I recently started counting calories after getting discouraged with points.
I find calories a little easier to count.
My question is how many calories do I need? I thought 1200, but I seem to get very hungry on that amount, and then it triggers binges. I am 43 years old, and I think my metabolism has slowed because I found losing a lot easier before.
I've only managed to lose around 10 pounds over a year.
I seem to be averaging around 1600, some days 1250, and sometimes on a WE 1800-2000. I figured I should technically still lose on days when I go over because I compensate with exercise, but I seem to quickly regain, sometimes with 3 to 5 pound gains. I clean houses 3 to 4 days on a week, and I figure I should burn more on those days, and I also do hiking at least 4 to 5 days a week, up to an hour to 2 hours. Today I plan on hiking 5 miles, a very difficult hike at that, hoping it will raise my metabolism.
My diet is pretty clean, mostly organic food, things like hummus, chicken, whole grains and salads. I do drink wine on a daily basis, but I try to eat a little less when I have the wine, so I don't know if this is breaking it for me.. I avoid most high fat foods, and sugar, so any input appreciated.
I am not doing any formal program, just calorie counting, although I have tried other programs like WW, and atkins.
Hi rosemarie
I'm not a pro at this yet, just started a month ago, but at my weight (which is quite a bit more than you) I aim for about 1300 calories (give or take a few) a day. And this seems to be working well for me at the moment. You can also look it up on the internet, there are websites that will tell you what a good amount for your weight and age are. Hope this helps. And
A good rule of thumb to start with is 8-10 calories/pound. Try 9 for a week (track everything you eat), and if you aren't losing weight, go for 8 the next week.
Also, I find that I get really hungry if on restricted calories if I eat too many carbs, where for me that's anything above around 60% calories from carbs. I lose the most fat (vs. muscle mass) -- and avoid the munchies -- at around 25% from fat, 35% from protein, and 40% from carbs. YMMV, of course.
I think the answer will come when you track your calories (as you are doing) and then seeing what happens! If you can lose on 1600 calories, then do that! If, over a couple of WEEKS, you don't lose on what you're eating, lower it a little (maybe 100 calories) and see what happens.
There are lots of calculators out there, but they are just estimates. Most of us have to use trial and error to figure it out.
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I've been tracking, maybe not perfectly, but I'm working on it.
So I looked at the calculators. It says 2000 a day to keep me going, (that sounds a lot). I looked at todays activity, 90 minutes of hiking. My little step counter said I walked over 4 miles and burned 750, the computer formula said 650. So how do I figure the deficit? If I ate 1600 and subtract 600, I should have a deficit of 1000, going from the 2000 existing number, if I did this everyday, (4 hours of housecleaning is 800), I should lose 2 pounds a week, which I am not doing (losing), so I guess I should try a lower number, of course some days I may not be as active. Today's hike was especially hard, straight up a mountain, 2 and a half miles. I thought maybe my body is adjusting to my activity, so I thought I'd start trying some harder exercise.
At the 1200 calories I started to get dizzy and can't do the housework.
I am thinking maybe 1400? It also seems if I do not feel that hunger, I don't lose.
How many calories do I need?
