[slimby25]

Hello all! I've been lurking on these boards for a couple of months and have finally decided to get serious about losing weight. here is a brief history....i'm 24 5'1 and 155.8 lbs! My waist is 32" and hips are 43". I've actually gained 15lbs in the past 3 months (definitely stress related due to a new job). My birthday is in 12 weeks and I would love to be 129 by my 25th b-day. (is this possible?). I would just love to see the 120's! Haven't seen it since high school....definitely gained some weight partying in college! I decided that calorie counting would be the best way to go, also eating foods that are recommended by the Abs Diet. I have a treadmill at home, 3 and 8 lb weights, and the jillian michaels dvds, front and back. I have a huge habit of talking myself out of exercising, so I desperately need to overcome this! Another thing that I need to gain control of is how much I'm eating. I have a wonderful boyfriend of almost 2 years, he's 6'1 and sometimes I eat as much as he does! He likes cookies and snacks, and I'll end up joining him! The past few days I've been writing down and counting the calories that I normally consume without being on a diet, and sometimes it exceeds 2,000 calories! How many calories should I be consuming to lose 2 lbs per week? I'm really looking forward to being more confident with my body, but most importantly becoming healthy! Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[phantastica]

There's a web site called fitday.com, a lot of people here use it. I think it helps you calculate how many calories you need per day based on weight and what goal you want to achieve.

Good luck, and welcome! Thanks for introducing yourself!

[aphil]

If you are currently about 155, then why don't you try 1500 calories a day for the next two weeks, and see how that goes for you? Check back in and let me know the results of that level.

[kms7z]

if you are sometimes eating over 2000, start with a more reasonable goal like aphil suggested to eat 1500 per day. depending on your exercise level, you may not lose 2 lbs a week, but i am pretty sure you should start losing some. it took me a while to get used to eating 1800, then 1700, and i am currently working on eating 1500 per day.

i don't know how realistic your goal of losing 30 lbs in 3 months is. slow and steady weight loss is more permanent.

[sparkle04]

I try to eat about 1200-1500 a day-- if I go higher than that I won't lose any weight. Everyone is different!

My DH is a big guy too, and he can eat basically whatever and not show it at all. I just try to remind myself that we have different needs- and I DON'T need cookies! I tell myself that I have to get used to making different choices then those around me because if I want to keep the weight off, then I have to eat like this for the rest of my life.