need help plz- 1600 cals a day?

mgbur01

Hey MFP
I have recently been going thru a restriction phase due to some stressors in my life, and realized yesterday that it's got to stop. I was having my cals quite low...aiming for ~1200 or less, and working out a lot. (Recovered ED but realized I was falling back into old habits) and this always ended up turning into binges, then more restricting, then binges...this has been going on for 2 weeks, after an initial verrrry low cal cleanse. (no wonder!)

Anyway, all that is sort of water under the bridge now because I'm not going to continue the binge/overexercise/restrict cycle anymore, and I am taking some time off to just eat however I want for the next 2 weeks and give my body a chance to reset itself and function properly/get rid of binge cravings, etc.

I'm female, 5'7", 138 lbs, 23 years old, college student- most time spent at a desk, but i work out 5x a week at least doing 30 mins weight lifting, 30 mins treadmill (~200 cals), and adding in 30 mins moderate swimming about 3x a week. I'm vegan, and usually eat pretty healthy, unless it's binge episodes.

I need my waist and hip measurements to go down 4 inches. (for work)

I think a reasonable goal is 1600 cals a day. I won't feel deprived, and the cycle will stop because of it. I feel like I could keep everything in check, and hopefully lose what I need to lose (goal weight of about 125, but it's more about the measurements as opposed to the scale weight) at a steady rate. Does anyone agree w me that this would be do-able and cause a loss? Should these be net cals or food cals? protein aiming for 75-100 grams.

my TDEE is about 2240 cals so obviously it should cause a loss...I just never really notice what works and what doesn't because I have been so screwed up on my eating in the past, and weighing myself every single day! (now i'm only gonna do it 1x a week)

any thoughts?? thank you!!!