So before with my weight loss journey's I started at 1200 calories a day and stayed there until the weight was gone. I am not quite sure why this time around I am trying to go with the calculators...but my gut is telling me I should not be eating 1500-1600 calories a day and need to drop it to the 1200. I am not losing weight consistently as I have before.

I am just looking for some opinions and encouragement on if I should drop my calorie intake to 1200. It has always been successful for me; I'm not sure what my hold up is this time...ugh!

A little about me: 40hr/week desk job, 30min walk on lunch, and I try to get in 30-60min of exercise in the evenings. So I am very sedentary except for a few hours in the evenings!

Thanks in Advance

Why don't you start dropping it a little bit at a time. 100 calories less and see if that helps before going to 1200 (i'm assuming 1200 is difficult for you).

Every body is different. I'm still losing (though slowly) with 1700-2000 calories per day. So just play around and find what works for you.

Good luck! You're doing great on your halloween goal!!!

If it works for you it works for you.

I'm of the camp eat as much as you can (of healthy whole foods) as possible. But that's me. I love food and I like volume. So for most of my journey I've stayed as high as possible to lose weight. I'm not sure if this is true, but I've heard that what you lose at can effect what you will maintain at. I think that some of my motivation to stay at a higher range because I'm terrified I'll have to maintain and something under 1500 if I drop too low. But again I don't know if there is any truth to that.

Sorry, got side tracked, if you can do 1200 healthfully and it works for you then go for it.

If you feel okay and can eat healthy at 1200 there doesn't seem to be a reason not to try it. If you feel like you can't go that low then maybe try what was suggested: go down slowly.

It kind of sounds like your weight loss journeys in the past haven't worked out long-term and maybe it's the fact that you've gone down so drastically in the calorie department that prevented you from making this a lifetime change?

If all is normal for you, you can lose weight at 1500 calories a day, since you're on the taller side, even with a sedentary lifestyle. It just won't be as quickly as with 1200 calories.

I think, if I could give you this advice, is to make whatever changes you're making now to be the basis for a permanent change in the future so you only have to lose this weight once and not again?

^ My thoughts exactly! ^

Rana & thesame7lbs *Insert foot in mouth*

Just so you know...My weight gain/loss since I lost the first time 13 years ago has been from pregnancies! When I am not pregnant I weigh 130-140 pounds year around. I just had another baby at the end of June so I am currently trying to lose the "baby weight". You can read my blog for some insight. This isnt my first rodeo, I was looking for some thoughts, thanks for sharing them.

I agree with this.

Good luck

Thanks Onederchic! I think I have decided to cycle my calories 1200-1500 throughout the week and see if that helps. If not, then I will revisit my intake again! You know the saying that it is harder to lose the weight with each pregnancy? Well I am finding it to be true in my case So I have to find out what is going to work this time and getting help from everyone on 3FC encourages me!