<human>: I get confused about this. I've been eating 1200 calories a day (I am a 5'1 female @ 153lbs down from 184lbs). My understanding is that to build muscle, I would have to up my calories/protein goals but I'm good eating 1200 calories. I watch lbs come off faster which keeps me motivated, even though in the long run I know I need to build muscle to increase metabolism etc. I know it's a combination of fat/lean muscle that I'm losing now but I'm wondering if anyone has lost weight strictly with diet, then when they reached their goal weight started lifting. If so, what was your diet like once you started lifting? Progress pictures using this method?

I'm asking because my sister is attacking her weight loss by diet and T25 which is mostly cardio. She knows not to eat back her calories but I feel like I see her "cheat" more because she feels cushioned by her exercise.

Can you condense the text into a few key points?
<bot>: I know I need to lift, but am postponing until I lose more weight because I would need to add calories back. Has anyone been successful with this method or am I being dumb and lazy?