So I guess I officially started calorie counting and staying withing a reasonable limit about 4 or 5 days ago.....and I'm still sitting at 134. This is usually when I get discouraged but I realize this might be unreasonable. I'd even be happy with 133.5 at this point.....I know I have to just stick with it and the weight will come off....i find that this is when I usually drop my goal to 1200 calories and then hate my life after losing one pound (because I can't sustain that low).

So this time I'm trying something new, and I am not going to go crazy over this. I will have 1500 calories today and carry on. The weight will come off....right?

It will. I ate in the 1200 calorie range and the weight came off... bit.. by agonizing bit. And then I stopped calorie counting, gained the weight back and later restarted just tracking what I ate. Now I eat between 1500-1800 calories a day and the weight is falling off!! Granted, I do do a lot of walking everyday but I needed to eat more to let my body feel okay with burning the energy I had to fuel my walking/daily life. It's such a blessing to not feel so damn tired anymore! Not the tired I feel is more of a body buzzing. Like my bod i saying, Im working to maximum capacity. Thanks!

I know it can be scary to up your calories but let's be honest. Do you really want to eat (or CAN you stand to force yourself FOREVER) just 1,200 calories a day(give or take) for the -rest-of-your-life?!

Just track a "normal day" first and evaluate from there. Any downward deviation from "normal" is a good weight loss start. There is no need for it to be SO dramatic as 1200 calories. Thats just not fair!

Its science baby! It WILL come off - I promise!!

I dropped the calories to 1000, nothing happened. (I mentioned in another thread of yours that that's just my body) When nothing happened I added an evening cardio session. Then I saw movement.

That's just my experience.

Four or five days is simply not enough. Weight does not come off overnight. You need to keep at it, be consistent. If I were you I wouldn't drop my calories yet -- you know that is not sustainable for you. Just be patient. I will happen.

^ This.

gah i KNOW you guys are right!!! i'm not going to drop....but thats what my stupid brain is telling me! it has never worked before so i wont do it. thanks for the motivation

I'm the same height and started a little higher than you in weight. I ate 1500 pretty consistently for the first 2 weeks and THEN weighed myself. I was down 4 lbs.

That said, I am getting frustrated too...i've been at 1500 since the first and have seen NO movement...scale reads 143, scale reads 142, 142, 142. Arrrgh. I've been weighing myself every day and it's driving me crazy. But, I know I can't go below 1500 very long. I can do one day at 1200, but 2 in a row is too tough, and I couldn't exercise at that level (although I get miles of walking each day without choice - I have a walking commute).

I would advise not weighing for at least the first week, maybe first 2 weeks. You'll see the scale move.

It's only been 5 days. Give it time. You will see results.

i know you're right. i'm just so used to my bad habits, i would usually really really restrict for a few days (ie: 1200 or less) and would see movement immediately. i know i must be patient and cherish every pound.

thanks for the encouragement.