Apologies because I'm stealing this idea from another thread

The theory is that if you are maintaining, you are eating 13X (for inactive), 14X (for moderately active) or 15X your weight (for very active people); that gives you a calorie count. On the other thread they talk about 14, 15 and 16 which is out of a current magazine. Mine are from nurses training in 1979!

So in order to lose weight, you take your ideal weight and multiply it by the same number and you should get the number of calories that will lead to a nice slow and steady loss until you get to 'status quo' your ideal weight.

On the other thread, as far as maintenance is concerned, this was proving to be fairly accurate.

Mine would be 1778 to maintain here and 1708 to slide down to goal.

How about you? Accurate? Load of bunk? Helpful?

It seemed to high for me personally. I figured out my personal magic number through a lot of trial and error, lol. But I think it would be a great place for some people to start, then they can go from there based on results. I'd love to see how it works for everyone else.

Now this was cool. My ideal weight is 115. Now my doc said to eat 1600 calories a day for weight loss. Well, here is the results....

inactive 13 x 115 = 1495
moderately active 14 x 115 = 1610
very active 15 x 115 = 1725

So my thoughts of trying to stay between 1400 to 1800 a day is not bad! I used to be basically inactive. And now I would say I am between moderate and very active! I have my days beleive me lol. But, what my doc said is right in the middle of these results! That's pretty cool.

Now.... If I can lower my calorie intake each day to under 1600 that might help with better results! Not to fast.. I know that is not good (learned that the hard way)... but more then a ½ a pound a week! I can hope lol.

Not a bad idea! This might help someone figure out how to start out! Pretty cool!

This is also way off for me. I spoke to my doctor and she told me that for me to maintain my weight it is weight X 10. And that IS including the 60-90 minutes of exercise I do 5-6 times a week. This was just what she said for me, being I am perimenopausal, on medication and have already lost a great deal of weight. Her suggestion was not to increase the duration of my workouts nor drop calories (1500 a day) but to increase intensity to get my loss moving again.

Just sucks. But its reality and I'm trying to deal with it. BAH

LindaT.... (all)


Your doctor is also CORRECT!

Look at this.....

I am currently reading The American Heart Association No Fad Diet book. I do recommend this to all! Good book. Here is what it says about figuring out your calories to maintain your current weight. (This is taken (typed) right from my book)

Multiply current weight in pounds ____ x 10 = Base calories ____
Multiply current weight in pounds ____ (same as the # on 1st. line above)

If not active: x 3 = ____
If moderately active: x 5 = ____
If very active: x 8 = ____
Activity calories = ____

Add base + activity calories = Total calories to maintain your weight = ____

Total adjusted calories = ____

I think this is the same as what Susan says above.. just different numbers.... and also.. this way is using your current weight... and NOT the ideal weight. Maybe that is the difference. To maintain my weight right now at 193 I would have to eat 2500 to 2900 calories a day!!! WOAH.. that is a lot!! And now if I used the numbers that Susan stated above (13, 14, and 15) I still come out with the same results if I use my current weight of 193 to total this up. But Susan was using the ideal weight... our healthy weight.

I think it all make sence.... and it is all the same math.. just different starting numbers (idea weight verses current weight). I hope I explained this where everyone understands it haha.