Unhealthy dieting?

Question
I am a 27 year old female, 5'6 and 175 pounds.  For the past year I have tried several healthy ways of dieting such as Weight Watchers, cutting refined sugars and eating more whole grains, veggies etc. but I have not lost a single pound the entire year.  I go to the gym about 2 or 3 times per week and work out for about an hour (weights and cardio).  I am also a fairly active person in general.  I do not like televsion and am usually cleaning, gardening, taking walks etc.  My job keeps me active as well and I'm not the kind of person who sits at a desk all day.  I am so confused why I cannot lose weight.  I had been watching my calorie intake and was keeping it at 1500 calories per day but I am disappointed because that does not seem to be working.  I am considering and have made a plan that would make my total daily calorie intake 1300.  I am somewhat worried that this may be too low.  Should I eat more than that on days that I go to the gym?  I feel like I am at a loss and I don't want to eat too few calories as I am aware of the body going into "starvation mode" and conserving if a person does not eat enough.  Do you think 1300 per day is too low for me or do you think that this may work?

Answer
Bridget if you are working out and eating at fairly regular times, your body should not go into the starvation mode at 1300. A very low calorie diet is one that is under 1000 calories. Anything under 1000, you should be under the care of a doctor. If you are not losing at 1500, and you are exact in your calorie consumption, then see your doctor for a thyroid test. Try the 1500 calorie a day eating plan again, but this time split your food into 6 small meals spread out over 12-14 hours. Each meal should average 250 calories if you can. Also make sure you are eating a protein food at each meal to help jump start the metabolism. At the gym, weight lifting is just as important as cardio for weight loss. Pound for pound muscle is more active and will burn much more calories at rest than fat will. You also need water, a few quarts per day or more, to help the body make the chemicals that run the fat burning process. Don't despair, your weight loss will happen. Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

1. Prev:what do i need?
2. Next:I am a 26-year old male weighing...