I'm always tired with lots of headaches...

I drink 64 oz of water/day (two Nalgene bottles). I get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. I haven't been able to work out regularly because of a surgery last month, but I'm starting back into it slowly. I eat healthy foods- whole grains, low fat dairy, somewhere between 3-8 servings of fruits/veggies per day, lean meats, and I limit my refined sugars to 3 grams or fewer per serving.

I'm 5'6 at 150 pounds. My burn meter says I burn 1960 calories per day (light activity), so in order to lose I should be eating 1500. I've been doing this for a year and haven't lost a pound, and I am tired all the time and get constant headaches. What is going on???

How old are you?

26.

OK. That sucks. It really does. I would get some lab work done. My doc requested that I get some done since I have lost 30 lbs (even though it was healthy weight loss and I feel OK) Just to make sure I don't have any deficits, or any low numbers. Also, get the thyroid checked. That is not cool. (the headaches and fatigue) Not at all. You want to feel energized when you change your lifestyle. 1960 sounds kinda low. you might need more than that. Try Phord.com/cc

I like it better. Also experiment with the a little more active category. You may be more active than you think. What do you do exactly? Either way, your body sounds like it is telling you you need more food. Try maintaining for a little while, like a week or so and see how you feel.

How long has this been going on? Maybe you are just coming down with something?

Phord actually suggests I should have fewer calories... like 1460 or something to lose weight. This has been going on for about a year. Pretty much since I decided to actively try to lose weight. I've been to the doctor a bunch in the last few months... I'm at a "healthy" weight, normal blood pressure, cholesterol, etc, so no doctor in the military is going to look any further. As soon as I mention fatigue they immediately jump to depression, but I don't have any of the other "symptoms."

Oh, and as for my activity level: I'm a part time teacher and a grad student.

Listening to your bodys cues is important too. If you are always tired and nothing is happening, you probably need more food. How frustrating though.

Stress can do it too though. I work with so many ridiculous folks, I think it makes me feel sick daily. It is amazing how it can affect you.

Also, you are at a healthy weight, so your body may have reached its set point for now, and being at a calorie deficit may not be the best. I really would look up maintenance cals, and eat there till I felt better, and then have a smaller deficit, like 300 or so, work back up to no more than 750

Set point:

http://caloriecount.about.com/body-set-point- q2981

and:

http://caloriecount.about.com/know-switch-mai ntenance-q5052

Get blood work done! I know two people that had similar symptoms both were anemic AND had vitamin D deficiencies.

Hello counselork, pl request ur doctor to do a blood test, i too had the same symptoms and it turned out that i had severe deficiency of iron.Daily i m tking iron medicine and i m feeling much better. 

I know this sounds dumb, but in the interest of ruling out all possibilities, I'm going to stick my neck out anyway.

Are you getting enough sleep? There was a period where I was sleeping 4-6 hours every night, way below my usual 8 hours and I would get pounding exercise induced headaches that would last for days. Not to mention being dopey at work.

Good luck on the blood work.

I would get your thyroid numbers checked out for the tiredness. I have an underactive thyroid and until they got my med doses worked out I was constantly sapped of energy. I'm much better now and have been able to lose weight, but it does affect your metabolism and energy levels (among many other things).