So everyone hears about how 1 lb of fat is 3500 calories, so you need to make a 3500 deficit to lose weight. so just what is this deficit based on?

i myself, pre-diet, was probably having over 2000 per day. Right now I'm exercising every day (250 to 650 cals burnt) and eating 1200-1400 calories.(started to rly count just a few days ago though xD)

So do i keep going with the 1200-1400 cals? or will i have to make a deficit on even THAT sometime in the future? i hope i'm not being confusing

Ok this site is not to attack anyone but to support everybody.....however with your current weight your BMI is slightly over 21. Why on earth do you want it down to borderline underweight(which 115 would be) I'm sure all people with BMI over 25 are a bit "annoyed" by this...sorry I don't mean to be mean but just don;t get it. Unless there is a health issue you shouldnt diet! Be happy you have a perfect weight.
I'm just 10 lbs too heavy and even I feel a bit guilty if I read all people with WAY more lbs to lose.

You know I was confused by the "deficit" also, how do you calculate it?

The deficit comes from your BMR (basal metabolic rate) - the number of calories your body uses just to exist. Based on your height and weight, your BMR is around 1450 (depends on your age). So if you're eating 1200 a day (too low, in my opinion, but that's just me...) and burning 250 a day, that's 1200-250-1450 = 500 calorie deficit a day. That's a 3500 calorie deficit a week, or 1 theoretical pound a week. There are other factors, though, like unintentional exercise, that will change it. But that's how I figure the deficit works.

I'd like to also echo the concern about your goal - I know not to put 100% faith in BMI, but that weight is right at the threshold for underweight for your height. I would suggest, if you think you need to lose, that you maybe focus on toning, and not so much on actual pound loss? That's just my suggestion, not trying to offend.

oh sorry didn't mean to offend but it's just that i've always wanted to look good in skinny jeans/leggings (i never have... ) graduate from hoodies and cords and try a skirt perhaps when i go to college in the fall...haha

Hmm...I'm your height, weigh more than you and look freakin fantastic in leggins or skinny jeans. So unless you are carrying all your weight in your lower half, I'll be you do to. Sounds like you're still in high school so granted you probably don't know how fantastic you look at 5'-6' 130 something, HOWEVER, given what the media throws at you everyday and with other 5'-6" celebs being in the 110s and 120s I can understand the desire. How about just focusing on eating well and exercising and doing well in college, things will fall into place.

Haha I was thinking the same thing - I weigh 40 pounds more than you and I rock skinny jeans! I was 130 in high school and thought I looked like a beached whale. Now I look at pictures of myself and I looked fab-u-lous!! I know that people telling you "you probably look awesome!" doesn't convince you of anything, but I swear it's true. I would really focus on just eating healthier and exercising - regardless of your weight, you'll look leaner. I would suggest ballet - you can find the New York City Ballet workout video on YouTube. Ballet will give you longer, leaner muscles. Hope that helps!

I have the same ultimate goal as you Kooo, and I'm exactly the same height, so I know where you are coming from, even if I obviously have much much further to go lol. People can look vastly different at the same height and weight, so saying that such and such looks good at such and such a weight doesn't really count for much with me tbh.
Ultimately it's your body and your goal, and you should go for whatever you feel comfortable with. I think as people have gotten fatter over the years the perception of what is underweight has become somewhat skewed, as we are so used to seeing overweight people being the norm.

thanks for your advice

as you said, timkerbelle, i'm 130 but i'm afraid not the right kind of 130 xD my upper body and arms are pretty thin, but my butt and thighs are a huge problem! i mean practically none of my weight is chest weight, either (i have trouble filling out a 34A) and with my biceps at 9.75 inches and my thighs at 21.75 inches, i feel lopsided :/

so the calorie deficit is definitely subtracted from the BMR? gosh...harder than i though

"my upper body and arms are pretty thin, but my butt and thighs are a huge problem! i mean practically none of my weight is chest weight, either (i have trouble filling out a 34A) and with my biceps at 9.75 inches and my thighs at 21.75 inches, i feel lopsided :/"


this is describing a pear shaped body. there's nothing you can do about that. you can bulk up the top to even it out a little, get some of the fat off the thighs, but we can't diet our way to a different body type.

the deficit is over a period of time, say a week. so if you eat less each day by 100 cal. then eventually, that's added up to a lb lost.

apparently my maintenance cals are 2200-2400 a day. i read that if i actually don't eat enough, my metabolism'll hang on and prevent weight loss and i would actually LOSE by eating more calories--is this true?

^yes! Or at least it's true for me. Honestly, I would recommend eating 1800ish and hitting the weights hard. You should really be focusing on body recomposition as opposed to weight loss for the results you're looking for. Weight loss is just going to give you a smaller version of the body you already have.

It's up to you how much weight you want to lose - but just to point out, if you were to use BMI as a guide - your goal weight would put you one pound shy of the underweight category.

As stated before, you probably already look fantastic in skinny jeans - maybe what you're looking for is to gain confidence?

i'm getting confused on what works--

consistent calories (like always staying at 1700ish, for example) or being at 1400-1500 with a cheat meal once a week or so...or both?