[Breannaj1215]

Sparkpeople.com says that I should eat between 1900-2100?? That seems like a lot. Is it cause I weigh a lot??

[weightlosswanted]

It IS based on your weight and sometimes your activity level. My nutritionist told me I should be eating 1400-1600 calories a day - but you would either feel like you were starving to death or your body would go into starvation mode and not let you lose weight if you ate so few calories.

[Onederchic]

I would try that range for a couple weeks then tweak as necessary. Even though, in my opinion, if you are eating healthy, low calorie-high volume foods, even a caloric "budget" of 1600-1700 is doable. For myself, I am eating an average of 1350 calories a day...healthy foods that are low in calorie that I can eat a lot of and I don't feel hungry all the time and I am losing weight at an average of 6-8 pounds per month now.

[rockinrobin]

All of those sites are just guesstimates and usually give high numbers, IMO.

There's no way to know for certain what number will give you steady weight loss. That can be found out through experimentation and trial and error.

IMO, I think you may be better off starting a bit lower. But do make sure that you make those high quality calories. I know for me WHERE my calorie come from are just as important as how many of them I'm consuming. Those nutritious calories will keep you full, satisfied and NOT hungry and will help to stave off cravings for the "not so good stuff".

Keep an accurate count, so you know how to tweak if need be.

[Tarisaande]

Yes it IS because you weigh a lot. That number INCLUDES a deficit for losing weight. I started around there (weight and calories) and (with exercise on the treadmill) I lost ~2.5 pounds a week FOR MONTHS,until close to 200pounds.

Just because you want to lose weight doesn't mean you need to starve your body to do it. Start with that 1900-2100, you will probably lose AT LEAST a pound a week for a while, probably more like 2-3 at first, especially if you exercise. I eat that much a day now, am in the 150's, with only moderate exercise twice a week and am still losing weight. Don't starve yourself

[aphrodite]

I do SparkPeople, and I started right around where you are, with just about the same number of calories, and well...I've lost 50 pounds. I'm doing something right, and so is SP.