Every diet plan I've read always says eat around 1200 or 1500 calories for a weight loss of 2lbs per week. But I keep reading how others are eating more calories than that based on their weight or something. How many should I be eating? I'm 20, about 190 lbs, and 5'7 and a half. Heeelp!

Yes, your calorie consumption depends on your weight, height, sex, age and activity level. Those are just the basics.

Are you lightly, moderately or vigorously active?

I went ahead and checked my calculator and assuming you're lightly active (normal everyday activities) your maintenance calories are 2182 (how many calories you need to consume to maintain your current weight). To lose 1-2 pounds per week, you subtract 500 from that and you get 1682. Rounding it down, you can eat about 1600 calories a day and lose weight. I wouldn't go too far below that to start, your body would need time to adjust to the calorie level.

Keep in mind, however, that the more weight you lose, the fewer calories your body needs and your maintenance calories will drop. For example, I started at around 1700 calories. Then it went down to 1500. Then 1400. Now I'm at 1200-1300.

Also, if you're moderately active and/or exercise regularly, you can consume more calories.

I would say lightly, I guess. Well I try to exercise an hour a day but don't always do that.

Ahh, 1600? No wonder I've been feeling so tired on a mere 1200 or 1500.

Then I'd go with what I posted above, the 1600 calories

Many of us here use fitday.com to record our food intake and it keeps track of our calories for us.

Oh my gosh, yes, lol. You need more food. You're slightly taller than the average female, for one thing.

Try 1600 calories. You should be able to lose weight with that amount. If you don't take in enough food, your body will slow its metabolism down to 'hoard' everything you put in it. It's grasping those 1200 calories and holding on for dear life, lol.

Hahaha, I want a cookie. No, no. I will munch on loads of carrots instead for the extra calories I now must consume. Thank you very much for you help!

I dont know if anybody know about this or not, but i just found a website called www.calorie-count.com.

It is kinda like fitday, which I use. Maybe this can be yet another site that we can use to help us in our goals.

You're welcome

Thanks for posting the site, I'll check it out because I've been wondering if there are any other sites like fitday. I was looking at MyFoodDiary.com but didn't like the interface.