So I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm losing on 1600-1700 (I zig zag so sometimes as low as 1300 and as high as 2100), but 1600-1700 is my daily average. Based on what I'm losing at, my daily activity and what I'd like to ultimately weigh I've determined that my average maintenance cals will be 1800-1900 (assuming I weighed 138-148, that level is actually for 128-138, but I don't want to be much under 140). I plan on continuing to zig zag to allow for meals out and such on the weekends, but my daily average will be 1800-1900. Am I completely dilusional? Is anyone else able to maintain 138-148 at that level? For what it's work I'm doing 2 days of strenth training and 60mins of cardio 4xs a week.

Whats is YOUR
Weight
Maintenance Cals
Amount of Activity

Ncunceo, you'd be surprised at the huge range of calories that we maintain in here at 3FC. We have members maintaining on 1000 calories/day all the way up to well over 2000! With everything in between. A lot of the variation is due to age and activity level, but certainly not all.

Just like weight loss, maintenance is most definitely NOT one size fits all! And calculators are next to useless, in my opinion. Instead of using a calculator, what most of us did once we reached our maintenance weight was to slowly add calories back, 100 - 200/day, for a week at a time. And adjust as necessary. Eventually we all hit on the maintenance sweet spot that works for each of us.

So your calculations may be right for you, they may be too high, or they may be too low -- only time will tell!

For the record:

I'm 55
I maintain at around 140 pounds (135-142)
I do 40 - 60 minutes of cardio every day
I lift weights 5 x week
and my maintenance calories are about 1400 - 1600 (calculators say it should be 2200 - 2500 -- so not true!)

Sadly, I know I'm at the lower end of the spectrum. To lose I need to eat 1000 - 1200 calories . I know people say that's going to put me into "starvation mode" but I've tried being on 1300-1400 and I will only ever maintain at that. So..yep...you are one of the very lucky ones xx

I have been maintaining on 1800kcals-->which allow for my once a forthnight dinner out/drinks/PMS foodbursts without regaining.
It has, as the other people have suggested have to do with many factors, and lifestyle is also an important one.

Amazing...simply amazing. I'm not sure why I'm suprised, like you all have said we lose at incredibly different calorie levels so why would maintenance be any different. I guess the good news it calorie counting to me is not a *diet* and I really wouldn't care if I had to stick to my losing calories for maintenance and just add in a little more on the weekends or whatever. I know that this is going to be my lifestyle forever, so I'm starting to get a little less anxious about getting to maintenance, because not much is going to change...and I know that now. I'm pretty comfortable with my current cals and I usually don't feel the need to eat more (except during high stress times and PMS) so this is totally doable for me, although a few extra cals to experiment with would be great. Thanks everyone for responding.

Interesting question and interesting to see the variables.

For the record, I am 43.

I try to maintain at 123 but if I go up it is super hard to get back down (I'm currently 125 and struggling to get back to 123)

I do WW so I'm not sure about my calories but I think I eat around 1400 daily calories give or take.

I exercise 6 days a week from 45-60 minutes or more. Most days I do cardio but I also do strength training. I do many classes at the gym such as boxing boot camp, hip hop, spin, etc.

1400-1600 a day, with an hour or more of cardio per day and 2 strength sessions a week. I'm 5'8" and 27 years old.

I maintain at about 1300-1400 calories a day and I do exercise at the gym ,on the days I don't go to the gym I walk a lot.

1100 - 1200 to lose anything I regain, 1300 to maintain. I'm just about 49, exercise almost every day but it's low intensity - walking, riding my bike, Wii Active, and light weights. I can't do much with the exercise intensity so the calories stay low.

I'm 5'6.5 and 142 pounds. For me to maintain my current weight I can eat approx 2200-2400 calories a day with 40-50 minutes of exercise a day(I workout 5-6x a week).

I am way too new but will throw in what my first two weeks have been - I was eating about 1100 - 1200/day when I was losing. I have increased my calories 200/day and still doing the same amount of exercise. Week 1 - no gain - Week 2 - 1 lb up.

Figure I will give this count at least a month before adjusting. IDK if that's right or wrong lol but nothing much else to go by!

This thread just made me sooooooo depressed. I don't want to live my life on so little calories. I had NO IDEA people are eating so few calories to maintain. I was really thinking it would be a struggle to keep myself eating only 2200 calories. I really like to eat. I am a little freaked out. I am close to my goal so I am trying to ease myself into the maintainer mindset.

Hi Greenfish and welcome! Please don't be depressed -- everyone is different so your maintenance calories might be a lot higher than some of our posters. I'm not sure from your post but are you eating 2200 calories now? Your maintenance calories will probably be higher than your weight loss calories, so if you're already at 2200 for weight loss, you're in great shape for maintenance!

Thanks for the encouragment.
I am now eating between 1200 and 1600 per day. I have just been thinking about maintenance and thinking that 2200 isn't very much for every day eating - I was guessing that would be about how many I could eat.

And now, reading this post, I am fearful that 2200 will be waaaay too many. It just made me feel like I will be dieting for life. I just can't wrap my head around the lifestyle change thing. I am a good dieter and a good re-gainer. But I am NOT a maintainer, because I don't "get" how to actually change my lifestyle.

I guess I just want to eat a lot and eat a lot of junk food. I am sure this sounds silly and immature. And I tell myself that, but it doesn't seem to help me.