Not sure what to do about the fact that every day I seem to go over my diet's calorie limit. I always need a snack before I work out- just to have the energy. I do a high incline, fast walk for 1.5 hours, 5-6 days a week. For the snack that puts me "over" I will usually have a Boca burger with a tiny bit of mustard (100), or cottage cheese (80).

My diet is supposed to be 1000 calories a day (the safest lowest amount for a woman) but I'm kicking it up to 1100-1200 (sometimes 1300, if I have vodka!)
I feel very guilty about this "overage" and it feels like I can't stop. I've hit a plateau with my weight loss and it feels like this is it.

I had three pieces of black licorice at the supermarket and a sugar free pudding cup today for my pre workout snack. In my current mind state, I feel like a horrible person. Ughhh.
ANy advice would be appreciated- anything I can do to stop this cycle?

I don't even know where to start. I really think that 1000 calories is extremely low for any length of time for anyone. Eating 1300 calories a day is quite reasonable, especially given the fact that you're active and working out. Also, if you're eating sugary snacks, you're not really helping yourself because they spike up your blood sugar and when the bloods sugar drops, you feel very hungry again. On so few calories, its' very hard to nourish the body properly unless your diet is very healthy. How about string cheese as a pre-workout snack instead of a putting cup....or maybe some greek yogurt? That will give you good protein and other benefits too. Also, your body will slow down it the weight loss if it feels deprived of proper nourishment. You are not a horrible person! You just need to treat yourself with love and kindness and feed your body. Weight loss takes time. Please be patient and don't ruine your metabolism by starving yourself. If you would like some advice on what to eat, you can post what you have in a day and get some really great advice here. Take care.

1000 calories is for toddlers, not grown ups.

It's no wonder you are struggling at that level to stay in calories. It is not enough!

YOU do not fail a diet. A diet fails YOU -- and I don't think this plan meets your needs and activity level. Punch in your stats and get a better number ballpark. Keep in mind you are already at a healthy weight for your height too. Start thinking maintanence.

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

And if you want to get more toned, swap out some of that cardio for weights.
A.

Most sources say the lowest safe amount for a woman is 1,200 calories. If you're working out it should be more. If you keep eating around 1,200 to 1,300 calories per day (including on weekends), I'll bet you'll break through that plateau.

F.

As everyone else has stated, you should probably increase your calories. With all the exercising you do, I wouldn't be going below 1400 NET calories. That means you need to eat MORE than 1400 if you are exercising. Example: If I burn 400 calories during exercise, I need to eat 1800. 1800 eaten - 400 burned = A net of 1400 calories. 1200 is the lowest anyone woman should go and that is without any type of exercise.

It's also important to understand that the numbers we pick for our daily calorie goal isn't magic. We're not good if we come in 10 calories under budge, and bad if we eat 10 calories over. And 100 to 200 calories is a very small amount. It represents less than an ounce. By eating 1200 calories instead of 1000, you are going to lose only a few ounces less than if you met your goal of 1000 calories.

Learning not to sweat the small stuff, and learning to recognize the small stuff is very important, otherwise you end up feeling like a dismal failure when you're actually succeeding far beyond the norm.

I agree that 1200 calories is a more reasonable goal - but even if you switch your goal to 1200 calories and still find you sometimes go over your calorie-goal it's still small stuff. "Close enough."

This is why I use an exchange plan (because I don't obsess over super, exact calorie numbers) and why I give myself a few optional exchanges (when I counted calories directly, I gave myself a calorie range rather than a specific target.

I think a range makes far more sense than a specific target, because it's a lot easier to "hit" the target than it is to hit a bullseye every time.

Give yourself a bigger target, so it's easier to successfully hit.

I honestly think even 1200 is too low. To be able to maintain your weight loss in the future and get enough nutrients into your body while you are dieting, you need to eat a bit more. You may experience a week or two while your body is adjusting of not losing weight, but it will pay off. I know this from experience. Severely limiting and counting calories so closely that you let yourself get down about 100 calories is really not the way to go. Think more about feeding your body whole foods and making sure you are not hungry. If you limit your calories, eventually you will lose the weight. You just want to make sure you are getting enough, especially on exercise days.

You might be sabotaging yourself with such a low intake. Your body may be in survival mode. Your current weight is a normal, healthy weight. Your goal weight would put you in the underweight category. Have you spoken with your doctor recently?