Whenever i do 1200 cals i fail a month later and gain it all back. Its so good to see the scale move every 2 days but clearly it isnt enough food. Now i need to re evaluate my food intake and how many cals to eat. I cant be fat anymore.

I agree with Initiative -- you may be starting too low with your calories. I just started counting this month and I stick with 1650-1800 and I don't feel restricted or the need to binge because I have a high enough calorie range that I can fit some of my "fun" food in.

I'd start at at least 2000 and see how that works.

I'd also explore why you go 1200. Are you trying to "punish" your fat away? I used to do that--I saw the fat as a sign of weakness and felt like I had to suffer to "pay" for my sin. I didn't think a higher calorie diet would work because it was too easy. I thought if it was easy, I was cheating.

Figuring that out changed my life.

I agree with the others. You're starting too low, why do that when you don't have to?

1800 cals or so would be very do-able and plenty of deficit to see some real and encouraging results.

Get out of a drastic mindset, you're changing your lifestyle, not punishing yourself for getting fat in the first place.

Treat your body nicely and it will respond. Self inflicted pain causes nothing but MORE problems.

+1 to upping your daily calorie intake. Start higher and transition down to a lower intake.

You also used the word "fail" in your first post. Check out the quote in my signature.

I find it useful to give myself planned days where I allow small splurges. If I know that on Saturday night I'm going out with friends and I'll allow myself wine and dessert, then I find that helps me stay on track throughout the rest of the week. Saturday comes around and I enjoy myself, track my treats and carry on with my OP eating the next day. The best thing about calorie counting is that there are no foods that are absolutely banned from consumption! Have your treat/splurge/off-plan food, make sure you record it and track it, and carry on. Don't let one meal or one rough day derail the whole plan and all your progress.

Whoa! 1200 is WAY too low for you. When I started (274 lbs, same height as you) my "maintenance"" calories were around 2600 a day. Meaning if I took in 2600 cals a day and did little to no physical activitiy, my weight would stay the same. I'm guessing your "maintenance" calories are somewhere around there, so cutting down to 1200 cals is a HUGE shock to your body!

When I started out, I think I took in about 1,800 cals/day with moderate exercise. I consistently lost about 3 lbs/week for the first few months. Plenty fast! (I wish I was still losing at that rate!!) Now I try to shoot for about 1500 cals/day, but sometimes it's really hard to stay under that. I can't imagine trying to do 1200 at my current weight, let alone at my starting weight.

Plus, where do you go from here? It's not recommended for women to go much under 1200 cals a day...so you really can't cut as you get smaller. Do you plan to live on 1200 cals/day the rest of your life??

Please don't punish yourself or your body like that! It doesn't have to be that hard, I promise!

Not that it NEEDS to be said again, but yup...1200 is waaaay too low. I'd start at 1800/day and see what kind of a loss you get from that.

Thanks ladies. Im going to try 1800-2000. I guess i just want to be skinny. :/

I am so jealous of you guys that can do 1600-2000. If I am not below 1500 I dont lose.

yeahh 1200 is too low if you want to keep that try switching around. 1200 for a couple days, 1500 for the next couple days, and then back to 1200 and see if that helps.

ps. I just noticed Breanna you are so close to me. I am in delray just south of Boca

I can completely understand that. BUT remember, you didn't gain all this weight in a few months and you're not going to take it all off in a few months. It is a long, slow process but it will be so worth it in the end! After eating well and exercising for a month or two, you'll be amazed at how good you'll feel. Hold on to that good feeling and let it keep motivating you to make it through the next month and the next month and the next.....

We all want to be skinny But most of us didn't get heavy overnight and it won't come off overnight. 1 day at a time. There are no BAD foods, only bad portions... IMHO. You are going to do GREAT!!!!

Soo.... I started at 270 and I use ************.com to track calories... they as well as a nutritionist onsite at my work stated in order to be on track to lost 2lbs a week (healthy rate) i should consume 1550 - 1800 (net calories) daily. 1200 calories is the lowest range a woman should go before you risk putting yourself into starvation mode and your body retaliates by storing more fat. I lost 12lbs in the month of january.... its not amazing results but thats 12lbs less than what i weighed in 2010.

I do 1400 if on the days I don't exercise. If I exercise I usually burn around 600 calories so I eat about 1500-1600 a day. I use my fitness pal.com and they tell you to eat back your exercise calories because they have me at 1200 calories a day. So if I exercise they tell me to eat 1800, but I only like to eat 1/2 of the exercise calories back. I lost 12 lbs in Jan.