Woo hoo . . . I got my ticker . . . I got my ticker . . . I am soo excited . . . it's like I finally got to put stars on my "star chart." I was hoping to have "ticked off" a little more weight by this time, but that's ok. (I like ticking off my weight instead of it ticking me off )

I am having trouble deciding on the appropriate number of calories I should be eating. According to fit day I should be eating approximately 2000 calories a day (if I want to lose 85 lbs - total - by Christmas). I have looked at various sites and the number of calories I should have (based on age, weight, height) varies greatly - anywhere from 1200 calories to 2100. I have no idea which number I should follow. I upped my calories (from about 1200) the first of this week (1744 on Monday, 1795 on Tuesday) and gained 2 lbs so far. Now, I know this gain is probably temporary, but what if it isn't? I read somewhere that the Biggest Loser recommends 7 calories per pound of your weight (for weight loss). I am thinking I am going to try that but vary it between 6 & 7, which means I would be eating between 1500 and 1750 calories a day. Does anyone have any idea how long it will take before this increase in calories stops causing a weight gain and I start seeing losses again? I am still continuing to exercise - averaging about 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.

I just checked that 7X things with a calculator for me...and I just want to say that I lose well on 300 cals more than that per day. Also it should not take more than 2 wks for your body to get used to the calories and start losing again!

it is unlikely in my opinion that the increase in calories has caused you to gain 2 pounds. It's probably a combination of a million other reasons (start with the sticky on water weight). 1500-1750 I think is a fantastic range for you to be in, just make sure you are consuming healthy calories.

Don't worry about the 2 lbs, sounds like you're on the right track.

so much of it depends on personal metabolism and factors like age, activity level, fitness level. I use a Gowear Fit to track my calorie burn, and it's lower than pretty much all the calculators came up with.

I would recommend picking a number, trying it for two weeks and then adjusting. But fwiw, as someone who started at a very close weight as you and is the same height, I've done best averaging 1350 a day and staying in a range of 1200 to 1500.

1200 is too low for you, I agree that 1700 seems like a good number.

I'm at 205ish right now and I eat around 1300-1500 calories a day- if I ate only 1200 I'd go crazy.

It also depends on your exercise- 2000 might be recommended if you are working out a lot, days I work out I tend to eat closer to 1500 calories a day.

Agree with everyone here. I've lost 17 lbs in 3 weeks at 1300-1600 cal/day. I exercise 6 days a week, and not always a lot, but at least something. I think I would be RAVENOUS at 1200...and would not be able to stay on that kind of plan.

Barb

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am gonna shoot for an average of 1500 for the next couple of weeks and see how that works. I am being pretty picky about my calories because being a diabetic I have other things to consider along with number of calories. My blood sugars have been really good the past three weeks and I like that - so does my doctor. I tried Steel Cut Oatmeal for breakfast this morning, gonna see how it affects my sugar because regular oatmeal sends my sugar through the roof.

Kris - could you check with your doctor about caloric intake? The one thing to be wary of is that you're getting enough calories. Your body will freak out and hold onto weight if you don't get enough. Good luck!

I just wanted to congratulate you on your progress so far and for your new ticker.

I'm prediabetic and also monitor blood sugar on occassion. (I had gestational diabetes when pregnant, so I'm more careful now -- don't want it to turn to type ii). Since you say you are diabetic take a gander at these menus --

http://diabeticgourmet.com/Food_and_...Meal_Planning/

You have to scroll down a bit to middle of the page to the red links on the left that describe various calorie level plans.

While I can choose based on exchanges, I don't always do great in terms of low sodium, so I chronically have an extra couple of pounds of water retention. But overall, I'm happy on 1500--1800. I might not lose as fast as others, but I lose.

GL!
A.

CharlieBaby - I have an appointment with my diabetic doctor in about 3 weeks. I will talk to him about the calories then. He wants me to meet with the dietician but I don't have the extra money right now. Even though I have insurance, my co-pays add up. $30 for each office visit, $30 for test strips, $30 for each kind of insulin (two of them), plus an oral medication for diabetes and high cholesterol. I also have a magnesium deficiency and a Vitamin D deficiency and my insurance doesn't cover those, even though I have prescriptions for them and I currently take large doses of them. (My fibromyalgia pain is almost non-existence since I started the Vitamin D - took about 4-5 months for me to notice the difference). I will definately talk to the doctor when I go, though.

astrophe - thanks for the info. I will check out their menus.

Diana - thank you for the congrats. You are always so nice.

I checked my sugar 2 hours after eating the Steel Cut Oatmeal and it was 120. That's pretty darn good - that means I can have oatmeal once again. Usually two hours after Regular Oatmeal (plain old fashioned) my sugar would still be very high - 200 or more sometimes.