How many calories?

We are coming up on our 2 year mark, and I was wondering how many calories on average we should be consuming a day? I had a baby 7 weeks ago, and have some 'baby weight' to lose, and I wasn't sure what my calories should be. I have tried to locate my nutritionist from when I had my surgery, but I can't seem to! Stacy

I was told that I needed 1500 calories per day to maintain. It seems pretty true. I'm getting in that much now, if I add it a little junk each day, otherwise I end up more at 1200ish. Laurie

OK, thanks. I have been tracking my food on www.fitday.com and yesterday I had 1561 and that seemed high to me. To maintain, it's not. But I want to lose some weight, so maybe 1200 would be a good range for me. Plus, I need to get moving more. It's hard with a newborn and a husband who works 15 hour days, to find 'me' time to exercise, but I do put him in his stroller and walk the neighborhood. Thanks Laurie! Stacy

According to mypyramid.gov (the food pyramid website), an adult woman should be consuming about 1800-2000 calories/day. I, personally, don't count calories. I just try to make healthy choices each day, eating natural foods and move as my body allows (with fibromyalgia that's kicking my butt this week, it's been kind of hard). Michelle -198 pounds and holding

I guess I am a calorie counter advocate. I still write down everything I eat each day in a notebook and I think it is what has kept me able to maintain. I try not to go over 1800 calories a day but ultimately not over 1900 and I am able to stay between 150-155. I am 5'6. Candy