Please evaluate and correct me if I'm wrong

[Runningjunkie]

I just checked out a report on my FitDay account, and I believe I have figured out why I'm not losing weight like I should. Between my BMR and activities, I am burning between 2500-3000 cals per day. My diet is sitting around 1200-1500 per day. I'm not eating enough...would that be safe to say? I should be eating at least 2000, right? This is my weak area, so any and all help would be appreciated.

 

[LandonsBaby]

I don't really see why that would be a reason for you to NOT lose weight. How are you tracking your calories? I mean, are you weighing and measuring everything?

 

[Runningjunkie]

Not exactly weighing and measuring everything, but going by serving sizes, and the cookbooks I use contain calorie breakdowns per serving. I figure FitDay is about 200 calories under what I eat in a day. I don't eat a lot, and what I do eat tends to be relatively healthy. I know that if you don't eat enough, the body goes into starvation mode and holds onto every single calorie, which is why I'm thinking that I'm not eating enough.

 

[maleficent]

If you can get your hands on a kitchen scale you might want to try weighing and measuring for a bit - sometimes portion sizes can be a little misleading and you might be getting more than you realize...

 

[LandonsBaby]

Not exactly weighing and measuring everything, but going by serving sizes, and the cookbooks I use contain calorie breakdowns per serving. I figure FitDay is about 200 calories under what I eat in a day. I don't eat a lot, and what I do eat tends to be relatively healthy. I know that if you don't eat enough, the body goes into starvation mode and holds onto every single calorie, which is why I'm thinking that I'm not eating enough.

1. If you aren't weighing and measuring, you could be way off on your calories.

2. "Starvation mode" doesn't exactly work like that. You aren't going to hold on to every calorie. It isn't as if you go low calorie for a while and then the body completely shuts down. It might slow down but its still functioning and using energy. Here is quote from Lyle McDonald in regards to some studies done on super low calorie restriction. And maybe if you include your stats and how long you've been at 1200-1500, Steve can help you with your question.

In general, it's true that metabolic rate tends to drop more with more excessive caloric deficits (and this is true whether the effect is from eating less or exercising more); as well, people vary in how hard or fast their bodies shut down. Women's bodies tend to shut down harder and faster.

But here's the thing: in no study I've ever seen has the drop in metabolic rate been sufficient to completely offset the caloric deficit. That is, say that cutting your calories by 50% per day leads to a reduction in the metabolic rate of 10%. Starvation mode you say. Well, yes. But you still have a 40% daily deficit.