From what I understand, it is perfectly ok to go under 1200 calories a day and still be healthy. Some experts disagree and others agree but don't want to start a controversy. The traditional answer has always used 1200 as a guideline, but with the popularity of gastric bypass, it looks like the ultra low calories have been researched more. I personally wouldn't recommend it unless your doctor knows so he can watch for signs of malnutrition. Make your food choices count. Almonds and also yogurt are good choices. (some studies suggest that diets that include almonds or dairy have better weight loss. )

Side effects normally go away as your body adjusts. When your doctor increases your dosage they may return while you adjust again.

LOL - under 1200 calories might be considered healthy by some, but for me my metabolism shuts down after a few days at that calorie level and I just don't loose any weight which at the moment is my biggest concern.

LOL Of course, not feeling hungry definitely has its advantages so I hope it only improves a little bit

New question about metformin... I now get these killer hangovers from one or two drinks. I know that I'm not really supposed to drink while I'm taking it. But does that mean none at all, or just that I shouldn't drink excessively? I don't really understand the relationship between alcohol and blood sugar. The only thing I can find online is that alcohol could trigger hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis.

I take 500mg twice daily.

You should definitely not drink any alcohol at all. It can cause lactic acidosis, which can be fatal. It isn't certain you will develop LA, but if you do, the consequences could be severe.

LA doesn't happen because of blood sugar response. The met can actually cause lactic acidosis as a rare side effect, but drinking any alcohol at all greatly increases your chances.

I myself couldn't handle the Glucophage or Metformin, no matter what the dosage was or when I took it, it made me live in the bathroom and I also got really sick on it. So my dr. switched me to Foramet, which is a form of Metformin, but different and its just fine with me. I have no side effects from it at all!

Good Luck!

I haven't been able to figure out why the alchol is treated differently when you are on the "sugar eater" medicine but I find that I feel awful and get tipsy easier on less if I am using my meds.

Both alcohol and the medication is metabolized in the liver, so they can/do interact with each other, causing undesirable effects. The meds work on/in the liver, and the alcohol also works in the liver and pancreas as well. This is more than the body can sometimes handle. It is very important to not drink while taking the medication. Even taking a day's break from meds is not recommended because of the long term effects that is has on the liver. It takes a while to metabolize completely. I haven't done much research in to the other blood sugar meds, but Met has potentially very serious side effects and it is extremely important to not drink alcohol while taking it.

Thanks for the info. After my most recent experience, wine (which I love) doesn't even sound appealing, so I'm going to stop drinking for now. Hopefully I can eventually stop taking this stuff and resume a life that includes the occasional glass.

Lisa, when I was taking Met, I was the exact opposite! I wanted wine every night. Must be the taboo factor.

ive been on the Met for 1 year now .. at first i was losing quite steadily.. but now the Met doesnt seem to be having any effect on the weight loss and I am stalled and even went up 5 lbs... I am wondering if i should talk to my dr about increasing my dose.. i take 500 mg twice a day

That's funny Jennifer--I'm trying not to think too hard about it. "No alcohol" sounds a lot worse than it is (for me, anyway). I hardly ever drink anyway, but don't tell me I can't!

I haven't had any other side effects, but I also haven't noticed that Met has helped me lose weight...

Weird-I am just like you in the fact that I have been eating very low calorie for years and still gaining weight. I did WW, followed the plan exactly, exercised, and still gained weight. PCOS certainly makes things hard. I have been exercising for 30-45 min 4-5 days a week and still no weight loss. Now I started 500mg/day of Metformin last night and low-carb today. Hopefully the weight will finally come off. Maybe this is the trick..............

Latest studies recommend 60-90 minutes of exercise a day for weight loss, and 30-60 per day to maintain the weight loss. I will find the link for you later, I have to dash off to work. But it is listed in Maintainers if you want to check it out.

Hopefully the Met will work for you, and help you utilize that insulin that is getting in the way of weight loss. Are you increasing your dosage later?