So, accordign to online calorie calculator... I shoudl only eat 1250 calories a day to reach goal weight...

[tissuesandissues]

Surely I will starve!

Thats not enough....??

[cocolepew]

I ate this amount after having my DD I lost weight and didn't die.

HTH

[randomtask]

I'm currently eating 1200 a day to lose weight. Not dead and have been doing it for a month so far. Don't feel hungry constantly but was worried I would. Have only lost 2lbs though so am seriously demoralised...

[tissuesandissues]

how can u ahve only lost 2lbs? in amonth, on semi starvation? adn what are u eating in a typical day?

[tissuesandissues]

.

[lilacclaire]

If you only have a small amount to lose, you do really need to cut down to continue to lose the last stone/pounds before you can up it back up to maintenance.

If your creative you won't starve, think smaller portion sizes and lots of veg.

[lilacclaire]

skimmed milk, porridge, cut out butter use low fat spreading cheese/meat paste instead.
pitta bread, lots of salad, lean meat, lots of veg, home made soup, baked potatoes (watch the fillings) etc etc.

[randomtask]

I've been having oatabix for breakfast with 100ml semi skimmed, banana mid morning, egg mayo sandwich/pitta salad for lunch, apple mid afternoon and my dinners are smaller but I've fiddled it to up my use of Quorn (I'm veggie) and veg.

I don't know how I've lost so little but it's driving me mad. I've spent the last month weighing all my food (as has DH) and having to eat different food to DH and DSS. Not enjoying it at all and have cancelled my membership of Tesco Diets after the 10 week deal....

Good luck!

[ElectricElephant]

those who've only lost a couple of lb - there is the thing that if you go below about 1300 calories that your body goes into starvation mode, making it much much harder to lose weight.. it thinks you're low on available food, so hangs onto its fat stores.

HTH

[lilacclaire]

My mum was on slimming world and definetly noticed if she didnt eat everything she was meant to then she didnt lose much or any weight, so yes, I would say that is true.

[ElectricElephant]

medical fact, innit

[randomtask]

Ah see I wondered if that was the case but I thought that after a month it should still mean I get slimmer. Weirdly, I've also felt healthier so not that hungry/tired thing I sometimes get.

Does that mean if I eat more than 1300 I will lose weight? I've got another month of this diet and then I'm going back to just eating less like I used to.

Was trying to lose weight before the middle of November when we plan to start TTC. Am fed up it's not happened as don't want to be dieting if there's a chance I'm pregnant and didn't want to be overweight when we start TTC as it'll mean the chance of more problems.

[lilacclaire]

I think its a case of keeping your metabolism stoked up.
At this stage, you could try eating 5 small meals a day whilst still sticking to your calorie goal.
I think if you stick to 1500 perhaps then you will still lose weight, albiet a little more slowly.
Do you exercise at all? That really helps shift those last few stubborn pounds.

[randomtask]

I've been having fruit between meals to keep my body going but that's what I did before anyway.

TBH, apart from when having greedy 'somebody left sweet stuff in the house moments' which happen every few months, I didn't eat much more than 1500 each day before anyway.

I exercise as much as I can (have been doing the exercises Tesco email me, walking when I can etc) but as a Mum, full time worker, part time youth worker plus volunteer, I'm struggling to get the time! Just ordered a pedometre in the hope I can get some extra steps in somewhere. We're also in the middle of doing up a new house so I'm constantly lifting, wall paper stripping, etc so not sitting still although I don't know how many calories that burns!

I was hoping the diet would by pass my lack of exercise time....

[ElectricElephant]

Yes, your body needs 1300 calories a day, even if all your're doing is lying in bed. try 1350 - 1400 calories. You could try snacking on veg sticks and hoummous, rather than bananas (bananas have about 150 calories, and apples about 100 IIRC) veg has virtually no cals.

Do you drink alcohol, drinks with sugar in etc?

[randomtask]

On average I drink half a pint of cider or a glass of wine a week-not exactly loads! Have never been a big drinker and as we're planning on TTC soon I'm not really wanting to drink at all. I don't drink sugary drinks, just water as sugar gives me migraines.

I used to have a carrot and houmous every day so maybe I'll go back to that.

If I work out my calories at 1350 I can start from there again. Still haven't lost weight and don't want to harm my body when I'm supposed to be getting it ready for babies!

[ElectricElephant]

good idea random. Your body might not want to conceive if it thinks you're starving. Basal survival instinct as I understand it.

Sorry, but I don't get the minimal calories thing, I never have. It just makes your body think there is a shortage of food and it hoards all its fat stores. Limiting calories and increasing exercise will obviously result in weight loss, but there is a balance. If you tip it, you won't lose any weight.

Do you mind me asking how much you weigh>