I'm 5' 1", 36 yrs-is 1500 cal per day the proper number for me-also I do light activity daily at work. I'm not sure about this. Can someone guide me? T.Y.

This is a link to a BMR/RMR calculator, which gives a rough estimate of the calories needed to maintain your weight at a given activity level:

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

Definitely check out a few different calorie calculators. They'll all come up with slightly different numbers. After that it's sort of a learning process .. you'll have to see what works for you. But at least the calculators will give you a starting point to work from.

.

1500 calories is not a bad starting point. I am taller and started off heavier and was happy at 1500 calories. Try this for a few weeks and adjust accordingly. Don't be afraid to take the time to find what works best for you - it needs to be a plan that you are comfortable with your food choices, provides enough energy to support your lifestyle and exercise and that you lose weight at a reasonable pace.

Years ago I came upon this bit of information:

To maintain your current weight, you need about 13 calores per pound of your present body weight. We all know that one pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. To lose two pounds per week, you need to decrease your daily intake by 1000 calories or burn an extra 1000 calories per day or a combination of both.

I take my current weight and multiply it by 13 and that tells me how many calories I'm currently consuming on a daily basis to be this fat. Then what I do is decide what weight I'd like to be and I take that number and multiply it by 13 to give me the amount of calories I need to be consuming to reach that goal. It's a well known fact that if the weight comes off slowly it is more likely to stay off.

Another thing I want to share also is that I have found is that if I reduce my caloric consumption by 1000 calories a week until I'm down to 1500 calories, it is by far easier to maintain a food regime at 1500 calories than if I just jump down to 1500 calories all at once. Doing this allows my body to adjust to fewer calories without becoming too hungry in between. And.....protein is a saviour to appetite control. Sugars tend to provoke a hungry feeling.

Everything in moderation. Eat smart.