So I'm 4'9'' and today I weighed in at 168.6lb. I've been eating a little over 1300 calories since the beginning of March. I use Livestrong, but have stopped tracking my exercise because, eh, I just got lazy. That means, however, that I have no idea how many net calories I'm getting.

My issue is the last few days I just haven't been feeling right. Really lethargic, not really sick but odd, and I'm wondering if I'm not getting enough calories. I'm not absolutely sure, though, because I tend to "fall ill" at least once a month from something or another. Maybe not "sick" but I just feel really tired and blah and end up staying in bed all day. Not depression blah, but "I just don't feel right" kind of blah. I've counted calories off and on for about a year and a half now, possibly longer, so I'm no stranger to it, but I wonder if I was ALWAYS low.

I did dial back on the exercise and do 20-40 minutes a day now. Do you guys think I should up my calories, maybe that's the problem? I should also mention I SUCK at sleeping and wonder if my oversleeping (I can sleep 12+ hours if no one bothers me) could be the cause of my feeling low?

Oversleeping kills my energy for the rest of the day. I can easily sleep 10-11 hours, but if I do, I am a zombie the rest of the day and usually want to go to bed within 8 hours of waking up, so yes that can cause it.

Are you exercising the same as you were when you were tracking your exercise? If so, it should be somewhat easy to figure out if your net calories are to low.

With eating 1350, you could only burn 150 before going below what your lowest net should be. 20 minutes of intense exercise could easily put you over 150 calories burned (I burn 180 in 20 minutes of circuit training) , so it sounds like you could definitely be below your net. I would up my calories by 100-300 on days you exercise for more then 20 minutes to see if that helps.

Well, no. I'm exercising more. Before, I was mostly counting calories and exercising a couple days a week. I didn't take it that seriously. Now, I'm exercising almost every day.

I'll go in and up my calories by 200 and see what happens. I'm a little afraid of messing with my calories now because I'm finally in the 160s again and don't want to bloat up again...but I also don't want to feel like this anymore. Then again, before I was eating 1400 calories. I've never been over 1400, but if I add 200 more I'm at 1500. I'll try this until the end of March and see what happens.

I completely understand. Its hard to up calories when your want to lose weight as it sounds pretty backwards. However, it does sound like your body is trying to tell you something. I used your stats (and put an age of 25 because I can't remember if you mentioned your age), and it says to lose weight with exercising 5 days a week, you should eat 1600 calories so adding 200 sounds to be a good way to go!

Oh, wow. What program are you using? I use Livestrong, and I know it isn't that accurate, and I KNOW that it's given me some VERY unhealthy calories before. so I don't know WHY I haven't switched yet...I am 22, but still, I don't think that would change much. I would be willing to switch to one that is a little more accurate/safe.

I used this one

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

For my daily tracking, I use an app called MyNetDiary. On days with no exercise, it tells me to eat 1350 and to eat back all exercise calories on other days (so my net is always 1350).

I just used the link I gave you and put in my stats instead, and the calorie results are pretty similar due to our height/weight differences (give/take 50 or so calories). With exercising as much as you do, 1350 would be way to low for a net. Its a great net for days you don't exercise, but is clearly to little when you do exercise as your body doesn't sound happy!

Well that sounds great then. I just upped my calories to 1535 on days I exercise, and I'll try for 1350 on days I don't.

Thanks for the help! Think until the end of March will be long enough to tell if it's for me or not? I'm in a weight loss competition and really don't want to get too far behind.

Oohh thanks for the link!!

I was wondering, I have a similar question. I'm limiting my intake to 1200-1400 cal/per day and exercising off 600 cals (according to the elliptical for 1.5 hrs). I haven't felt tired or anything, and I'm actually quite content. For the first time, I'm eating meals and not having a food coma afterwards.

So is it okay to continue on like this? Or will it catch up with me?

I just really want to lose weight this time around!

No problem! It depends where you are in your monthly cycle and how your body reacts to it. A week before TOM I always gain weight no matter what, so if you gain weight because of your TOM (before/during/after as each person is different), then I would probably give it more then just a week as it might just be the week you gain weight due to hormones.

That's why I was beginning to get worried, hhm6. I've been eating like this since march 1st and felt fine, but the last few days just haven't been feeling myself. Lethargic, irritable, just sickly. I wondered if it finally caught up with me. I had no idea 1300 was so beneath what I should have been eating, honestly. But I'm willing to give the 1535 a try for a while.

Thanks for the reply Yhahmd!

That's crazy! Did you feel like this for the first week at all? I really wanted to see some weight loss before upping my calories. Btw you've lost quite a bit of weight! congrats! was it all calorie counting and exercise?

Edit: I suck at typing!! sorry Just wanted to add, do you also do weight training or anything?

You're welcome, but hey,you could be completely different than me. My experience was just my own. But now that I think about it, I remember feeling poopy the last time I cut my calories low. Not at first, but gradually. My sleeping habits dont' help the matter either, I bet.

I felt fine, at first. Content, energized, but the last few days just haven't felt right. I can't think of anything else it could be, it's not my TOM, no one else in my family is feeling badly, my allergies are actually under control right now, so what does that leave? Especially considering I've been exercising every day.

Thanks, so have you! Yeah, it was calorie counting and exercising. What about you, the same?

Sorry I did not see your reply last time I responded.

Honestly, I think its not good for you and will catch up. If you are eating only 1200 while burning 600 calories, your net is only 600 which is REALLY not good. Our bodies rely on proper fuel. From having energy, to brain function, to all the other little things our bodies do that we forget (such our our livers and kidneys working correctly)

1200 is the NET minimum for a reason. As you lose weight, you'll want to be able to decrease calories, but where do you go when you are already not eating enough? I would really start to aim for a net of at least 1200 (and even then I usually say add more). The weight is still going to come off, but why not do it the healthy way? We are losing weight to be more healthy, so why not take the healthy path to achieve it. You dont want to cause more problems later on by not eating correctly now!

Well, technically 200 was my highest ever a couple months ago after the holidays! So 191 really should be my starting but the 200 is what scared me and put me into gear so that's why it's on there

Basically, Ive been doing 1200/day exercising until I see 600cal on the elliptical even though it's not accurate it's the only thing that gives me some sense of accomplishment! lol

What are you doing for exercise?

No problem Candeka! Thanks for the reply!

I see what you mean now, maybe I should up it to 1800 then? I wont lie, it sucks to have to up my calories when I feel fine with it now, but I guess I better start losing the healthy way now.

You've also lost a good amount of weight! and if you don't mind me asking, how do you gauge what you eat and how much you exercise? I wanted to average 2lb/loss per week, is that too much? I use my fitness pal to log in everything I eat and when i exercise but is there a more accurate method to use?