[TXMary2]

I was reading the confessions thread and I was struck by how little some people are eating and I started to think I am eating too much. I am only on the third day and my target calories for weight loss according to the caloriescount.com site is 1733. My doctor told me 1800. I am diabetic so I make sure I am eating about every two hours to keep my blood sugar from having highs and lows. Yesterday I was at 1681 and the day before was 1756. I guess what I am wondering is for those of you who started out at 250+ pounds, how many calories a day did you start with?

[Onederchic]

I started at 330 pounds and I was, in the beginning, in the mindset that eating less was the best way to lose weight so I began at around 900 calories a day and I did lose about 75 pounds in a few months but then my weight loss stalled. Anyway, I learned what I was doing was not the healthy way to lose weight so I upped my calories. It has been a matter of trial and error for me and right now I am at 1350 average daily. Do I think 1600-1800 is too much? No. If you are feeling full and satisfied and losing weight, then you must be doing something right, yes? Good luck with your goals

[sprklemajik]

I started out at eating about 2000 calories daily. I'm now eating somewhere between 1600 and 1800. I know that being diabetic throws an extra spin on things for you, but I think you've got an excellent starting point. Calorie counting is this trial and error kind of thing were you try and keep your calories as high as you can and still lose weight in order to maintain as much of your metabolism as possible. You should stick with your plan for a month and see how the weight has come off. If you aren't loosing about a lb a week then drop your calories by 100 daily and try again for another month. As you lose weight, eventually you'll need to drop your calories to a lower number, but try the higher number you've got and see if it will work for you.

[Tai]

I started out at 1500 calories per a doctors instructions when I first started. I was 272 pounds. I really wish I had known to start higher because as my weight loss slowed I could only go so much lower. When I got to my goal seventeen months later I was at 1200 calories.

Don't compare yourself to others. If your plan is working for you that's all that matters! Best of luck.

[TXMary2]

Thank you ladies. Whether my plan is working remains to be seen since I am only on day 3. My weigh day is every Wednesday so we'll see on Wednesday how much I lose this first week. I am not exercising, but I am purposefully moving more by not asking people to get me things, walking the dog etc. I am really hoping this first week to drop 5 pounds since my body should be surprised.

[Onederchic]

5 pounds is a large number for a week but not unheard of in the first week. Good luck and keep us updated

[ennay]

I would stay at 1800 for at least 3 weeks regardless of what happens on the scale THIS week. Eat as much as you can to still lose is the best way, especially for diabetic. You have a long way to go and starting too low gives you no wiggle room

[cfmama]

I started at 377 lbs and 1800 calories. When I was your weight I was eating 16-1700 and now I am at 1500.

@ 250 I started out @ 1500 per Doctors instructions because I wasn't exercising. Once I started exercising- i stayed between 1500 & 1650. As I lost weight, I lowered my calories- now I stay between 1200 and 1400.

[diabetic z]

Started out at 285 lbs and 700-800 calories per day. This was a fasting diet under medical supervision to kick start my weight loss. I am no longer counting calories but I am really watching what I eat. I am new to diabetes so it's all trial and error to figure out what foods and in what amounts affect my blood glucose. I regularly test at least 6 times a day and exercise daily. I want to wish you the best of luck in your weight loss goals and managing your diabetes.

[cwalker3]

That is about right as long as you are eating small frequent meals. It is better to go a little bit over than under. The key for you is going to be doing enough exercise to burn the calories.

[Heather]

At 280-something pounds I started with 2000 calories a day. I lost weight very consistently (averaged about 2 pounds a week for a year), but did drop the calories some as I went down,