[coolKid89]

I've really started to get serious about dieting in the past year and have already lost about 12 pounds. but as soon as 2008 started i haven't been able to lose any weight. My plan has been to eat a lot less and exercise too much. I think im supposed to eat 2000 calories a day, but i end up maybe having 1000 on a good day then go to the gym to burn off atleast 500 calories. I heard there was a certain amount of calories your body needed to start burning fat efficiently and i wanted to get other peoples opinons on it or what im doing wrong.

[srmb60]

Hi and welcome to 3FC.

A lot of answers to your questions depend on some more questions Tell us a little more about you. How tall, how much you weigh, male, female, how are you counting those calories in and out .....

Yup, we're nosy but we're also very helpful.

[Lovely]

Hi there!



I'd like some stats before handing out more detailed calorie advice.. how tall you are, how much you weigh at the moment...

If you're supposed to be eating 2,000 calories, but then only eating 1,000 and burning off 500 from exercise alone then it's no wonder you aren't losing weight! Your body is holding onto everything it can get for dear life. Most people need around about at least 1,200 calories to be healthy. And that's just for the smallest of us.

Burning fat efficiently has got to start with eating enough. Starving yourself is harming your health.

You can do this, you can lose weight & be healthy.

Best of success!

[bumblebee27]

Faerie is right - you actually can make it much harder to lose weight from eating too little, believe it or not. If you eat too small an amount, your body starts to go into starvation mode where your metabolism slows down and yu burn fewer calories. Then, if you ever binge, for example, all those extra calories you consume get converted to fat because your body wants to save those calories as much as it can.

Strangely enough, you may have to eat MORE to reset your metabolism to a faster pace, so that you can lose more weight in the long-term.

[coolKid89]

thank you guys. do you know what that level might be?

im 5'5'' and 137 LB

[Lovely]

Definitely check out the Calorie Counters area (under Diet Central). They'll be able to help you along!

Just a note that according to charts you're right in the middle of a healthy weight range. So, if you are losing more weight, it may be a little harder, too. Don't let that stop you! Just to inform you.