[reanbean]

Okay, so I admit that I might not be doing this exactly right, but I'm trying... I HAAATE calorie counting... it makes me go all crazy in the head and focus all of my energy on one thing... not good...

But I did it the yesterday, so I could see how and why I was losing so much weight so quickly. It turns out, that I've been consuming anywhere from 650-1100 calories per day... So I did the Caloric Intake Calculator on About.com, and got these results:

You need 2023.9 calories per day to maintain your current weight without exercise.

You need 1862.2 calories per day to reach your goal weight slowly and maintain that weight without exercise.

If you reduce your current caloric intake to 1523.9 calories per day you will lose one pound per week without exercise.

If you increase your current caloric intake to 2523.9 calories per day, you will gain one pound per week.

Exercise and Calorie Needs

If you exercise for 30 minutes each day, you may increase your caloric intake to 2245.9 calories per day and still maintain your current weight.

If you exercise for 60 minutes each day, you may increase your caloric intake to 2523.3 calories per day to maintain your current weight.


THE REAL QUESTION AT HAND
***Since I've never really counted calories in my life due to fear... should I aim for 1523.9 calories, and do some light exercising???

I'm afraid!!! I'm more comfortable with under-eating... but I'm sooo tired, and I haven't been able to get through this diet without some serious napping ...

PLUS, some idiot trainer told me (when I was 19) that I could lose 15 pounds EASILY in the first month of eating right and working out (I assumed, because I was so HUGE)... So I ate 6 tiny meals a day, worked out twice a day, and GAINED WEIGHT!!! I was so frustrated, and felt like a failure, even though I looked better... it has haunted me to this day

[sacha]

What are your stats? If you are anywhere around my size then yes, 1500ish is about right.

[reanbean]

5'5" I was 153.5 Nov 29th, now down to 146.

[bargoo]

I'd go for the 1500.

[MusicalAstronaut]

1500 and exercise sounds good to me too. I aim for 1500 (probably average 1700 though) and try to run 3 times a week.
And if you're so tired I definitely think you should increase your calories before you add exercise.

[deblosingit]

I agree with 1500. I shoot for 1550 daily. I exercise 3 days/week. I think your energy level will be much higher if you give your body more food. Try it.