30-Somethings - Counting calories

I have never done this before. Could someone tell me what is a good number to aim for the day? Thanks!!

first i would find you BMR (basal metabolic rate). There are several web sites to do this. Then i use fitday.com to keep track of everything.
here's a few sites.
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
or
http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/bmr.html
here's a start...for example, i am suppost to aim between 1500-1800 cal/day to loose 1 lb per week. I do eat this and also take into effect exercise. good luck

Thanks!!

Thanks from me too! I have seen those basal resting metabolism calculators before, but it's good to see the numbers again. Mine says my resting metabolic rate is 1900 calories. This is why I can still seem to lose even eating 2000 calories. I figure it's better to eat more and lose slow than eat like 1200 feel like you are starving and then quit a week or so into it!
Counting calories has always worked for me, I will have to get back into it again!! :)

Laura

Make sure to check out the calorie counters forum!

OK. Tell me if I am doing this right. My aim was 1200 calories a day. I took in 1005 calories from the food I ate. Now I walked on my treadmill and my gazelle to burn a total of 351 calories so does that mean I only had 654 calories today??

yep...sort of...so you really need more food. Otherwise if you keep doing that...eventually your body will go into "starvation mode"

So I need to be at 1200 after the exercise?

michelle-hmworknmom2-- I took the liberty (hope you dont mind) of plugging in your height and weight and guessed mid range age of 35 (for 30something thread) and it said you need 1400 calories approx a day to keep your body alive (just breathing and laying on the couch all day-if only we could do that!!) Since we are more active than that just cleaning our homes, keeping up with daily life your body has an active calorie need of approx 1700 or so. You eating 1200 a day and you would lose about a pound a week. With exercising about two lbs a week which is ideal. The important thing is not to feel like you are starving all the time. If 1200 is too low to stick with try 1300-1400, the more you exercise you may need to move the calories up a bit but you will still lose.
I know all this it's just actually sticking with it that is hard for me to do!! :)
good luck!

I don't mind at all! Like I said I am so new to this so any help is great.