That seems like an awful lot. Would a better goal for me be 1200 cals?
I'm 5'8, 231 pounds, I sit at a desk all day for work.
I don't want to do this the unhealthy way, so I'm looking for a little advice.
Thanks
Onederchic - that was an interesting site I've not visited before. I think the calorie levels are probably too high for me but then, I'm not just starting. I wish I'd seen the site all those decades ago (yea, I know, before internet ) when I lost weight on 1,000 calories (it was the norm in those days) and started the messing up of my body!
Yeah, it is a decent site. I don't believe anyone or anything can tell us the exact amount of calories our bodies need to lose weight, it is about trial and error. I just use the calculator as a starting point
1800 is a great place for you to start, with two warnings:
1. It's got to be accurate. I HIGHLY recommend getting a food scale and weighing everything. It's the most accurate, least messy, and quickest way. if you are off by 10%--which is nothing--you'll be eating more like 2000/day. If you aren't counting 1 stolen french fry and a fortune cookie and just a bite of your mom's chocolate cake--all the sudden, you are at 2000. It's really easy for that stuff to add up.
2. Your daily average is NOT your average day. One big meal can easily--easily--add 200 calories a day to your daily average, so six on-plan 1800 calorie days + one mostly on-plan-except-we-had-dinner-out day = 2000 calories a day.
If you watch those two things, you will most likely lose weight on 1800 calories. Our bodies burn a lot more calories than a body that only weighs 140--I mean, if you had to CARRY an extra 50 lbs around all day every day, you'd think that was such a workout, you should be able to eat anything!
If 1800 doesn't work, you can always cut back. But if it does, think how sustainable your food plan will be! It's worth a couple weeks to find out.
I just took a look at that site. I think it's the most accurate that I've seen yet. Other sites say I should eat alot more calories. I did put in "little/no exercise" although I do exercise daily. It said my calories should be 1680. I have been trying for a daily average in the 1600-1700 range and I have been losing.
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I'm going to give it a solid effort. My biggest weajness right now is Pepsi. I'm addicted to the stuff lol. Day one with water only is today.
Good luck Mandi! I was a Diet Coke addict all my life, drinking a 12 pack of cans a day but I stopped that over a year ago and couldn't be happier . I have a diet coke still, 1 or 2 a week but no longer 12 of them every day
Mandi -
If you are used to drinking pepsi with caffine and you cut it out cold turkey and only drinking water, you will most likely get a headache and possibly have other cravings.
When I was a teenager I used to drink almost a 12 pack of coke a day. Now I mostly drink water and a couple cups of coffee daily, and occasionally I have a cup of decaf tea. I now love drinking water.
1800 cals a day?
) when I lost weight on 1,000 calories (it was the norm in those days) and started the messing up of my body!
