Weight loss counselor concerned that I may go into starvation mode. Opinions?

I am on the Jenny Craig diet as the simplicity and lack of food in the house doesn't allow my weak will to govern my weight loss :)

So I really like the diet, but it's expensive and not particularly healthy (a lot of processed foods). I am male, 5' 9" and 267 lbs. I am starting week 5 of the diet, and have lost 22lbs so far. When I ordered my food this week, my counselor asked if I've been following the meal plan as laid out (it's a 1700 calorie diet for me).

I'm not. I'm eating closer to 1200 calories per day. I often skip the snacks as I'm not hungry and I really want to get out of the snacking habit (as that's what got me here in the first place). I have more energy now and am walking 2 miles or more per day. I'm sleeping well and feel the best I have felt in years.

My counselor is concerned that although it's going well now, it's all going to crash out if I don't up my calories to at least 1500 per day, as I will go into starvation mode.

I just don't feel that way though. I know I have zero training, so what do I know, but it just makes no sense to me that my body will somehow stop burning energy if I don't eat enough. I get that logic in extreme cases, but I eat 3 or 4 times a day. I did feel hungry for the first 2 weeks or so, but now I feel less hungry, and honestly that feels like a healthy feeling - desiring food because it's time to eat rather than just addiction.

So my question is, should I be upping my calories to the recommended minimum of 1500? Is this awesome, healthy feeling with more energy, better sleep, and genuine hunger when I'm supposed to be eating a false positive?

I know this has been asked a million times before but I'm worried about changing my habits to what my counselor advises and losing some motivation when I barely move the needle, or start to eat again when not hungry (which is what she wants - she says eat to 1500 calories even if you aren't hungry).

Many thanks!

Note that I am much less concerned about gaining weight back at the end. I can deal with that slowly and surely once I reach a healthy weight by slowly increasing the calories so my metabolism can adjust.

submitted by /u/bigboyg
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/3cOUb5y