So I've never been consistent in my life for more than a few weeks. Thanksgiving weekend really did a number on my weight (yeah, I know most of it is water weight, but I didn't think I'd see 148 on my scale again once I got down to 143 ;( ).

Anyway, I started on 1200 calories a day WITHOUT a cheat day. Traditionally when I've done a lower calorie diet, the only way I can get through it is to have a once a week day when I can eat whatever I want. While I like this idea in theory, I just don't have time for this right now, not when my weight has been the highest it has in a long time (in the upper 140s). So I would really like to keep it at 1200 until Christmas.

Here's why I'm nervous. I have no faith in myself in getting through holiday parties, the temptations of Christmas cookies, etc. Also, 1200 is pretty low, and while I probably COULD lose at 1500, I would like to see faster results than .2 pound a week which is what fitnesspal says would happen if I ate 1500, even with exercise. So I guess I'll get nervous that I will be hungry all the time and this will make me give up.

I know that after awhile your appetite adjusts to the smaller sizes, but I don't know how long that will take. I don't know if my running will increase my appetite and how much extra I can get away with eating on running days, if any (I am short and over 40 and on hormone medication that takes away my periods, so I feel like I have some strokes against me when it comes to weight loss, although I don't know because I've not made a consistent effort in the last few years).

Anyone who has been dong about 1200 awhile have any words of wisdom? I love reading the success stories and seeing how people have been able to stick to a calorie amount for months on end. I can't even imagine that, but that really needs to happen for me to finally lose all this extra weight.

Okay, I'm on day 1, I can do this!

You're freaking yourself out. Don't do anything too harsh or it may backfire. I guess if you are going to stick to 1200 calories, try to get in the lean protein to fill you up! Good luck!

Well, I'm on 1800 calories a day, but I'm nursing so I'm losing at a relatively steady rate. It took me probably about 2 weeks until I felt that it was a do-able amount, and 3-4 weeks before I stopped feeling deprived/hungry. So, about 4 weeks until I felt completely (even now I use the term loosely) adjusted.

Just remember, it isn't a race! Any loss, heck, any non-gain is a victory! Chin up.

Thanks, guys!

nomorejellybeans - I know I'm freaking myself out. It's just that I have such a history of failure at this stuff that I'm tired of faffing around at the same weight while angsting non-stop about my weight. I need to just do it for once and for all.

Missy Krissy -- Wow, 4 weeks, huh? I hope I can make it that long, hee. I do think that when I see some stable progress that it will be motivating for me to just keep it up. My problem in the past has been the ups and downs (since I really only make it 6 days without a big pig out and then of course the weight goes up. This time I will not do that so hopefully there should just be a steady downward trend, at least for awhile!

I'm also considering doing 1200 calories of anything non-vegetables and have vegetables be free. That would give me a bit above 1200 but it will encourage me to eat a lot more vegetables.

Well, I got through Day 1 okay. Now onward to Day 2!

What do others do... do you count veggies and fruits in with your calories or not. I haven't been adding in veggies, except sweet potatoes and am wondering if I can do the same with fruits. Any thoughts??

I'm on 1300 calories a day with exercise and 1200 on days without. I'm much heavier and taller than you so I know a lot of ppl will think thats too little but its what I feel comfortable with. Long story short tho 1200 cals is very doable, just space out your meals, don't eat all your cals at once. I have 2 meals and like 3 snacks a day. It keeps me filled. and if you have a day where you're just not able to handle 1200, have a peice of fruit or a small plate of steamed veggies, or yogurt, cereal bar, something small , its ok to have an extra 50-150 cals on days you just feel drained. That will keep you from breaking down and bingeing on 2000 calories , thats from my experience anyways. I do count calories in my vegetables and fruits, they do have calories XD especially fruit.

@circlerkjen - My opinion is to not count vegetables. Nobody got fat eating too many vegetables. Okay, maybe it's possible but you'd really have to eat a giant amount of them to gain weight on them. The exceptions being legumes, and stuff like potatoes like you mentioned. Fruit is another story. I think I had decided to give myself 2 free servings of fruit (my servings are pretty small, like 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup blueberries) and count the rest.

@charlaine09 - Thanks for your input! I think I'm still working on how to deal with getting the calories in while still enjoying life. For example, yesterday I had doughnuts sitting right in front of me. I realized I was going to be miserable if I didn't have one (I hardly ever have doughnuts). So I had it and just recalculated the rest of the day's calories and it was just fine> I still stayed where I wanted to and still dropped weight over night. Wow, looks like you've lost over 100 pounds! Good for you!

If it has a calorie I count it, yes, it is possible to overeat vegies . To stay on the safe side I count everything and it has worked for me, I am short and small boned I eat about 1200 calories a day to maintain.

Yea. They dont have a lot but if you tend to eat them with meals everyday or they make up the majority of your plate, it can add up. The largest people I know are all vegans O_O true story. So I count mine even if its only 25 calories or 35 or 50 lol

@olehcat. thanks. I still have quite a ways to go . Its ok to have a treat, some days will be higher than others, my average tends to run at 1300 cals/day but thats a weekly overall average. there are days I get lower and higher. One day last week I had a small bag of chips bringing me to 1500 but the other days were healthier and my average ended up being 1300 cals/day overall for the week, so I wouldn't stress a donut especially if you managed to be healthy the rest of the day or week

I have to agree about the vegetables, unless you want to eat an entire plate of cooked sweet corn or potatoes, vegetables should be free. I don't count lettuces/green or raw veggies, but starchy veggies like sweet potatoes I watch my portion sizes.

@domesticbliss - thanks for your input! I am going back and forth on this issue. But I tend to agree on letting the veggies be free unless they are starchy or legumey!

@charlaine - I bet those vegans are large because of eating stuff like fried snacks, etc. I agree, though, too much of anything is too much. I'm so going back and forth on this! I think I will start counting them, but not going to worry if my calories go OVER because of vegetables. I'm certainly not planning on binging on them.

:P im sure its partly those vegan crisps you can get at the grocer. If I go over cause of vegetables I don't worry either, but I still count them, I'm meticulously about being honest with myself on my calories and track them in a file on my computer for every day, that way I can see where any problems might be coming from if I start loosing much less weight or none at all or even gaining. I can track my habits and patterns and forumulate diet plan changes when needed. Its part of my personality type. I have files and records for everything XD It keeps me sane where as it might drive others insane. Veggie tracking is really up to the person, I doubt you will gain weight from them, and if you see your numbers not lineing up you can always choose to track them later. For me though if I didn't count veggies I'd be lieing to myself about 100-300 calories a day XD

You can do this! Just take it day by day! I personally count -everything- that goes up to my mouth, but I have a considerable amount of weight to lose.

Good luck! We're here if you need us!

Work the cookies and treats into your day. If you know you are going somewhere that day just have a light breastfast and lunch, and if you can work out that day you should be fine. The key is to not over eat. If you know you can have just 1 or 2 then you are fine but if you know certain things will trigger just stay away from them...

Other than that, try to stick to protein and healthy fats... In such a low amount of calories I would cut all refined carbs for a while, since those will make you hungry.

Thanks, guys!

Cieloarge - I did really well all week, but fell apart a bit yesterday. I didn't go WAY over my calorie count, but I did enough to see a bloat the next day. I agree that I like to cut out most carbs while going such low calorie! Tomorrow I will be doing that. Today is too late. I've had a cookie and some bread already this morning! D:

owlsteazombies - thanks! I find counting everything so hard sometimes. I had some Indian take out yesterday and I did my best to estimate, but estimate was all I was able to do and I tried to way overestimate since I know most people underestimate things.

charlaine09 - I envy and admire your form of organization and strive to be more like that!