Yep, lots of websites out there that can give you at least a "ballpark" estimate of your basic maintenence calorie needs based on your height, weight, age and daily activity level.
I use an iPhone app called "lose it", which estimated my "baseline" calories at 2700 or so at my high weight. So to lose 2 lbs a week, it said I should consume no more than 1700 net calories a day, which is a 1,000 calorie deficit (1,000 calories a day = 7,000 calories a week = 2 lbs)
It also factors in my exercise (exercise being any "extra" activity outside of my daily routine) and puts that toward my deficit. Some people don't like that as they don't like to "eat back" their exercise calories, but it works fine for me. I'm usally below my budget anyway, and have been averaging about 3 lbs a week loss since I started.
As I go along and enter my new weight, it reduces my budget accordingly. There will be a point when my weight loss will have to slow (i.e., if it's saying I need to eat less than 1200 calories a day to keep my up my current rate of weight loss)...so keep that in mind, especially since you weigh a lot less than I do!
Most people find they have to make some adjustments because everyone's metabolism is different. After a couple of weeks or so, you should know what works for you.
Good luck!
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Last edited by NorthernExposure; 02-27-2010 at 01:24 PM.
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