Ok folks... I know I've posted questions about this in the past, but I'm still struggling with it and wondering if I'm going to be causing problems for myself in the future.

I don't think I eat enough calories in a day.

According to Fitday (granted, to be taken with a grain of salt) my basal is 1810. According to mybodycomp, my RMR is 1759. However, I consistently eat around 1200 cals a day. (Every now and then I have a high day which is between 1600 & 1800, but rare, and sometimes a low day (600 - 700). I'm not hungry, I'm craving, I'm not snacking and I feel like I'm eating plenty of food. When I manage to get my calories up high, it's because I've added in a large amount of cheese, or maybe made a recipe with a cream sauce using sour cream. However, I'm not a big dairy eater, so I don't like doing that often.

Here are my questions:
1. Is this a problem? Everyone says you should eat at least your BMR... what are the problems associated with eating below it? Am I slowing/starving my metabloism?

2. Does this mean I'll stop losing weight as my BMR lowers if I don't lower my cals even further? Am I setting myself up for failure in later weightloss & maintenance? I don't really want to be stuck maintaining at 800 cals a day :P

3. HOW do I raise my cals??

I don't like dairy very much, which I know is a great source of fat (not a fan of sour cream, cheese on its own, cream cheese, nuts, creamy dressings) - I've added in a caesar salad most days, with a tbsp of caesar dressing, but that's about my max for the day. I can eat whipped cream but try not to have too much in a day. (Probably about 2-3 tbsps whipped). I do make my version of LC mini jell-o cheesecakes, but my daily serving is 205 cal, 19 fat, 3 carb. I don't really want to be eating more dessert (though I could make a convincing argument that they're good for me ) I add a bit of butter to my veggies, but can't really find many things to put butter ON since I can't eat LC breads etc... I also live with and cook for someone who is NOT LC'ing. Gratuitously adding fat to our main course would likely prove to be quite detrimental to his health in the long run, since he's also eating high carb. I already almost cook 2 different meals for EVERY meal, but am trying to keep the main meat the same to make things a bit simpler.

4. I prefer to eat 3 meals with 1 dessert/snack in the evenings... is this ok? I know they recommend 6 smaller meals, but it doesn't work for me hunger-wise or schedule-wise. Is eating 3x a day ok?

On a related note, I used to be a major snacker - once I started LC'ing, I decided that anytime I felt snacky I'd have a "meal".. maybe a small one, but a meal (with veggie, protein etc). Over time, this cut my snacking down to almost nothing, and helped me get my hunger/body used to eating 3 meals at regular times. I do still like my "snack/sweet" in the evenings, but that's more of a social thing since I live with a snacker. Cutting it out would make me feel resentful & as though I"m missing out - death to diets in the past for me

5. I'm just starting to regularly exercise (finally found something I can stick to!). Granted, no where near the level of activity many of you do But I"m doing a 1hr Aquafit several times a week, and using different resistence tools/deep water I can make it quite tiring. How should this impact my cals? Do I *have* to up them?

6. What else do I need to know?

Any thoughts, experience, recommendations greatly appreciated!!

Wynter