Hey guys!

So I've managed to lose a lot of weight doing Dukan, but I've slipped. Over the months I've gained weight and yo-yoed between the 169-173 mark. Thought it was because I was at a plateau but I was either eating at maintenance or higher. So I took a break ate normally for a week and now I'm 175, and I can feel it, and I'm really uncomfortable. I constantly feel bloated, my stomach is sticking out a bit, and I'm always tired!

I also stopped working out, but today I'm hoping to add in some exercise. Anyway, so my question is, I haven't been calorie counting until recently to see why I was gaining, but if I were to start at 1200, I've been seeing a lot of people on here on that number, is it enough to reach my goal weight of 130? or would I have to keep dropping it? I'm debating on whether I should start higher and go from there?

I think I'm ditching Dukan for now, because I'm bored of it, and maybe just adopt an easier way to go about this now. Sad because I really like Dukan in the beginning it was easy to stay on!

I also wanted to stop eating by 6pm everyday. I love the empty feeling I had. It really isn't intermittent fasting but it's nice to not have to worry about food after that time, but if I don't eat the full 1200 by then, would that become a problem health wise?

I was also wondering, lately I have been having this really weird feeling. It's like I'm too afraid to make changes because if I don't see a change, I've already given up so much, does that make sense? It's like I'm afraid to try and then fail. I'm not sure what it is. I'm studying for my pcat so it may be nerves as well?

Anyway, think i've rambled on enough now! Just wanted to vent and ask you guys what you think about the 1200 calorie per day (and this is eating back my exercise calories). I really want to get down to the 160s and be my high school weight again! Thank you all!

I don't follow any diet. I eat what I want in moderation. I am never hungry and never bored. I use My Fitness Pal to track my calories in and out. I drink mostly water.

I had my calories on there set to 1200 but upped it 1300. I would not go under 1200 myself. I do eat more depending on how much exercise I put in. I eat back 1/3 to 1/2 the calories I burn according to MFP.

The important thing is to weigh and measure out your portion sizes. Before doing that, I was really off in my estimation, which explains a lot! I was actually pretty shocked to see just how off I was.

I am 5'2 and currently 173. I haven't lost in a couple of months really but I have had some health issues that caused me to back off of my exercise. In fact, I barely did any. I am now back on track with exercise and hoping to see a drop in the scale soon.

Are you measuring inches lost as well? I measure every other Sunday. Even if I don't see a drop in the scale, there will sometimes be a decrease in size somewhere. That helps keep me motivated.

My goal is 135.

Hope we both see progress again soon!!

I set my calorie goals from 1600 to 2000ish. Some days under, some days over. I'm not dieting specifically, just eating to live. I don't know about everyone else but 1200 would be too little for an average for me (I'm in my 50s and active.)

It seems like you could find or build something that would be a life eating plan for you where you could carry on and slowly reach goal adjusting as you go.

After a lifetime of dieting, losing 100's of pounds, keeping it off for a while and gaining it back and then some, I'd say the hardest part is what happens after the "diet" if you can lose weight eating what you would normally would healthily eat with portion control you are 10 steps ahead of the game.

Good luck to you.

I'm doing the MyDays plan on Jenny Craig and love it. It's where you eat strictly their foods, plus adding in the fruits, veggies and dairy 5 days a week, and 2 days a week you do your own foods within a certain amount of calories. Even though I never get bored of the Jenny foods (I've been doing it for almost 16 weeks now), having that little break from it those two days and planning my own meals within 1300-1400 calories is not only fun, but it seems to have given my weight loss a little boost. Mixing it up a bit, you know? So maybe instead of only allowing yourself 1200 calories each and every day, throw in a day or two of 1400 calories.

Good luck to you!

Hey there I definitely understand wanting to get back into the high school weight!!! That's one of my goals

I prefer calorie counting, and set my goal at 1200 calories (although I only eat back exercise calories if I'm hungry). At first it didn't feel like a lot of food, but as I got used to it, and found foods that fill me up longer/are more satisfying, I find it works for me.

1200 calories is the lowest you'd want to go, although on my very sedentary days I tend to go as low as 1000. I make sure I'm meeting a lot of the healthy guidelines and getting in enough protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins. As I continue to track and trend everything, I do find that sometimes giving myself a day or two where I don't measure and weigh everything gives me a bit of a breather and can help push me forward if I seem stuck. I don't go completely off-plan and eat everything in sight, I still use moderation, but sometimes the increase in calories will trick my body into losing more, if that makes sense lol! (I do generally see an increase the day after, but in the following few days it all melts off and I start to see new lows)

Don't be afraid to try calorie-counting. You can't go wrong with it as long as you are not cheating or fooling yourself into thinking you are eating less than you are. 1200 is a good number, especially since you will be replacing calories lost while exercising. Since you took a week off and ate off plan, this is a good time to switch diets. That break may have just given a good boost to your metabolism and it may be burning well when you start anew. In any event, don't give up. I know you can get burnt out dieting, but don't give up. Just take a look at my two tickers. Oh how I wish I were at the weight I was at when I burned out last time and fell off the wagon. Don't let that happen to you! Switching diets if you are bored with Dukan is a great idea, and the good news is that you can always go back! Nothing is set in stone. As for not eating after 6 pm, that's fine, although not getting in your 1200 calories is not something you want to do on a regular basis, only because you don't want your metabolism to slow down. Good luck and keep going!

Thank you for the responses!!

Guess I still around 1200, just wondering though, does your body get used to this number? I'm just scared I'll lose 20lbs and then it stalls bc I'm not dropping my calories more?

I know people have mentioned that they need to work harder to lose the weight as you reach goal (and I know I'm far from that lol) but I don't want to overdue it in the beginning. Some days 1200 feels great, other days I'm starving! lol I guess I can play it by ear.

Ravenwolf and Buffinlovin-we're the same height!! yayy! I find it so hard to find short people on here, not that it matters, but it would be nice to be a couple inches taller so I wouldn't have to lose so much lol. Hope we all get to our goals!

Btw what are you guys doing in terms of exercise? I've been doing the treadmill for about an hr everyday. Running and walking intervals. I used to do the elliptical but I got so bored, and the wires dont work so I cant see my calories burned (I know it isn't accurate but it keeps me going!)

Thanks again for the advice! Feel much more motivated after reading the responses

Try something different, incorporate what you liked and/what worked for you from Dukan. There's no hard and fast rules for what's going to work for you forever.

We survive because of our ability to adapt, keep tweaking your program and make it into the best for you.

Most of all, don't quit, keep trying!

Best to you

How long were you on the Dukan diet before you got bored with it? I'm finishing my second month now and I love it. I am surprised with being able to follow it for so long without dreading it. But I am always fearing that I will reach the situation in which you are now.

As you get closer to goal, the weight loss will get slower and, instead of lowering the calories further, a good solution is to increase the duration/intensity of your workouts. With a calorie deficit and work-out I doubt you'll reach a complete stall, so don't worry about it too much

Snowlilly, I was on Dukan since February of this year, but I wasn't following it properly and it was on and off but the 30 lbs I loss was completely on Dukan. What made me fall off were weekends when I would go out and I was so happy with weightloss, I would let little things slide, and then I would gain a little be here, then during the week I would be really good and lose it, then gain it again, so I've been yo-yoing around the 170s for awhile.

I want to lose again!! I loved the feeling of getting on the scale and seeing lower numbers, it kept me motivated. Now when the scale doesn't move, although I'm thankful it's not a gain, I know I can slip back into my old ways very easily!!

I think I'm going to keep the low carb. low protein at 1200 (since I get the most for my calories that way) and I need to start running again.

Also, I've been having a TON of people asking me things lately about my eating habits, like "oh what happens when you dont lose at 1200 anymore?" or " what if your body gets used to running and you dont lose?" I mean are these possible? It kinda gets me freaked out because I get super enthusiastic about dieting and starting new and when I hear how it can stall and I have to make more drastic changes it freaks me out, hope that makes sense.

Guess I'll have to play it by ear for now.

Thank you for your responses!! and listening to me vent!

I am struggling with weight problem all the time..but i never tried a diet cos i have no resistance against food.