calories and not losing while going to the gym 5 days a week and burning 600 calories you are basically starving yourself and have severely reduced your metabolism. It can be difficult to lose weight with PCOS and i am no expert on it so I don't want to give bad advice but in a general sense, it is a sign that the body has reached its ideal weight when it refuses to budge despite dietary changes and exercise.

Like you said, you have been at this weight for a LONG time, which indicates that this is not simply a plateau that will pass and you will resume losing...you are healthy and your body is attempting to protect itself. You are only 17 and have been dieting for a long time so you have likely done some damage to your metabolism and your body doesn't utilize energy in the most efficient way from fear of starvation, which is essentially what you've been doing by eating so little and exercising so much.

You will likely gain a few pounds if you increase your intake, but that is normal and will stop once your metabolism recovers. After you increase your intake to a normal level and the weight gain levels off you can decrease your calories to a more moderate level to resume losing, otherwise you will always have to eat 1200 calories with no net loss, therefore it is essentially pointless.

I would like to point out that it is again CC policy to promote starvation diets, and for a teen to eat less than 1500 for a female and 1800 for a male this is considered starvation. Please increase your calories for your health and to ensure that your body is getting adequate nutrition. If you have questions or concerns feel free to message me. Good luck!!

"I would like to point out that it is again CC policy to promote starvation diets"

I don't think that's what you meant to say. 

of course that's not what i meant, my mistake. it has been corrected..lol