Counting my calories, how many should I eat?

[HamuChan 0]

Well I have been working out 4 days a week and counting my calories for the past few weeks. I have lost 5 pounds since I began working out but I am thinking that I am eating too many calories.

I am eating approximately 1700 calories a day and working off about 300 doing cardio. Am I eating too much though. Everyone on here says to eat like 1200 calories right? So is 1700 bad? I am having a really difficult time cutting down to 1200 calories. I am SOOOO hungry lately since I started working out so much. Plus food tastes better and stays with me longer if a has a few extra calories. I am feeling paranoid because I still have so much weight to lose.

Thank goodness for my band here to help me. I am not nearly as hungry as I would be. Losing weight is 1 million times easier with the band, but I do still have to make effort and watch what I'm eating.

[losingjusme 12]

i think if you are losing, you are fine. i have your opposite problem.. i cant get enuff cals in...

[TexasRose 0]

Try this: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

For every pound you want to eliminate, subtract 500 calories per day from your Maintenance calories per day. So, if you want to lose 2 lbs per week, take 1000 calories per day from your Maintenance calories per day.

Use the zig-zag method where you vary your calories so that your body does not adjust to getting 1000 calories every day - consistently. When your body becomes accustomed to your calorie habit, that is when it plateaus. Keep it guessing.

Best of luck!!

[ReneBean 3]

1700 is probably fine - particularly if you are exercising.

Remember - when it comes to losing - faster is NOT always better. Any more than 2 lbs per week, and you are probably damaging yourself a little bit.

Take it steady and easy. Plus, if you hit a plateau at 1700 calories - you can always drop back to 1500... but if you are at 1200 or lower, it is very hard to adjust any further downward.

Hugs!

[mariecarmen 1]

Wow, my doctor says to try and stay around 500-800 calories a day, 60 grams of Protein, 64 oz Water and really watch the fat and carbs. He also wants 30 mins of exercise a day.

I have varying degrees of success with this and rarely meet all goals on any given day. But I'm losing so things are getting better!

[beversman 0]

My nutritionist said dont count calories...

BUT i do anyway... I always stay below 900

So, could it be that I am not getting ENOUGH calories??

I workout over an hour each day. I am starting to wonder if a few more calories wouldnt help instead of hurt.

[losingjusme 12]

beversman,

i stopped losing because i wasnt getting enough cals in me. i did up the cals and started losing again.

that was when i was strong enough to work out .. :think i now have no energy to do much at all ...

hopefully i will start feeling better soon.

[HamuChan 0]

Hmmm, 500-800 cals a day???!! That seems like starving level. I have done the 1000 calories a day thing back when I was thin (before my band). That was SOOOOO hard!!

When I first got my band it was SOOOO easy to lose weight. It just fell off with no effort. Now I have to really work for it!! Ugh, I thought I was done with calorie counting!!!! Gahhhhh!!!

[losingjusme 12]

Hamu,

maybe not cal counting, just watching it a bit ...

[LapBandit 5]

My research and doctor both agree that you shouldnt go below 1200 cals/day. Ask your doctor and come to an agreement. But, as far as whether 1700 is too much...I'd say it's too much if you're making yourself stuffed instead of satisfied. But, if you are just satisfied then probably your body needs that amount of food to support all of the exercise. My opinion...if its not broke, don't fix it!

[Beckie 0]

My doctor said the same thing. Stay under 800, 70 Protein, 8 glasses Water a day,low carb, low fat. Its hard. I do it but wonder about the calories.

[juliegeraci 7]

Some bandsters go as low as 800-1k calories a day. I think the 1k-1200 range is the best for weight loss. Good luck.

[JulieNYC 4]

My doctor said the same thing. Stay under 800, 70 Protein, 8 glasses Water a day,low carb, low fat. Its hard. I do it but wonder about the calories.

Mine said essentially the same thing -- that those who eat around 800 (and under 1000 for sure) lose the best. For me (vertically challenged), they only recommend 50 g Protein, 8+ glasses of Water per day.

I average about 900 cals. Many, many days I eat 800, but once a week or so, I eat 1400 or so -- usually on the weekend when I go out to dinner or am traveling. Seems to work for me, particularly when I track my intake and am really accountable for it.

[Beckie 0]

Julie-Your weight loss is incredible. Way to go. I feel so bad about going over 800 a day. I need to get over that. :straight

[juliegeraci 7]

I feel bad not eating more than 800 calories a day because I thought it was bad for you. Now I don't feel so bad. Sometimes its difficult to get in much more than that. I feel reassured now. Thanks.