So when I don't eat or drink that 500-1000 calories, is that a bad thing? I usually lose two pounds a week, and I thought I was doing great. Well, I saw this:

5 Abs Building Tricks - MSN Health & Fitness - Diet & Fitness

I do lift weights and do cardio exercise, but by my diet, am I really just losing muscle and not fat? So far, I have lost like 18 pounds. Have I just lost muscle, and not fat?

I'm no expert, but if you are lifting weights you are "telling" your body that it needs to maintain it's muscle mass. Therefore, it shouldn't be catabolizing (sp?) them.

Plus with 18 lbs gone, you should be able to see a noticable difference in the chub Trust your eyes and the way your clothes are fitting.

there are people here far more qualified than me to answer.. but here goes anyways..

I'm guessing you've lost some of both. Exercising reduces muscle loss though, so it's always a good idea. As the previous poster said- trust the mirror more than the scales.. (I have trouble with that one myself..)

I get the feeling there's some past context - previous posts? - to this that I don't know. Do you mean 500-1000 cals a day in total? but that'd be incredibly low.. what do you mean? How many cals do you eat a day? what's your weight/height?

if I understand correctly - and I could be wrong 'cos i'm a n00b - if you're restricting your calories, your body will think "oh, times are hard. we can't afford to build muscle." Muscle is damn expensive to build and maintain. It eats energy just existing! So the body only wants to build muscle when it's getting enough nutrition and "times are good" so to speak.

so, when you're dieting and your body is reaching to the fat reserves, the LAST thing it will want to do is build extra muscle, in fact it wants to eat the existing muscle, which you can reduce by exercising. aaaa i'm talking in circles!

I doubt out of 18 pounds the majority of that was Lean body mass. Water weight would have greatly surpassed LBM loss in the initial weight loss. Should you reach your calorie intake goal? Yes, constantly missing it by 500-1000 calories will only hinder your progress in later times.
When dieting, its the long term dieters(1month+) that have to be more worried about LBM loss. Of course there are many opinions on the subject...

However, I would consider that articles notion that initial weight loss to be predominantly muscle - WRONG.

That does not mean LBM is not in "danger". Hence why I do suggest a solid resistance training routine to ensure any LBM loss is minimal. But, to say it makes the majority of the weight reduced is wrong, imo.

Oh btw, it is physiologically impossible to turn fat into muscle or the other way around.

I guess I was somewhat vague. I am 270 lb male at 6 foot 4.

So I usually eat around 2500 a day. And afterwards and sometimes before the gym I drink a protein shake. I feel like my stomach is smaller...

y'know, i've totally noticed that stomach thing too. Plus, now when I eat anything greasy, it feels.. well, greasy in a gross way.

anyways, so, your basal metabolic rate is around 2500 too, depending on age, according to this calculator. It sounds like you're on the right track to me, though I'm still getting the hang of all the principles involves here myself.
the bmr is the energy you'd use up just lying in bed all day. Of course, you're doing a whole bunch of standing/walking/etc all day plus gym workout, so you're really using more energy. So, I'd say you're unlikely to really build up significant muscle, but by working out you're helping to prevent your body from eating up your muscle instead of your fat. yay ^.^

I used to always love to eat fries whenever I ate fast food. Now I don't eat fast food as much, and don't really think of the fries, probably because they're all greasy.

I haven't really noticed any muscle loss. But I have been able to lift more than I could 1-2 months ago.

I was also wondering...I feel more down...and I was wondering if doing this attributed to that feeling.

yeah, though, I gotta say, sometimes I need to binge out and have fries or something.. generally though it's totally not worth it!

well, trust the mirror not the scales! in my simplistic mind, being able to lift more equals = more muscle. I may be wrong ^.^

you feel down? huh, usually the endorphins from exercise should make you feel good. sorry, I don't know what that could be about at all.

Well, after I excercise, I feel better... but whenever I'm stressed, I used to gobble up food, and I don't do that anymore...

Eating also gives you an endorphin kick... So you aren't getting endorphins at the same time that you used to...whenever you were stressed...
Maybe try moving around a little after a stressful day. I'm an emotional eater too, I just use different stuff for my comfort food like fruit instead of cookies or w/e.