Eek, I've been eating below my Basal Metabolic rate

 bad i know, ive been on this site for months (since May) and recently noticed a few posts re. BMR so i followed a few links to calculate mine and it ranges from 1300-1400, I've been eating around 1200 (with a cheat day twice a month of about 1500cals) now for months and months and because I'm sedentary thought that was a fine amount, Id been losing about a 1lb a week from May-Aug, after that i've pretty much been maintaining on those calories bouncing around between 128lbs-130lbs, My goal is 126lbs so I'm pretty close, but is there anyway of getting there? Have I totally messed up my metabolism and is there a way of getting back to a healthy level of cals without gaining a bunch? Cant believe I'm figuring this out now. Any help much appreciated.

No. You havent totally messed up your metabolism by eating only 200 cals under your BMR. There are plenty of weightloss plans that advocate a 1200 calorie daily intake...which do take into acount that you will have a deficit of roughly 200-300 and also doing a few hundred calorie burning exercises a day also. Unless you are really young, youre fine and still healthy.

Thats just my opinion....Calorie count advocates a higher range of everything though, so Im sure that according to this sites guidelines Im wrong. Research a few different weight loss programs that take into consideration your age, weight, height, activity level, and body type to get the most accurate, personalized diet info for you. :) Hope I helped?

Hi,

You're right, it IS detrimental to your body to eat below your BMR (the amount you would need if you were lying in bed all day just breathing). The fact that you are maintaining on 1200 cals should tell you something about your metabolism, namely, that you have slowed it down to the point where you can't lose any more weight. I would suggest upping to 1400-1500 but stay off the scale at first, because you may gain a couple lbs initially. Then the weight should start to come off again.

This caught my attention, so I calculated my own BMR -- it's 1,185. I've been eating a 1200-cal diet but have plateaued for two weeks. I exercise regularly. I find it counterintuitive to increase my calories to lose weight--whenever I cheat, I notice it in my waistline & on the scale immediately. What's up?

i am in the same boat as you jboise... i have plateaued for about a month now it seems. i can't lose anymore! i want to get down to 130 but i've been stuck b/w 135-137. it fluctuates a lot! i've been on a 1200 cal diet for a while with a few cheat days. i think im stuck. i've tried upping my cals like people have said to do on here, but i'm scared to. i always see a big jump on the scale adn i don't want to see those higher numbers every again, esp. after it took so long to get to the point i'm at!

I was stuck at 130lbs forever and upted my calories by 300/400 calories a day with really healthy foods like fruit, carrots, grain, fiber, nuts. (not all at once-lol), and I started dropping again.  Very slowly because I am just about at my goal weight, but it is happening.  Good Luck!

Laphips, i really understand what you're saying, I tried upping yesterday 200 cals and straight away this morning 1.5lb gain,  i know i shouldnt weig everyday but i cant help it, if i gain a lb  a day and leave it a week, i could probably ruin 3-4 months of tough work!!

I KNOW!!! haha it's SO FRUSTRATING!!! i think i am going to try to only weigh myself once a week. i dont do it every day, but i do acouple times a week and each time it's all over the place!! i think my water weight fluctuates A LOT

Hey Carol, good to see you and I'm glad you're thinking of upping your calories. I've been wondering about your intake being so low considering how tall you are but I didn't want to be nosey. Remember when you went away on holiday and had the big gain and it all dropped off again? You really can't gain 1. 5 lbs of fat in one day eating 200 calories more, it's just impossible. I KNOW how hard it is to stay off the scale, I had the same problem. I finally had to lock my scale away for a couple of weeks to calm myself down a bit. You may see an initial gain like that, it's most likely just water that will be gone if you give it a week or two. You are a tall lady and since you aren't COMPLETELY sedentary (in a coma) eating even your bmr is probably too low.  If you get your metabolism revved up you can be eating more food and losing weight. (I think you look amazing as you are but that's my opinion, how you feel about yourself is important too)