Hi again everyone,

After reading a few threads concerning calorie counting, I'm wondering if I'm starting too low at 1200-1285 daily. (Got that number from Calorie Counters tool). I'm 54 and do "light activity" - lots of walking. What has been working so far is calorie counting, along with fasting from 7pm until 12:00 noon- 1pm the following day. My eating (now) is pretty clean with little to no refined sugar.

I've only recently starting with cc, so any suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
Jean

Most of what makes calorie counting effective is that you can adjust it to fit your needs and your lifestyle. You've already lost quite a bit of weight, so I'm assuming you've been on some kind of plan in the past? Are you currently on it? If so, you can take a few days from your current plan and count the calories from those days, giving you an idea of what has been successful in the past for you.

Or, if that's not an option, just experiment a bit until you find what's right for you. If 1300 sounds too light, try 1400. If adding an extra 100-200 calories per day means that you'll actually stay on plan, it's worth it- because that extra food only adds up to 1/5-2/5 of a pound per week. The bulk of your calorie deficit, and thus your weight loss, comes from what you burn rather than adjusting your calories from 1500 to 1200 (for example).

Personally, I've been at your height and 160lbs before, and I ate 1300-1350 per day with success.

Thanks so much Kelly315 and Martini; I feel encouraged by your replies.
I could see myself eating this way for a few months, eventually amping up the calories when a healthy weight is maintained.

I've been on a combo of diets: one alternative, very calorie restricted and before that a modified low-carb. Neither was a way of eating that could be a long-term lifestyle habit. With calorie counting, I'm finding no physical or psychological feelings of deprivation. I LOVE not eliminating food groups! Okay, admit I used to believe sugar was its own food group

It felt good to lose the first 20 pounds, as I had been in pain from the added weight. Yet I knew I needed to find a way to keep up my strength while cutting back on my habit of overeating. Also find it helpful to just move my body -- even a mile walk really makes a difference in how I feel.

I'll do the 1200-1284 for now, weigh in once a week and see how things go.

Thanks again!

Another option is having a calorie range---e.g., 1200 - 1400. I find that by having a range, I don't feel guilty about exceeding a specific calorie count if I'm hungrier one day. Also, I like to calorie cycle, i.e., eat lower some days and higher other days, averaging out to the same general number of calories over the course of a week. I feel that it keeps the body guessing and it gives some leeway for hungrier days, special events, etc.

Congratulations on your progress so far, and good luck!

If you are not starving or ravenous then go with it.

I need flexibility in my life so I go 1200-1600 and then I take strike and call it going 'tight' and that means staying at 1200 or just a tiney bit over/under.