Gaining at 1,200 calories

According to CC i burn about 1,700 calories a day a need to consume about 1,250 calories a day in order to loose. I don't understand how people always say you need to eat more in order to loose because if I eat over 1200 calories than I immediately gain! Does anyone have any advice? It's so difficult to keep in the 1200 range but I'm scared to go over because I always gain

Unless you have been chronically undereating for a while, you are not gaining by eating over 1200 calories. You might see fluctuations in the scale the next day, especially if going over that level involves eating higher sodium foods, but that is not fat gain. It requires 3500 calories ABOVE what you burn to gain a pound of fat.

If you have been chronically undereating, you are going to need to start eating a healthy (try 1700 for a while) level of calories - you might gain a little at first, but the alternative is far worse - continuing to slow your metabolism making it more difficult to maintain your current weight, and most likely malnourishing yourself.

Are you saying that you gain when you eat over 1,200 calories because you've weighed yourself or because CC says so? I mean, of course you're gonna gain cause you've just eaten. Everybody gains when they've eaten because food has weight too. If you're still scared of gaining, you can always exercise. I hear that it burns calories.

You're probably not eating enough.  I used to eat only 1200 when I first started, and when I would go over I would gain.  That's your body's way of saying, "Hey, something's not right!"  Once I went on maintenance for about two weeks (and yes, gained two or three pounds, but they came back off fast), and then kept my calories at a higher level than what calorie count suggested, I haven't had a problem since.

You're young, most likely not completely sedentary, you've got to be burning more than 1700 a day.

Either what everyone else said above, OR you're not accurately counting your calories. Are you weighing things your unsure about? Are you counting things like olive oil, salad dressing etc.?

Original Post by pierc108:

According to CC i burn about 1,700 calories a day a need to consume about 1,250 calories a day in order to loose. I don't understand how people always say you need to eat more in order to loose because if I eat over 1200 calories than I immediately gain! Does anyone have any advice? It's so difficult to keep in the 1200 range but I'm scared to go over because I always gain

I do...Exercise more and you'll be able to eat more.  1,700 is probably what you burn sitting on your proverbial bum.  Take a nice walk, jog, bike ride, chase your kids, use the eliptical machine, etc etc and you'll burn more and therefore you can eat more. 

Additionally, eat some hearty and/or filling food.  As an example, salad isn't just meaningless iceberg lettuce (or ideally, stick with Romaine), it's tomatos, peppers, onions, egg whites, celery, carrots, some reduced fat feta cheese and maybe a few hunks of chicken.  Then mix up some lemon juice, vinegar and a little olive oil as a dressed.  You'll feel satiated and it tastes pretty good. 

Also, while more dense in calories than the salad I mentioned, things like couscous or brown rice will also give you some much needed energy and that full feeling...

And when you need to "cheat" (I maintain it isn't cheating) and get some action for your sweet tooth, drop the off brand chocolate bar and grab yourself a dove bar or something more delicious. 

When you eat, make it count!