[lissvarna]

So I'm going out of weightloss mode, into maintenance mode for the next 2 weeks. I'm afraid if I try to lose weight, Ill be discouraged by inevitably going over. Maintenance mode gives me a more reasonable goal. I'll still be working out & watching what I eat, but I'll have a little leeway.

Right now I eat a max of 1550 calories per day and losing. How many do you think I can go to for maintenance? I was thinking 1750-1800?

I know I could figure this out using a BMR rate calculator, but I'm more interested in advice from personal experience. Thanks!!

Anyone else doing this for the holidays, BTW?

[bargoo]

Everyone is different so my experience may not apply to you at all. During the holidays I just try to practice portion control.

[jayohwhy]

To find my approximate maintence level, i multiply my weight by 12

[bargoo]

I don't change my mantenace level for special occasions. I have determined my calories I need to manitain by multiplying my goal weight by 12. I don't increase it for holidays, if I do gain a little weight I drop back to my maintenace calorie allottment and I soon go back to goal. A meal or two of rich, fattening food should not do any permanent harm. My problem is that sets up a desire to eat all the goodies again. Can't do that.

[lin43]

I like this calorie calculator tool: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

It uses the Mifflin-St. Jeor formula, which has been found to be the most accurate (although the best accuracy is what you discover for yourself by trial and error).

I think it's a good idea to switch to maintenance during the holidays, btw!

[flourless]

How quickly are you losing? I take my average pounds lost per week and multiply by 500 to come up with my average daily deficit. I figure it's about as accurate as any other number.