Question for ladies maintaining

notworthstalking

and any guys with knowledge too.
My weight has being coming off fairly quickly. Mostly because I have stopped eating a large packet of potato chips daily... and other junk as regulary. The problem I am finding it really hard to make 1800 calories most days. I really feel it's something I have to work on as much as loosing kilos. Sure I want to loose the gut, but the right way. I also want to be healthy. In fact that is so much more important than the scales.

My first goal was 72 kg (158 pounds), which I am nearly at. According to ideal weight charts, I am small framed - I can wrap my fingers around my wrist - sound right? At 178 cm (5 10) tall , the ideal range is 68 or lower. I haven't being that in a long time. I am umming and arring as to whether I should try and drop my weight further, or just maintain and start really lifting. I can't afforrd a gym or trainer, but my husband has said he will help me with lifting. As in spot me and check my form. He isn't fussed, but knows I like to lift, so will support me.

Diet wise, I pretty much have to eat what we all eat. My husband does a lot of the cooking and is looking for ways we can afford to get more protien into meals. He is also happy for me to weigh what he is cooking and he does cook nice food. I aslo cook a lot of things on the weekends (I work afternoon shift) and these are kid friendly. For example Saturday night I am making bolognaise, because the six yearold wants that. Sunday I will be baking for snacks and trying to get her to try something else. Our budget is tight, but we do try and get nice food. The fact we cook is a big help.

Because of the budget supplements are almost out of reach. I have some protiene powder , which I am trying to fit in foods, because I didn't like it. I am going to try making protein bars because they are $3 a bar here. So far i've added it to pancakes with great success. I can eat plenty of eggs, because they are cheap and my parents can sometimes give us free ones. Other than that pur meat tends to be budget, but we try and cook it in a healthy way and buy lean minced beef for example. I don't eat fish and know bugger all about vegetarian food.

I was wondering how much ladies are eating to maintain at 68 or so kilos (150 pounds) and what sort of food they are eating. I have an active job and am trying to sneak activity outside of work. I also love walking and am starting to run (a tiny bit) as well as loving to lift. I wanna be strong!!! I feel like I need to start adding in more calories like, a couple of hours ago. But I need some guidence. So any help would be appreaciated.