H/W: 5"7/174
I keep my calories around 1500/day. Some days I will eat 1300, others 1600. I have averaged 1.5lb lose per week and I rarely exercise.

i hate this whole how much can i eat/website help thing because of rme it lied big time...
for my height and weight at 240lbs it told me to eat huge huge amounts. but instead i followed a books advice that said dropping to 1400 was safe and healthy. I did that and lost loads.
but then i plateaued (trying now to escape after a few months off)
and im on 1300 cals a day, and 2 days a week at 1500, im trying to w/o 3 times a week, and i walk/work a fair amount 3 times a week also.
I may even at that small amount and that amount of exercise still not loose.....which does not make sence...but im trying to be positive, not worry about numbers and just measure myself with a tape measure, and think about tone over weight loss now.
It is incredibly fustrating the whole process i find. somtimes u will loose LOADS and it will feel amazing, and then for no reason it will slow or stop....
i guess determination is the key with dieting no matter what diet you are on though.

I take in between 1700-1800 calories a day and soon will be moving down to 1600-1700 because I slowed down a bit. I work out 5-6 days a week. My goal is to not go under 1500 calories a day, I have a huge appetite, I rather exercise more. (sounds bad, huh)

I don't think that sounds "bad". I think it sounds like you know yourself and what strategy will be successful for you!

my calories change from day to day.When I get up at 4am & go to bed at
10pm I eat more calories.When I'm off I can eat less.Just started this a few days ago.I do ride my exercise bike &/or walk every day.I'm planning my weigh in for Fri. or Sat.
Let ya know how it turns out.

I love this thread. It's wonderful to see healthy appetites and healthy exercise and weightloss to boot. I'm glad to see other folks working with their bodies to be healthier not against them. The things I used to do to lose weight:-). It gives me shivers.

I've lost .9 lbs in the last 2 weeks and I'm getting geared up for a 5k for July 4th. I'm going to exercise away the last 15ish pounds. I'm happy with my calories and now I need the exercise to ramp up my metabolism. This year I'm going to get into the 2 piece bathing suit:-).

First, my data:
5'4.3" tall (I've lost .2" since my 20's...age and gravity acting on the weight, I guess ;) -- and no, I'm not that anal about my height, I just happen to have been for a weight management clinic follow-up yesterday, and that's what they measured)
currently 226
If I'm not exercising, I stay around 1200-1300. That translates into about a pound a week for me, but I'm 48 and post-menopause, work from home at a desk job and have no munchkins to chase or clean up after.

Those calorie calculators are for 'average' folks. Some of the factors that might make you not 'average' are age, if your metabolism has been slowed by the weight loss yo-yo, how much bodyfat% you have, and that's just what comes to mind right now.

Interesting question, Tyler, thanks for this. Lots of interesting answers. I noticed a couple things that I find totally impressive: pretty much everyone realizes losing weight is not a 'one size fits all' endeavour and does what works for them. Also, I don't think I ever once saw that 4-letter word so often associated with weight loss efforts (you know, d**t) and I think that is an excellent thing, too. To me, it's an indicator that everyone is thinking long-term and maintenance.

Height/Weight: 5'5 / 124
Exercise: I do about 30 minutes of cardio a day
Calories per day: I typically eat between 1000-1200 calories a day

Ditto!!

I have revised my calories and now lowered my top to around 1800 and aiming for around 1400-1600 a day. I have one day a week where I have pretty much what I want but aiming for no more then 2200 on that day.

hey there,
I've been maintaining at 1800 a day, but I'm ready to start losing again. I think 1600/day most days should do it (maybe a few 1800 days thrown in).
I love reading about how many calories everyone eats-- I am such a diet voyeur!

WOW! this is really helping! Im new to the whole calorie counting thing and was told to check this forum out! I'm glad I did. I was having a heart attack thinking I was eating too little calories. I cant see myself uping it.. im not hungry or anything.
Reading this has really opened my eyes.

Im currectly 281.5
I do 30-50 minutes five days a week cardio and one day strength training.
I just figured out about what i've been eating is 1300-1400 calories.

Everywhere Ive read has said so much more and it just didn't seem right.

Im eating as organically as I can and following the glycemic index. Putting the RIGHT foods in really makes a difference in my life!

I guess I will stick with my intake and not worry so much. I seem to be in about the right place.

Maybe add one more snack in and see if a few hundred calories help or hinder. I seem to be hitting a slight plateau ( my first!) so im upping exercise and upssing calories.. will thatmake a difference? haha i dont know..

In conclusion, lol, its good to have found this forum!!!

I'm working with a Dietician/Nutritionist that adjust my calories/carbs/protein/fats every 40-50 pounds

I started out with her at 440 lbs
2200- 2400 cals
210 grams carbs
120 grams protein
moderate fat

When I got to 390 lbs
1750-1900 cals
195 grams of carbs
110 grams protein
moderate fat

Now I'm almost 350 I just started
1550-1700 cals
170 grams of carbs
90 grams of protein
moderate fats

I've been at this for a little over a year now.

here is my plan....

Calories - 1550-1750, I aim for 1750 but don't always get there
Exercise - Elliptical 60 min X 5 days/wk and strength 40 min X 5 days/wk
Height - 5' 6"
Weight - 269 as of 4/9/08 (I weigh in on 5/8 think I am down about 10)

I am currently losing about 10 pounds per month. Although I would like it to be fast (Wouldn't we all) I am happy with my progress.

I'm all over the place due to chronic illness. When I'm on my game and feeling well I do cardio 4-5 times per week and weight training (lifting as heavy as i can manage) 3 times per week. That is the goal but I don't always make it. I've been pretty sick for two weeks now and have barely exercised.

4'9"
148 lbs
1100-1800 calories (when i'm laying around all day, its low, when i'm weight training 3 days a week i eat like a horse)

Height: 5'7.5"
Weight: around 235lbs
Age: 20

I've just recently started calorie counting up again and I started going to the gym just last week! I am going to aim for 1400-1600 calories per day and adjust if I need to. As far as exercising goes, here is how my week looks:

Monday: Cardio 30mins./Upper-body weight machines
Tuesday: Cardio 30mins./Lower-body weight machines
Wednesday: Cardio 30mins.
Thursday: Cardio 30mins./upper
Friday: Cardio 30mins./lower

On the weekends I go for walks with my dogs and my hubby. :D