How many calories should I be eating?

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Hi there,

I've lost 50 lbs so far (I had my goal set to lose 1lb per week) and I'm only about 13 lbs away from my goal weight, so getting ready to go into maintenance mode fairly soon.

I was eating around 1290 calories a day, but now that I'm so close to my goal weight I feel like that may be too low? Today I switched my goals to lose 1/2 lb per week instead of 1lb per week, and it put me up to 1590 calories per day. Does that sound about right? I'm 5'5" and currently 148 lbs. Hoping to get to 135 lbs.

Thanks for your help!

Replies

  • amberbekolay
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    Bump... Anyone?
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
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    When I was 15 pounds away from my goal (I lost 30 total), I changed it to a 0.5 lb/week loss too. It is usually recommended to do so around where you are now. Also, it does help ease the transition into maintenance.

    It is tough to lose the last 10-15 pounds, or at least it was for me. Keep up the good work, you are in the home stretch!
  • amberbekolay
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    When I was 15 pounds away from my goal (I lost 30 total), I changed it to a 0.5 lb/week loss too. It is usually recommended to do so around where you are now. Also, it does help ease the transition into maintenance.

    It is tough to lose the last 10-15 pounds, or at least it was for me. Keep up the good work, you are in the home stretch!


    Cool, thank you very much! I figured it makes sense to up my calories now, but it just feels so weird. Haha.
  • SwimKitty
    SwimKitty Posts: 122 Member
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    Congratulations on your journey so far - you've done an awesome job! There are several websites that can help you determine your calorie goals

    Here's an easy 'plug-in' one that'll help determine your BMR and then your calorie goals for your goal weight:

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    And here's one that has a bit more math involved:

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    You can find a lot of tools out there - you can drive yourself crazy trying to find the perfect number ( I know, I almost did!) - but I think they are best thought of as a range - adjust as necessary.
  • amberbekolay
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    Congratulations on your journey so far - you've done an awesome job! There are several websites that can help you determine your calorie goals

    Here's an easy 'plug-in' one that'll help determine your BMR and then your calorie goals for your goal weight:

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    And here's one that has a bit more math involved:

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    You can find a lot of tools out there - you can drive yourself crazy trying to find the perfect number ( I know, I almost did!) - but I think they are best thought of as a range - adjust as necessary.


    Thank you, that helps! :)
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
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    I just bumped my calories up by 100 and actually started losing weight again. It is true what they say. I also eat back at least half of my exercise calories as well. But I also must state that I have been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, that thing is no joke.
  • amberbekolay
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    I just bumped my calories up by 100 and actually started losing weight again. It is true what they say. I also eat back at least half of my exercise calories as well. But I also must state that I have been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, that thing is no joke.

    That's awesome, congrats! I love the 30 day shred!