Confused
 

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time posting but I've been lurking for about a week. I have been losing weight since Sept 2006, mostly due to lots of exercise and counting calories. :carrot: In the beginning I would eat 1600 calories a day but once I hit 160 lbs I hit a plateau and I lowered it to 1500 calories a day. Now I am 150 lbs and I have not really hit a plateau (yet!) but at my current weight, dietwatch.com recommends between 1400-1600 calories a day to lose weight. And ediets.com recommends 1200-1400 calories a day to keep losing weight.

I know that as my weight lowers I will need to consume less calories in order to keep losing weight, but I'm really confused about how much less I should be eating. :?: Can someone help or recommend a reputable source?

Thanks! :)

Go to caloriesperhour . com and read the tutorials. That will explain everything.

I don't believe in one scientific number across the board for every one and at every weight. So therefore, I don't think a website, a nutritionist, a personal trainer or anyone can answer that question with 100% accuracy. I think the only way you will know for sure is through trial and error. Why not go down in 100 calorie increments and see if that gets you a weightloss, if not take it down another 100 until you get the results you want. You could also try increasing your exercise a bit. Good luck, I'm sure you'll figure it out. You've certainly been successful to this point!!!!

It sounds like you're doing perfectly. You are losing weight on 1500, right??? Then, that's what works for you!! All anyone can give you are estimates... and it even sounds like you're in the middle of what the estimates say. So, unless I read wrong, it sounds like you're fine!

If you do hit a plateau, you can lower the calories or increase the exercise a little.

Great job, and welcome!

I agree - your own body is your best source of info...just drop your cals by 100 or so when the losing stalls for more than a couple weeks...as long as you don't go below 1200...

:bravo: on your success so far!!!

Thank you for your help, everyone - and congrats on all your weight losses - keep up the great work! :)