Okay girls, Stay with me! I wanna know how many calories is working for you. I don't really know if I'm eating the right amount. I did some calculations last night, as always, and here is something that might help you guys too.( I used my starting weight) see below:

To calculate maintenence calories
Body weight x 10, + body weight
195 x 10= 1950 + 195=2145 this is the amount of calories keeping me at 195. Now, I wanna lose from 1.5-2lbs a week.

1.5 lbs is 5250 cals. So my weekly intake,15015 (2145 x 7), minus my 1.5lbs(5250 cals)=9765, 1395 per day.

So I guess this will allow me to lose 1.5 lbs per week if I consume this amount of calories. Did I lose you? Try it if you haven't already.

If anyone is losing by counting calories, tell ne how you do it. Thanks

Well....I did that calculation and I came up with 1540. Now, to lose a pound a week you need a 3500 calorie deficit, which would mean you need to deduct 500 from your maintenance level. That only puts me at a little over 1000 calories and I personally think that's too low.

I use Weight Commander, a neat little pc thing that tracks your weight and habits over the months and that program, plus another online calculator I use, tells me my maintenance calories are approximately 1700. Which puts me at about 1200 calories to lose weight. So I currently eat between 1200-1300 calories a day and I'm currently in the process of cycling my calories to try and get my weight loss started again because I've been stalled for over two months. I was stuck at exactly 141 for forever and this morning finally saw 140. So whatever it is I'm doing is going slow, but it's going.

I apparently am losing on 1700. I'd advise almost anybody to start at 1500. If you can figure that out in nice snacks and meals and see how it goes for a few days ... then we can tweak from there.
Remember now that that is my humble opinion ... formed mostly because I'm so tired of all the confusing messages people are getting. I feel folks are being frightened right into staying fat because the info is soooo overwhelming.

I eat 1100-1200 cals a day with one free day a week. I usually end up over 2400 on my free day. Keeps my body guessing and lets me satisfy cravings. Eveyone has a different calorie level where they are comfortable. For me, 1100-1200 is the perfect range. I am rarely hungry and I eat three meals a day with a treat after supper. Best of luck to you!

I multiplied my goal weight of 150 by 12 to get 1860 calories per day. I probably eat somewhere from 1400-1800 a day.

Definitely NOT starving.

Kimberly

I maintain (at the mid 140s) at around 1400-1500 a day with moderate exercise. I eat at 1200 a day to lose. I've heard that rather than subtracting 500 a day to lose a pound a week, you are supposed to subtract 250 a day and then try to burn off the other 250 through exercise. Calories are really something you just have to play with and see what works for you.

My range goes from 1400-1600. I've been good for awhile for super bowl sunday/son's bday. What's wierd is I was buying finger foods today for the party and found myself stocking up on veggies and fruits to have available and didn't buy one chip or cookie - I called my mom to bring those. Me thinks me's reforming!

Good job Carrie! I find myself doing the same thing. I'm FINALLY understanding that I am in control of what I eat. I'm not even too nervous about my "pre-PMS" week of craving chocolate and salt. I've got those 100-calorie packs of oreos and wheat thins! (I know, it's still junk food -- but healthier for me than a bag of tootsie rolls and a box of wheat thins!!)

Kimberly

Yes, but not all of us burn 250 extra calories a day

Yes, even at my 30 mins a day 5 days a week(usually WATP) I'm pretty sure I don't burn 250 calories either Still sometimes you have to accept a slower loss to stay healthy...I'm sure if I dropped to say 1000 calories a day I wouldn't go into starvation mode, and I would probably lose faster, but I think I'd go a little crazy trying to get in all my food that way.

Hmmm...maybe im doing something wrong because i only am taking in no more then 1000 calories per day.

What does WATP stand for?

Tammy

I think it is Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds.

Kimberly

Lost_here84 - I don't think 1000 calories is "wrong." A lot of people might tell you you need to eat more or some such, but juding by the starvation mode thread on the maintenance forum, I don't think starvation mode is a real problem, at least maybe not until below 800 calories. The only thing I would think that could possibly be wrong in 1000 calories is if either it is really difficult for you to maintain and you end up binging or going off plan a lot, or if you aren't getting your nutrients in (esp. protein!). Other than that, if your body is satisfied and you think you can eat that way for LIFE (shouldn't be a quick fix, should be the way you are ready to eat for the rest of your life) than I think it is the right number for you.