Poll: How many calories do you eat?

Have you tried zig-zagging your calories yet? I ate 1200 calories for two weeks and lost 10 lbs, but then I started gaining again. I checked out this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/253912-does-the-zig-zag-7-day-calorie-cycle-really-work and checked the link that they mention (http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm). This site told me that I should be eating way more calories than I have been. I checked some other sites, and while they all differed, basically they all said I should be eating more than I am. So, I've started zig-zagging. Some days I eat 1400, 1500, 1200, 1700... kind of whatever... but not the same calories for more than 2 days in a row. It seems to be working. My weight loss is still slower than it was the first two weeks, but it's still going down, and I'm still losing a couple pounds a week. I think these numbers would be higher if I'd stop eating some of the high calorie processed foods I sneak into my meals and just stick with fruits, veggies, and healthy proteins. )

I am wondering if you are doing too much cardio exercise and not enough strength training or vice versa. If you are doing weight lifting, you may not see much decrease on the scale but you will have lost inches. Also, are you eating at least 6 times a day? That may also contribute to slower weight loss. I see that you wrote your future mother-in-law, so I am assuming that you are in the process of getting married. Are you planning a wedding? If so, that can cause stress, which stress may prevent you from losing weight as quickly if you weren't stressed out.

Gender: Female
Age: 34
Activity Level: Moderate
Calories eaten per day: 1200 - 1400
What type of diet you follow: Low calorie
Average weekly weight loss: 1-2 pounds

Hi there! What I've found really helps speed it up and keep it the weight loss more consistent is:

1. Watching sodium intake paired with tons of water
2. Some sort of exercise almost every day
3. Watching packaged foods
4. Plenty of fiber

Gender: Female
Age: 30
Activity Level: Moderately Active, some sort of exercise 30-60 min 5-7 days a week.
Calories eaten per Day: 1,200 - 1,500
What type of diet you follow: High fiber, low packaged foods and sodium, balanced dinner, fiber cereal breakfast, a about 4-5 meals a day.
Average weekly weight loss: .5-1 lb a week. I kinda fell off the horse so to speak, so I have some lost time to make up for. That's why I know the above comments work for me, because when I stopped doing these things, I maintained my weight and then after 2 months it crept back up and I gained a couple pounds. As soon as I went back to these guidelines (the last week and a half) for myself, I've noticed I feel much better and the pounds are slowly coming back off.

Great thread to start! Thanks!

I just recently changed up my macros and consumption because I plateaued...

Gender: Female
Age: 27, Height: 5'0"
Activity Level: Light-moderate activity
Calories eaten per Day: 1500 (now, will re-evaluate at next weigh-in June 27th)
What type of diet you follow: Was low carb, now just trying to stay within moderate macronutrients and keeping in line with my caloric intake goals.
Average weekly weight loss: Previous to the stall, about .5/week. My losses tend to come in weird bursts. I'll stall for a month then boom! 2 pound loss. I'm odd like that. I'm also within 10 pounds of goal. Losses are slow.

Gender: F
Age: 48
Activity Level: Pretty sedentary. Desk job
Calories eaten per Day: between 600 and 900
What type of diet you follow: Cut out all processed foods. Only eat fruits, veggies and home-grown/ harvested meats.
Average weekly weight loss: Now that I've broken through my plateau, about 1lb. per week.

Before everybody shoots me for my calorie intake, I am eating perfectly healthy for me. I am NOT in starvation mode as some would like to believe.

Gender:Male
Age:44
Activity Level: Sedentary desk job, but I walk for 30 minutes each day on my lunch break.
Calories eaten per Day: 2,030
What type of diet you follow: No specific diet, but lower fat, higher fiber. I find that eating fiber rich foods fills me up with less calories, and staves off the cravings longer. Whole grains, fruit, veggies, a litte meat. I can't eat red meat, so chickens of the world, beware! That, and I drink lots of water between meals.
Average weekly weight loss: About 2 pounds. Been tracking since May 1st, lost 10 pounds so far. 30 to go!

Exercise: walking, and I've joined a fitness club, which opens across the street frommy office one month from today. Can't wait!

I'm 24, sedentary, eat 1200 calories, and I have lost 38 lbs in 66 days. Feel free to check my diary

Gender: FEMALE
Age: 23
Activity Level: Moderately Active (4-5 Days working out) I do about 45 Mins of Cardio and then strength training
Calories eaten per Day: 1100-1400
What type of diet you follow: Lean Meat, Lots of Veggies, High Protein
Average weekly weight loss:2-4pounds

What types of food are you eating? Also, what kinds of exercise are you doing?

Gender: Female
Age: 24
Activity Level: Active
Calories eaten per Day: 1200-1400
What type of diet you follow: I just try to watch what I eat and eat things in moderation, no real special diet. I try to drink at least 8 cups of water a day though
Average weekly weight loss: Between 1-1.5 pounds a week