I've decided to start calorie counting because another diet I was doing was far to restricting to do every day. But I'm having such issues with how many calories I should be eating to lose weight.

I think before I started dieting a normal day I'd eat about 2,000 calories or less (usually less). I'm SERIOUSLY not a big eater. And since getting pregnant with my daughter I've changed my diet to more healthy foods. I've been over weight all my life so I don't want my daughter to have to deal with that. It's easier learning healthy habit from the start and not have to change it... it was hard but I did it for her.

So, I want to lose the weight. I went on websites for a calorie calculator. They all say I should be eating 2.3 or 2.4k calories! I'm trying SO hard to wrap my head around the fact that I should eat so much. I... can't understand it... Maybe all this time I couldn't lose the weight because I'm starving myself with only 1.5k-1.7k calories?

I think I should see a doctor and or a nutritionist but I don't have insurance until next month so I'm trying to do this on my own for now. Maybe y'all can help me for now?

Hmm, that didn't seem right to me at first... granted, I'm trying to lose at a lower level, but I'm at 1100 kcal a day, haha. But I just checked on a website (http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm) and it seems you're about right; your basal rate should be about 2000 a day. Although, to be fair, I think most of the people who lose quickly, which is still possible for you right now, are still trying to eat 1400-1600 calories or so a day. So maybe reducing your intake to that level should help. I don't think it's as likely that you're eating too little for weight loss.

Another possibility: it's easy to accidentally undercount all kinds of things when you're not counting strictly by ounces/grams/cups, so it's possible that you're actually eating much more than you're aware of, if your portion sizes are inaccurate. Calorie-counting is particularly good for keeping me accountable through the shock of how much everything is (i.e. I had seven bite-sized cookies and one mixed drink at a party yesterday; apparently that was 650 calories, more than half my budget).

The one thing that really helps is logging everything -- everything, even a handful of cereal or a tiny piece of chocolate -- on a site like LoseIt, FitDay, SparkPeople, LiveStrong, etc. And weighing it before you consume. I've found it can be a little tiresome/neurotic at first, until you get used to portion sizes/estimating and you don't have to think about it... Hopefully then it'll be easier to know how much you're really eating and what your balance of calorie sources is. Hope that helps!

Actually I have an app on my phone that tracks everything. I measure everything with a measuring cup or kitchen scale. Surprisingly I am darn close with my portion sizes.

I studied nutrition in college 3 years ago so I'm aware of the hidden calories and other surprised high calorie foods.

So... I WAS eating 1k and hardly moved, then at 1.2k and lost a little more... think I should bump it up again to 1.4-1.6k?

It is very possible you are under-eating.... based on what I have learned from the website I use to count and track calories 1200 (net) is the minimum a woman should be consuming. If you are also excercising that will put you in a deficit as well which could put you well under that 1200 goal.

Also I just noticed we are around the same weight and have a similar journey.... currently at 258 Im alloted 1510 (net) daily and that is calculating for a projected 2lb a week (healthy rate) loss.

Barring PCOS or Menopause, I really can't understand how you gained on under 2,000 cals/day? Are you sure your not miscalculating? Also, the types of foods you are eating can make a difference to your weight loss goals as well. I suggest plenty of lean proteins (with every meal), complex carbs and good fats (I won't go into explanation of this since you studied nutrition for 3 yrs!)

That said...1000-1200 cals seem quite low for your starting weight. I'd recommend 1500-1600 cals to start with. I also recommend keeping your sodium low (which again I won't explain because of reasons stated above).

Lastly...exercise? Not sure if you've started an exercise program, but I HIGHLY recommend you do, if you haven't yet. Exercise will increase your metabolism, is good for your heart, assist in a healthy blood circulation, and helps to keep your skin tight as you lose fat. You can start with just a simply brisk walk for 30 mins/day.

Everybody is different. I gain anytime I am at 1200/day.

I haven't started exercising yet (long story) but I plan on it soon.

I can't imagine eating 1500+ cals and 2000 seems insane T_T I feel like 1k is a lot. I think I need to see a doctor... both physical and mental. I have very bad ideas about food. *sigh*

Well, really what you probably need to do is figure out what does work for you. Pick a calorie range -- say 1600-1800 calories a day for example -- and then track your calories carefully every day for a couple of weeks. See what happened. If you lost at a nice rate and are down 2-4 pounds then that's probably what you should be eating! If you don't lose, then eat less...

Our bodies are all different, and all programs do is provide estimates, so we have to figure it out for ourselves.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Yeah, true. I was hoping to lose a noticeable bit before my husband gets back from Air Force training but I shoulda known better... Can't rush a life style change.

CMS,

You might also ask your doctor for a thyroid test. You may be hypothyroid. Untreated hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, or at least make it difficult for you to lose weight.

Fortunately treatment is very easy-- just a pill first thing in the AM.

why not just choose healthy food throughout the day, log as you go? do that for a few days or a week. that should give an idea what feels comfortable to you. unless you are avoiding carbs like pasta/rice/bread and loading up on low cal. produce, it's difficult to be close or under the 1,000 cal/day. unless you have very little appetite for some reason. very likely you'll feel more hungry than ever when you are pregnant. all the raging hormones and dr. telling you to eat this and that to be healthy. it's mind boggling.

Erinyes: I was tested once a long time ago... but I plan on getting tested again as soon as get insurance.

katy: I do have very little appetite, I have to force myself to eat more often than not.... and I REALLY had to force myself to eat while pregnant with my daughter, I often didn't want to eat at all.