Am I eating the right number of calories?

tifspoel

I have been trying to find the correct number of calories for me to lose the last 20 lbs. I am a 28F, 180lbs, lightly active (stay at home mom), work out at least 5 days a week for at least a half hour. I usually burn at least 400 calories. MFP and other "experts" have given me anywhere from 1,250 calories a day to 1,600 a day. I just want to make sure I am eating enough to lose weight and not gain it. I prefer not to eat my activity calories if possible. Right now I have it set at about 1,400 calories a day. This is stressful!

pastryari

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

sleepytexan

Learn what your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and BMR (basal metabolic rate) estimates are. Eat in between them. Doesn't have to be exact. Somewhere in between them every day (exercise is already included in TDEE).

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

tifspoel

My BMR is 1,621 and my TDEE is 2,221. So right now I have my calorie intake at 1,630. Do I have to eat the exercise calories on top of that? I fear that 1,600 is a lot of calories.