[three herring]

In the book Calorie Queens, they use the logic that one should eat the number of calories that it takes to maintain a goal weight. It takes a bit longer, but it works. They have a formula, if I remember right, it is 14 calories per pound of the goal weight. It is a very good book, full of good ideas.

[dolphinea]

Hmm, 14 calories per pound of goal weight for me (185) would equal the same # of calories I'm supposed to have for maintenance at my current weight of 246... that can't be right.

[cassieroll]

14 cals/per pound worked out for when I do the math and I'm of the school that you should eat what your calories would be at that goal weight which conveniently works out to be just about the same as the 14 cals/lb. Huh.

[PeanutsMom704]

I think it depends on your activity level - I've heard anything from 10 to 14 times each pound, which makes sense. 10 if you are sedentary, 12 if you are moderately active and 14 if you are active.

And of course, age and individual body metabolism is always a factor, so I consider any of these formulas and calculators to be a good starting point, and then you can tweak it to what works for you.