I think I may have messed up my metabolism, if that's actually possible. For years, I've struggled with the same 10 - 15 pounds...5 years ago, I lost all that weight doing just a normal diet (calorie counting). I kept gaining it back, and losing it again...and every time I wanted to lose the weight, I would have to eat fewer calories than before.

I'm now at the point that if I want to lose weight I have to eat less than 1000 calories a day, and exercise at least an hour a day. If I eat between 1000 and 1200 calories a day, I can maintain fairly well, but I find that really difficult to do, longterm. Anything more than 1200 calories a day, and I put the weight back on...fast.

I'm guessing my body is now in "starvation" mode -- the question is, how do I get out of it? I've been putting on the weight like crazy lately, and that's eating a "normal" diet (I'm vegetarian, so lots of veggies, beans, etc), with limited snacking and sugars. It's very frustrating, and I feel like I basically have to starve myself to even just maintain.

I am hypothyroid, but I take my thyroid medication every day, and my doctor says that my results are currently in the normal range.

Am I stuck now? Limited to no more than 1200 calories a day for the rest of my life? Any suggestions are appreciated.

wow..Taralee, you sound a lot like me, except I'm not hypothyroid. Ever since my son was born...I struggled to get down past 170 lbs. I have tried and failed so many times. One time I was successful, it was only through fasting every other day...gah! And I was a vegan.

I haven't been in the 160s since 2006--despite several failed attempts. I have been posting about not eating enough. I think I would gradually increase my calories as JayEll suggested to me. Increase it one week and continue exercising at the rate you are...if you lose, increase it again...and so forth. But do it gradually.

Welcome! This is a great place for support and inspiration!

It might help us if you tell us a little more about yourself. What is your current weight and height? How do you track your calories, and how diligent about it are you?

I think the notion of "starvation mode" really gets overstated a lot. I don't know the research well, but my sense of it is that we don't mess up our metabolisms permanently by dieting. That's not to say that some of us do have lower metabolisms than others, of course.

There are a couple of things that might be happening here.

I think a little more information might help us to help you. How tall are you? How much do you weigh? What kind of exercise do you do?

If you don't mind sharing

We need a little more info. Also I noticed you didn't mention anything about exercise. If your not currently exercising then you should start because that might be what your body needs. I don't think you should cut your calories any lower then 1000 a day.

When I only watch what I eat and don't exercise I don't lose any weight or I lose very slowly. When I watch what I eat and exercise thats when I start losing weight. Give us more info and then Im sure the other ladies can better answer your question