If you were me......

2120 is about sedentary for your height/weight at maintenance, so 500 less would have you loosing 1lb per week which is a good goal.

CaffeinatedConfectionist wrote: »

I'd recommend using a TDEE calculator, like Scooby's Workshop: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ or FitnessFrog: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html to calculate your TDEE. Since you don't have much weight to lose, you'd probably want to aim for about TDEE-10-15% as your calorie goal, but always make sure you're keeping accurate track of your calorie intake and keeping track of your exercise levels and adjust your intake accordingly - all these calculators simply provide estimates, it's up to you to refine their estimates into something accurate for you.

Scooby's is bomb. Utilize it, love it.

Tomk652015 wrote: »

So say go 1600 calories down to about 180lbs then reaccess? Just let my calorie burn be bonus? Sound reasonable?

That seems pretty reasonable to me. You can even eat back some of your exercise calories, I wouldn't eat them all but some is ok. I usually skipped breakfast ate a good sandwich for lunch, ate a reasonable dinner, and this typically left me with enough calories for a decent snack before bed. I had your exact stats , except age, and thats what worked for me. I tried going down to 1200-1400 but it just wasn't enough...

If I was currently losing weight, I'd leave it as is. If I was currently gaining weight, I'd lower it by 25%. If I was currently maintaining weight, I'd lower it by 15%

Smaller deficits are easier to maintain and fuel workouts, just my two cents. If I were you, I would also work on the "sedentary" aspect of your day. Stairs instead of elevators, use the furthest away restroom that makes sense, stand up while on the phone, park further away/get off the bus further away, take a lap around the building, etc.

Tomk652015 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

If I was currently losing weight, I'd leave it as is. If I was currently gaining weight, I'd lower it by 25%. If I was currently maintaining weight, I'd lower it by 15%

Well i was losing pretty steady and probably to fast when i started out which has only been since 12/29/15 (13lbs) and its slowed the past week or so, but i was only eating about about 1300 which i knew wasn't really enough. I'm over the honeymoon and reality is setting in with respect to the time this process really should take so thats why i was seeking the advice. Just making sure it seems like a good place to be. I will re access in a couple weeks to see how i'm responding to the 1600 mark. I don't know why but i'm rarely hungry at even 1200 to 1350 calories so I am forcing that extra 200 to 400 hundred calories with something calorie dense like PB and an apple or banana or some more almonds. I drink a LOT of water which may keep me fairly satisfied most of the time.

It's likely because you're eating more than that without realizing it. Your diary looks like you do a lot of estimating portion sizes. If you're still losing (one week doesn't count) I would just stick with what is working for you. 1600 sounds pretty low for a male working out regularly.

Tomk652015 wrote: »

I_Will_End_You wrote: »

Tomk652015 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

If I was currently losing weight, I'd leave it as is. If I was currently gaining weight, I'd lower it by 25%. If I was currently maintaining weight, I'd lower it by 15%

Well i was losing pretty steady and probably to fast when i started out which has only been since 12/29/15 (13lbs) and its slowed the past week or so, but i was only eating about about 1300 which i knew wasn't really enough. I'm over the honeymoon and reality is setting in with respect to the time this process really should take so thats why i was seeking the advice. Just making sure it seems like a good place to be. I will re access in a couple weeks to see how i'm responding to the 1600 mark. I don't know why but i'm rarely hungry at even 1200 to 1350 calories so I am forcing that extra 200 to 400 hundred calories with something calorie dense like PB and an apple or banana or some more almonds. I drink a LOT of water which may keep me fairly satisfied most of the time.

It's likely because you're eating more than that without realizing it. Your diary looks like you do a lot of estimating portion sizes. If you're still losing (one week doesn't count) I would just stick with what is working for you. 1600 sounds pretty low for a male working out regularly.

I've gone to weighing everything..or at least most everything. Some portions are preset like if i eat a tuna pack or a Atkins bar or a single cottage cheese or yogurt item, however when i eat a protein/potato/fruit i weigh it now.

I really feel like i'm very close on my logging but do you see suspect items in recent days that feel estimated?

Possibly. It's hard to say just by looking at it, but what stood out to me was how things that do have weights by them seem to switch from ounces to grams, mostly with your meats. Usually people who weigh food stick with one or the other. (usually grams) I know when I don't weigh, my dairy often shows different units of measure because I pick whatever looks the closest from the database. Other than the meats, I think I saw peanut butter, nuts counted out instead of weighed, and I've heard people say they weigh their protein powder because the scoops are usually different from what is listed as "one scoop" when they weigh them. Since you have that every day, might be a good idea to throw it on the scale to see, if you haven't yet. Food from restaurants, but that's impossible to weigh, you really have no choice than to use what the website says.

I_Will_End_You wrote: »

Tomk652015 wrote: »

I_Will_End_You wrote: »

Tomk652015 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

If I was currently losing weight, I'd leave it as is. If I was currently gaining weight, I'd lower it by 25%. If I was currently maintaining weight, I'd lower it by 15%

Well i was losing pretty steady and probably to fast when i started out which has only been since 12/29/15 (13lbs) and its slowed the past week or so, but i was only eating about about 1300 which i knew wasn't really enough. I'm over the honeymoon and reality is setting in with respect to the time this process really should take so thats why i was seeking the advice. Just making sure it seems like a good place to be. I will re access in a couple weeks to see how i'm responding to the 1600 mark. I don't know why but i'm rarely hungry at even 1200 to 1350 calories so I am forcing that extra 200 to 400 hundred calories with something calorie dense like PB and an apple or banana or some more almonds. I drink a LOT of water which may keep me fairly satisfied most of the time.

It's likely because you're eating more than that without realizing it. Your diary looks like you do a lot of estimating portion sizes. If you're still losing (one week doesn't count) I would just stick with what is working for you. 1600 sounds pretty low for a male working out regularly.

I've gone to weighing everything..or at least most everything. Some portions are preset like if i eat a tuna pack or a Atkins bar or a single cottage cheese or yogurt item, however when i eat a protein/potato/fruit i weigh it now.

I really feel like i'm very close on my logging but do you see suspect items in recent days that feel estimated?

Possibly. It's hard to say just by looking at it, but what stood out to me was how things that do have weights by them seem to switch from ounces to grams, mostly with your meats. Usually people who weigh food stick with one or the other. (usually grams) I know when I don't weigh, my dairy often shows different units of measure because I pick whatever looks the closest from the database. Other than the meats, I think I saw peanut butter, nuts counted out instead of weighed, and I've heard people say they weigh their protein powder because the scoops are usually different from what is listed as "one scoop" when they weigh them. Since you have that every day, might be a good idea to throw it on the scale to see, if you haven't yet. Food from restaurants, but that's impossible to weigh, you really have no choice than to use what the website says.

Just wanted to interject that I definitely weigh protein powder - the scoops are so inaccurate it's ridiculous (at least on the brands that I buy).

I'd even weigh the packaged foods (such as tuna and Atkins bars) because the weights here can vary a bit. It may seem nitpicky but a whole day of minor inaccuracies can really add up and ruin your daily deficit.