Advice Please?

holly273

Hi Everyone, sorry to bother anyone with (stupid?) questions, but I just really want to make sure I'm getting this right. I'm upping my calorie goal from the 1280 that MFP has me on, because I don't think it's sustainable for me, and sustainability's what it's all about, right? .

Quick rundown:
19 y/o female, 5'7 and about 135ish lbs (fluctuates based on when I lift!)
Basically just aiming to "look better", as lame as that sounds. My BMI is healthy, but could still easily lower and still be within a healthy range. Want to lower bf% I guess, and get stronger. I'm lifting every second day, and doing a bit of cardio as a warmup but that's about all. At this point I'd like to be at about 125-130lbs (I've been 115 before and was very very unhealthy because of it, but I kinda liked how I looked at 120-125, and reckon I can look similar but with more muscle at 125-130). I assume continuing to lift heavy is a good way to go about doing this? Should I incorporate more cardio, too? I can't run because of shin splints, but elliptical/stationary bicycle is an option if you think I need to be doing cardio.

I need some good advice on how to definitively set an ongoing goal. I don't particularly want to do the TDEE-?% approach factoring in my activity level (workouts), because they are constantly varying in intensity, type and regularity...and also because I do like to log exercise on here, and when it gives me those extra calories I'll want to eat them! :P Would figuring out TDEE-?% for a sedentary setting be ok, and then still logging/eating back exercise cals? If so, what percentage cut, if any?

Thanks for reading, I just want some definitive, healthy advice (or for someone to just give me a plan to follow!) from people who have a good amount of knowledge and experience. Again, THANKS!