Ok... So I am 5'9", hovering around 175lbs. I eat about 1200 calories a day and workout about 5 days a week. (mostly Insanity now but use to run as well) I am not seeing a loss in lbs much anymore but have noticed some inches as I am getting into a smaller size. My question to you guys is do you think i would lose quicker if I uped my calories to 1400 on days that I work out? or all together. I took this week off (just because I've been exhausted) and have been eating a little more (with the superbowl and my bday is monday) probably closer to 1400 or 1500 and the scale is dropping. It could be a coincidence but I would love to get your thoughts and opinions. Thanks all for the help! I am kinda terrified of uping it so if anyone has a similar experience I would LOVE to hear it!

Why did u choose 1200 calories, your goal weight is 150 u could have safely stuck with about 1750 calories daily, especially because u are very active working out 5 days a week. It might not be a coincidence that u r losing now, u upped to about 1500 and are not working out, which should be fine but once u resume physical activity aim for higher. Also how long have u been on 1200 or less, that might explain why u r exhausted. I was eating under my calorie allowance and stalled too, I didn't choose to go below 1200 I just wasnt hungry so I would skip meals. I have been safely eating above and some days eating most of my workout calories too. Well good luck and congrats on your loss so far!

the reason the scale has been dropping this week is because you took the week off from exercises (most likely)... when you take a break from working out your body releases all the water it was holding onto from inflammation and the muscle repair/recovery process.. its not "fat" loss per say.. mostly just scale/water loss (I mean, some of it COULD be fat loss--> theres no way to know for sure, of course)

How long have you been eating at 1200 cals? If you just started then you might fare better by upping your cals a little (in the short term) However, if youve been eating that level for a long time then its gets a little more complicated....basically your body may have adapted to the lower amount (if its what youve been giving it for a long time), resulting in no fat loss anymore because youve "trained" your body to make due and function of off the 1200.. bodily/metabolic process slow down (and burn less calories) resultig in 1200 a day NOT being a substantial deficit, like it once was.

Thank you both for the responses. I have been eating 1200 for a long time. Most of my diet. (I did go off last year and gained about 20lbs back but have since lost it and another 10) I think mostly the reason I picked 1200 is because thats what it was recommended on MFP.

I don't feel like I'm starving on 1200 and have the energy to work out.

Thank you mkroyer for the point about the water weight. I hadn't even thought about that.

Could I up it slightly for a short term and then take it back down? Something of the zig zag some people do?

I just have yet to been able to break the 175 (175.6 this morning) mark in the 2 1/2 years I've been working and starting to worry my goal is not attainable for my body.

What I would do personally, is up your calories to 2000 until you gain 3 lbs. I know, scary. Then I would do one day of 1200 calories, then stay at 1750 the rest of the time. This way you kind've reset yourself.

I always think the best amount of calories to have is the most amount you can eat while still losing weight. If you're losing now on 1400-1500 why not stay there for awhile and see if you continue to lose weight?

Happy birthday!!!

I think experimenting with more calories may help. Some times we need to change things up a little.

Good luck!

I eat 1600 and am 176, I exercise around 3 to 4 hours a week and stay somewhat active during the day. I also eat most of my exercise calories back! My calorie allowance was 1650 when I started at 195, it only dropped by 50 calories and I'm still losing weight.