I was wondering if anyone can comment on whether the basal metabolic rate of someone who was previously obese is lower than it would be for another person of the same height/weight/gender/age who was never overweight. I have heard various theories on this topic, which discuss factors like muscle loss during weight loss, but everyone seems to have different opinions.

Also, has anyone else experienced extreme food cravings after losing a substantial amount of weight? I was just reading some articles on the hormone leptin (which promotes sateity and stimulates metabolism) and how its levels decrease as a person loses weight. Does anyone know anything about this? I am having a really hard time losing weight now. In addition to food cravings, I have experienced a really long plateau, even though I have been on track with my eating and exercise since Christmas. It seems like my body is doing everything it can to resist further weight loss. Does anyone have any tips or advice for continued weight loss, once you get somewhat close to goal? Also, for people who are maintaining, how many calories do you eat each day, and is it a struggle to maintain?

Not sure.

I dont feel like I eat hardly anything, I eat a fairly normal diet at goal weight. I notice that it IS less than a lot of other people, but then I thought I got fat on amounts of food that didnt seem to do any harm to others.

So I would say my metabolism is slower than some, but not abormal. Then again, I exercise a LOT to be living on 1800 calories a day.

I eat about 1800 to 2000 calories a day - I'm 5ft 10 and 150lb. I run for an hour two days a week, do two boot camp sessions a week and go to a circuit training class on another day, I'm a teacher, on my feet and running around all day, and pretty active at home too. Most of the charts say i should eat about 2500.

I'd tend more towards thinking that's just how I am though, not something that's happened as a result of weight loss.