Hey y'all, I am so confused! I have been using online calorie calculators to help me find my "maintenance weight." I've been taking that figure and subtracting 500, you know the drill.

However, yesterday, I noticed that different online calculators told me different things. Some said 2000 calories, others said 1946. So I'm confused why the different numbers! Also, I tried using the BMR formula, doing it myself, and then multiplying by 1.2 for sedentary lifestyle (found the formula on a website).... I'm just curious how you guys figured out your maintenance calories- the calories you need just to survive, better yet- how did you figure out how many calories to eat everyday? Is there an online source that is trusted? As of yesterday, I started using 1946 calories as my maintenance number, eating a total of 1400 for weight loss.

I'm 5'7, age 26, 178 pounds, and I usually put "sedentary" on lifestyle, because, even though I do excercise most days, I want to see the lowest amount of maintenance calories (what they would be if I just sat on the couch all day.) I get my deficits from the food I eat, not counting excercise, because it's so hard to know exactly how many calories you're burning.

Anyway, if anyone can help me get my correct number, I would be soooo thankful!!!!!

Trial and error is your best bet. Most of the online calulators are off by some, I know from experience (I am your height) that I lose at about 1400, gain at 1800 (I have the metabolism of a slug)..so...that is the gauge I go by. Find ONE calulator and use that, don't "bounce around"

I also have slooow metabolism. Thank you for the advice, I think you're right about not jumping around to different ones. I just figured someone must have the right number.

Trial and error makes since, my daily calorie goal right now is 1400. I was doing 1200 but I think that is too low. I'm going to see what happens for a while on 1400. Thanks again

I agree with Kat -- the calculators are just estimates anyway, as they don't really know your metabolism. I think I am fortunate in that the calculator in nutridiary actually seems accurate for me, but it isn't really for my husband...

Ah, you already responded! One thing you might want to consider which not only works as exercise but can increase your metabolism is weight lifting. I was nervous about getting started, but there's lots of good info in Ladies (and gents) who Lift... it's really helped me!

thanks wyllenn!! I have thought about doing free weights at home, I have some 5 and 10 pound weights.... it does scare me because I'm worried about gaining weight doing it, but I've heard that's a myth. It actually tones you, and you get smaller, right?

My on-line Web site where I track my food figures out my daily calorie needs for me based on their formula -- so that's what I go by.

I do 30 minutes of weight lifting a day using the machines at the gym and free weights. I keep increasing the weights on a weekly basis. I have not seen a weight gain -- and I dropped a clothing size without losing a pound (because I've been cheating on my food intake).

hockeyfan, that's awesome. i'm really inspired to start adding weights to my excercise... I want to not only be thin, but fit too

oh yeah...the more muscle mass the faster your metabolism. muscle requires alot of calories around the clock to maintain itself..fat requires none. I don't lift but I use to, and plan on adding some in, in addition to yoga to help shape up. it's a myth that you will get bigger...

thank you so much!!!

My doc took what he thought I should weigh, moved it one decimal space to the left, and added-- So, for 160 pounds--

1600
+160
-------
1760

He said that is the amount of calories a person would burn who weighed 160 just sitting on the couch all day.

Just to follow what others said -- yes, it's a myth that lifting weights makes you big! It builds muscle, which is more metabolically active than fat. It is also denser than fat, so 1 pound of muscle looks much smaller than 1 pound of fat (part of why adding muscle you can gain weight but lose inches).

Start poking around the Lifting thread, as there are right and wrong ways to weight train. We bought "Weight Training for Dummies' and it was very helpful too!

I like what Erin said there. Simple but effective. Let me see ... 1342 ... which is just about what I have figured from years of poking around with various numbers, charts and calculators. I do like that.

I love how you put that Erin!!! Fab! That makes it so simple!