I don't CC, but the last time I retroactively tallied, it was 1400. That was probably at the low end of my range, which I would guess is about 1300 - 1700. Whenever I eat out, I probably go even higher. But I'm losing weight very slowly (by choice). When I was CCing, I used to eat between 1200 and 1500.

These days I try to stay under 1200, but sometimes, if it gets too hard for me, I eat 1500 and still call it okay. When I exercise, I usually eat half of the calories I burned as a little reward.

I too am appalled at the very low calories. Been there, done that. You folks need to check out the books Calorie Queens and Fat 2 Fit. I eat eucalorics style, meaning I eat my maintenance calories while I am losing. The way I eat now is the way I'll still eat at maintenance. It works! And it's a lifestyle you can live with!

Mine's currently 1530, which is about 522 below my BMR and 932 below the level of maintaining my current weight. 1530 is also what my BMR would be at my goal weight, so I'm basically teaching myself how to eat where I need to be at for maintaining.

I eat between 1100 and 1300 calories. I exercise and have an active life, my energy level is more than adequate, and I am never hungry beyond the normal "it's meal time" hungry. I really cannot imagine eating any more food than I do.

I'm intrigued by this. You say you eat your maintenance calories while you are losing? So...what do you do, exercise and just leave those calories to be your deficit? This sounds like something I'd like to try (eating at my maintenance calories) as I exercise at least 5 days a week for an hour and a half at a time and I find myself utterly FAMISHED afterwards....but I don't allow myself to eat back the exercise calories because I figure I'll go overboard. If I were eating maintenance calories to begin with, though, maybe I wouldn't be so friggin' hungry all the time. *L* So yeah....mind going into a bit of detail on that? I'd really love to hear how you're doing this. :)

This is what I have always wondered. It makes sense to me that if you want to be a certain weight for the rest of your life, that you would figure out how many calories it takes to maintain that weight and then just eat that number. I don't understand why people need to do the very low numbers. Unless they are just impatient and want to lose the weight faster. But, in order to be sustainable it seems like a good idea to me. :)

Some people are perfectly fine with 1200 calories. I have days, like yesterday, where I have to force myself to eat 800. I can live with what I'm doing just fine, else I wouldn't be doing it - and I imagine others are living with what they're doing just fine, else they wouldn't be doing it, either. It's what works for me, but I wouldn't push it on you or anyone else because of that.

It's a shame that your attempt at keeping lower calories didn't work, but it's great that you did find something that does work for you. I've found something that works for me; it worked for me years ago when I was trying to maintain my current weight and eat healthier, and it's working for me now that I'm trying to lose weight. I guess I don't see what the problem is.

I've been eating this way for probably 6 years or so and haven't had any issues with straying from it, it's honestly just the way I eat and I've been maintaining for all this time after losing my pregnancy weight. I really want to lose 10 more lbs, but my calories seem to just maintain my weight, so I have to kick up my exercise routine.

What's funny is that my meals are inherently lower in calories because I make everything with vegetables, so now my boyfriend is complaining because he's losing weight (and definitely doesn't like it), but he loves my cooking.

My goal is about 1500 a day. I burn about 400-600 a day in exercise (more on Saturdays when I do 10+ mile runs). I try to stick pretty close to the 1500 and use my exercise calories as cushion or for special occasions. Like tonight, we're meeting friends for pizza and beer. Most of the 7 mile run I did this morning will go toward offsetting that. On long run days, I do try to eat back at least half of the exercise calories or I don't feel like I recover properly.

I strive to have calories left over at the end of the week. To me, that's more important than the daily over/under.

Mine is 2800 to maintain my weight and 2300 to lose. Right now I'm just eating my 2300 and then when I exercise I eat a 100 calorie granola bar (which is less than I work off)

I'm eating around 1200, but it just "happens" to fall there, not that I plan it to be. I eat when I'm hungry and sometimes it means I eat a bit more, sometimes it means I eat a bit less. Today will probably be a 1000 day as I wasn't very hungry for lunch and it's 4 pm and I'm still not hungry. I think it's because it's an extra warm do, so I just don't feel like eating.

You mean each individual person has their own unique caloric needs? Who would have thought! :)

Poor boyfriend, haha! My husband is "lucky" to be deployed right now. I keep telling him he would starve if he were home right now because we've switched from a diet heavy in red meat and starch, to fish, seafood and vegetables. He's a steak-and-potatoes guy, he is going to be in for a shock when he gets home!

I've always has trouble with not wanting to eat when the weather warms up, even as a child. It doesn't help that we now live in Texas, where it's not officially summer until it's 100+ degrees :) A few years ago, I started drinking fruit smoothies on those days, which are easier to handle when you're not hungry and can be anything you need: low-calorie, high-calorie, full of protein, and so on. I've been making low-calorie/low-fat strawberry smoothies the past couple weeks for lunch, with low-fat vanilla yogurt, frozen strawberries and a splash of water. I make protein shakes with oatmeal, chocolate protein powder and banana for my husband after he finished PT and a "vitamin milk" smoothie with Carnation instant breakfast, bananas and milk for my 6-year-old who has problems with being underweight. You can literally add anything you want and tweak it to match your current needs. I use my magic bullet, but you can use any bullet blender, regular blender or even a stick mixer to make it! I pour it into one of those melamine straw cups you can get at the dollar store and take it with me so I can sip on it all morning :)

Hi there, I'm new to the calorie counting forums :)

I have been using My Fitness Pal, it seems to be a good way of tracking calories. I took yesterday and today off from it but I plan to get back on track tomorrow. I like the calorie counting because it's free, unlike so many diet programs.

Have a good night!

Amy :)