Counting calories.

So um... My doctor is against counting calories but I want to start counting calories and keeping a food log. So basically he's no help.

I was wondering if someone could tell me how to pick a good calorie deficit to put myself at. Is there any specific way to calculate it? :)

Thanks for the help. I had my first fill today. It was kind of painful but it's all good now. I have 2cc's in my band.

Thanks in advance!

www.livestrong.com    its an excellent site

So I was looking at myfitnesspal.com it said I should eat around 1400-1500 calories a day. Then exercise at least 5 days a week!

Is this a okay plan?

I use myfitnesspal as well - I love that it is accessible through my phone.  It makes it so much easier to track everything on the go. ;)  Anyhow, I think 1200-1400 calories per day is a better range for the active weight loss phase.  But I am not a doctor, just a successful "loser."  LOL 

I use myfitnesspal too and love it.  I was using fitday, but I like myfitnesspal better.  I am really surprised that your surgeon isn't into counting calories, mine absolutely is. 

I am supposed to have about 1600 calories.  I believe it is based on your current weight, how much you have to lose and how much activity you do.  When I enter my activity, it readjusts my calories, carbs, protein & fat for the day.  So somedays I could have an extra 400 cal.

I have to say that I very rarely eat 1600 calories.  Tracking my calories has really helped me.

Everybody is different on calories. Some people lose weight at 1000 calories per day and others need more like 1500 per day you will need to find what works best for you .

I was eating around 900-1000 calories per day and I stalled on my weight loss for about 4 weeks .

I do alot of Zumba . I do Zumba 5 times a week and its a hard workout so I was not getting enough calories in for me and my workouts.

I had to up my calories from 1000 to 1200 to 1500 per day and I started to lose again.

What might work for me might not work for you though . You will just need to play around with your calories and see what is best for you.

I use livestrong.com/thedailyplate.   It has a calculator to help you determine what is a good calorie goal for you, based on your weight, your level of activity and how much you want to lose a week.

However, I do NOT use the livestrong's exercise calculator.  They are way too generous in estimating calorie burn.

For that, I use my polar HR monitor.

Dailyplate has an app for smartphones, but it's not free.. but not expensive either, just 2 or 3 bucks.

Fatsecret.com has an app that's free.

Just play around with the different sites till you find one that works well for YOU.  :)

I use livestrong as well...........however right now they have me at 971 calories per day to lose 2 pounds a week... I always do it at the sedentary level...it adjusts when I enter exercise.

I think it is a little too low but we will see........... I have figured out thanks to that site that if I keep my carbs under 50 I lose better.

Either way you can let the system set your goals or manually do them........I don't have the plan you pay for I just use what is free.

Michele

On Livestrong, I set my own calorie goal for 1000, because I dont ever want my NET intake (after exercise) to be higher than 1000 calories.

On average, I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day, then burn it off at the gym.  I eat the same amount of calories on the day's I dont go to the gym. 

I work out at least 5 days a week, some weeks 6. (thats a GOOD week) LOL   

As another poster said, the Livestrong counts for exercise are WAY too high...  and for that I too use my Polar HR Monitor.

gosh girls I use livestrong to and I just put in my calories for me to lose two pounds per week and they have me at 2200 calories per day !!!

Gosh that is alot of calories !!!  boy , do I really need to eat that many calories to lose 2 pounds per week ?