Confused!

I am just stating and this site believes that in order to reach my goal I should eat about 1,200 calories a day. The thing is, I can never reach that amount the most I eat is 900 calories - and my average is about 650 calories a day. So would eating almost double the calories help me lose weight or would it make more sense to stay at 650? I mean I havent gained weight from eating 650 ive been keeping steady wouldnt like the change and add of double the calories just make me gain weight.I would greatly appreciate some general clearance on the subject, advice, and what you think would be best!

 

Thanks in advance<3

 

650 is too little, and very unhealthy

650! My gosh.  What do you eat to reach that? I find it hard to imagine eating so little.. If you need to increase calories, try eat a whole avocado. That's around 300 calories right there. You really need more.

Welcome to c-c, it is nice to meet you.
Eating 600 or 900 calories is way to low.  How much do you need to lose?  A lot of members here are finding out that you have to eat more to lose weight. 
Below is a chart on how your body uses the first 1200 calories that you consume each day.  If you exercise, you will need to consume more.  Have you used the expenditure and activity tools?

It is recommended to never go below 1200 calories if you are a female, because your body will go into starvation mode and it is possible that you might gain weight, besides doing serious damage to your body. (1500 calories if you are male).

Your body needs at least 1200 calories per day to survive. Here is a very rough scientific break down provided by a dietician for a  5' 2", 19 year old female weighing approximately 100 pounds, sitting around all day and doing nothing:


-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals)

Reference: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/3178 .html#6

650 is like a snack! haha kidding.. but honestly. That's waaayyy too low. Even though it seems you're maintaining at that weight, you CAN maintain at a higher amount of calories--even if you didn't want to eat more, you're putting yourself at a toooooooootally high risk of countless health problems by eating too little. I say up to 1200 as soon as possible--you might gain a bit at first but I can almost guarantee you'll start losing soon after. And to give you some perspective: I maintained around 120 for four months eating less than 1000 calories a day.. now I can maintain 95-ish on 1500 a day. Things aren't always what they seem in the world of dieting ;)

Thanks so much for everybody who answered! I can see that I should try and go up to 1200 but I'm pretty scared I know I may gain weight initially (part of why I'm scared) but eating double my normal just seems to much almost. I'm sure my sense of a lot is off kilter seeing as for me over 650 is a lot for me so I'm still unsure. Any tips?

If you increase to 1200 overnight, you might see a slight gain-- but it won't be real weight.  Mostly water weight and your body adjusting to having more food in its system.   Every day you stay below 1200 (even though you are probably losing right now) is wrecking your metabolism.

May I ask what you do eat?  

Uh normal day being:

Zone bar - breakfast  (no time for a real filling breakfast) (210cals)

Soup - lunch (approx. 70cals)

Celeste Pizza (350-360cals depending on which kind I have)

  

 

 

 

you eat all that and you are overweight?  This is extremely unhealthy for normal life processes to be carried out.  Not only that but you are basically only eating processed foods.  Processed foods are bad for you.  If you want to eat a low calorie diet you should at least try to incorporate whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and nuts into your diet.  They are low in calorie and provise essential nutrients your body needs. 

*Don't hate me* I'm not overweight, but I do believe i would look better and feel better about myself if I was able to lose pounds and know how to maintain it in a healthy way rather then unhealthy. I know my current state is unhealthy and thats why I came here but I'm a bit scared of eating double, I'm trying but these habits are proving die hard ect. Plus my mom is overweight and I'm trying all I can so I don't have the same situations shes put herself in, if it works for me I want to help her shes getting quite frustrated =[.