Just wondering for those who are around my size (or anyones input really), how many calories do you maintain at? I have been adding a little at a time and I'm now doing 1550 a day.....But for some reason I feel MORE hungry now than I did when I was doing 1200 a day!?

I'd like to move it up a little bit more, but not sure if 1500 is pretty average for my size or not?

I'm moderately active (work out 2-3 times per week, mostly weights), but even without the exercise I would probably still be eating significantly more than you. Right now I eat somewhere around 2300-2400 calories a day, and most of my healthy-weight female friends and family eat about 2000. If 1500-1550 is your maintenance target, I'd say you're on the very low end of the range.

1550 isn't really my target - I'm just slowly moving it up....and I asked because I was looking for a little bit of confidence in moving up some more, so your post definitely helped After eating at 1200 a day at the end of my weight loss, 2000 seems like a crazy amount LOL I think I'll go ahead and try 1650 for a few days and see how it goes, then up it some more if I can.

I'm so hungry lately so hopefully this will help.

Oh and I don't really work out at all, but I stay busy and moving most of the day. In the summer I was biking with the kids and walking every night but not much of anything lately.

Keep in mind if you increase your calories you'll probably see a bump on the scale even if you're not gaining any fat. I've seen many a dieter become alarmed at minor weight gain even if they know it's temporary (e.g., bloating, replenishing glycogen stores, etc.)

In any case, hope all goes well and you find a comfortable spot :-)

I'm losing at about 1550, if that helps. I'm thinking my maintenance level will be 1750-1800.

Averages don't matter in the least. You have to find out what is right for your own body. You can use the freedieting.com calorie calculator to see a number, if that's what you want, but all calorie calculators are based on averages, not on an individual case.

I'm not surprised that you are still losing at 1550.

Good luck!
Jay

I can help you figure out why you feel more hungry. The question you shoudl be asking yourself is not how many calories you eat but what type. 1200 calories of chocolate cake is not as filling as 400 calories of whle grain with 500 of proteins etc if the calories you added to your diet are fats or very salty, it makes you more thirsty which could come accross as you are more hungry. many peole make the mistake of eating instead of drinking.

So what i would do if I was you is the following: ask yourself if you have balance in your food. Its okay ot add salty or fatty food to your diet once in awhile, im not saying dont do it.. im just saying, it would explains you being hungry.
1500 calories is a diet count not maintainer but its definately a good idea to slowly increase it. Just target around 2000-2400

Thanks for the thoughts.....It seems like through the holidays I kind of splurged and ate whatever I wanted at family parties and things like that, and maybe I got "spoiled" cuz now I think I want to eat all the time. How quickly we jump back into bad habits

The salt might definitely be a factor. I've been eating cheese toasts alot lately (35 cal bread, 25 cal cheese, tomato slice, broiled).....and its very low calorie but I do salt the tomato quite a bit

How about coffee?? I never drank coffee but about a month ago I started drinking 2 cups a day, for some added energy, and that has quickly progressed to 4 cups a day now. Could that cause me to feel more hungry in some way?

As for cakes and sweets, I don't eat alot of that *most* of the time. Last night I did have one reese cup but that thing has been in the fridge haunting me for days!! LOL

Caffeine is a stimulant, so that might make you feel a little hungry, though I have never noticed that effect myself and I am a 2-3 cup per day person myself.

I target around 1850-1950, I'm 5.5.5" and currently weigh 131. When I go much higher than 2000 average I start to gain, lose at about 1700 on average.

With my indulgent weekends I'm still losing slightly at 2000-2300, but maintaining in general. I also work out 6xs a week. Ditto everything that's been said so far.

ETA: just wanted to clarify that by losing slightly I mean that I'm still seeing a downward trend over several weeks and I see the top of my maintenance range rarely and still occasionally see new low weights.

Same here! I think we have a similar life style!

And as for that Reeses cup that has been haunting you, mama2five, you tell it whos the boss! :P Tbh it really doenst matterif you have a little treat here and there as long as you maintain...

Coffee for me does the opposit it make me feel FULL. If I drink a cup of coffee im good for at least 2 hours without being hungry. I actually use it as an advantage. i have a cup of coffee at certain times like 10:30 in the morning or 3:30 in the afternoon where before I would eat a donut or a cookie at those times.

Maybe try to reduce the salt? Eat more whole grains and proteins and keep up with the veggies and fruits and your body should adapt to the changes in caleries quite easily.

I'm around that area but I'm still trying to lose. I don't really calorie count but I'm going to do that for the next few days to check it out.
Basically, my breakfasts have been around 250 cals in my slimfast shakes. I have proper meals (sometimes pasta or fried chicken- heavy stuff that should be over 500 cals) for dinner, lean cuisine meals for lunch (about 250 - 350 cals) and light snacks through the day (big fan of celery, cucumber and ranch dressing). I also run for at least half an hour every other day and yoga for an hour.

Okay, yesterday I consumed 1295 cals and burnt off 200 in exercise
The day before that I ate 1313 and burnt off 100
So it's about 1300-1500 calories a day, I guess (without being bad) which is slightly lower than I imagined which tells me that being bad once in a while is what's keeping me on maintenance.
Not sure if it's too soon to make that conclusion but I've been eating what I eat every day

Just wanted to comment on the "models"--sure wish I had looked like that at 197!

Jay