How many calories do you all eat a day???

I'm really curious about this.  I saw a obesity/weight management specialist today & she said that for my weight & activity level, that I should be eating 2300 calories a day (to lose weight, not maintain).  Thats a bit higher than the 2000 calories I've been eating a day (and losing weight at...I've lost 21lbs since Jan 11th).   These figures just seem really high with what I'm reading that others are eating.  I don't understand it...so maybe the posts I'm reading are from already small people? So, would everyone (or anyone) mind posting your weight & the number of calories you eat a day?  That way I can keep this in perspective.  Thanks! (By the way, she told me to increase my carbs as well, from 200grams a day to 280 grams).  I started at 352 lbs, am 330 lbs now & exercise on bike 30 minutes, 3 times a day (14-16 mph on recumbant bike). Thanks!!!  Lisa

I eat between 1,000-1,300 calories a day.  Sometimes 1,400 a day.  I don't exercise, though.

Yup, eat enough to lose, not to little or you're playing with fire. 300-500 calories/day, never more from restriction.  Never eat below 1200 calories, ever! Inactive: BMR-500=daily needs to lose 1lb week Active: BMR+caloric expenditure-500=daily needs ( and will result in eating more than BMR but to protect metabolism)

Me: started 320 current 286 BMR 2180 I'm highly active 2180+1000=3180-500=2680.   Loss on that intake and on Atkins=3lbs since Saturday

 

I am trying to stay below 1200 calories aday.  Very easy making the right choices and not hungery all day either. Jenn

Today?  Only God knows how many calories I ate!   LOL Usually.. I'm guessing between 900 and 1400 depending on how evil I am.  I also work out at least 5 days a week... 3 of those are cardio plus weight training. I started at 310 and currently I'm between 225 and 227 (and after what I just ate I just don't want to know).. LOL Don't get too low with the calories... I started with 500 cal a day for a month and a half.  It took that long to lose 28 lbs, then I started to gain.  When I hit a 5 lb gain, I switched tactics. 

Pre-op I ate under 1200 calories per day for several months with no ill effects and exercised moderately at least 4-5X a week. Lost 68 pounds inside of 4 months. Started at 368 pounds. Post op, I now eat 850 calories a day-- and malabsorb about 1/3 of the fat calories in that. It ain't for everybody. Over a year and not dead yet. Steadily increasing fat and calories-- should be at about 1000 cal in March. Aiming for closer to 40g fat per day. Never under 50 carbs. By July I will be back around 1200-1400 a day. Have your BMR tested-- it's the only way to know how YOU use calories at your size and level of activity. -S.

By consistently eating under 1200 calories one risks negatively impacting theirmetabolism.   Do it for long enough and one will definitely teach the metabolism to require less and less.  That's one of the problems for WLS patients, if that happens to their metabolism, they cannot physically use food to repair their metabolism.  Just a caveat to those considering surgery.   Hopefully that won't happen for you, S.

My metabolism requires "less and less" at the moment because my mass is changing. Otherwise, I am metabolically en pointe. I wasn't posting advice-- I was answering the question , "What calories do you/did you consume?"  One of the problems for those using exercise for weight control is that if they are injured or ill (or if they should age and in so doing begin to degenerate physically) there is a disruption in their ability to move. Another is that they never deal with the emotional reasons for the overeating in the first place, and so can continue to do so with impunity as long as they exercise it off--so while their physical selves look and operate typically, they can still harbor serious emotional stressors which are damaging for them both emotionally and physically as well. Just a caveat to those advocating intense exercise as a substitute for a more holistic approach. Point: Living has risks. I'm prepared to accept mine, and do not advocate "my" approach as The One Best Approach. But to date, I have experienced the overall improvement in quality of life that I seek, and intend to carry on.

Not knocking ya, S.  Hope you know that.  Was just addressing an issue of WLS folks may not be aware of. However, using exercise for weight control isn't everything you crack it up to be either.  In my case, I don't have an issue with food or overeating...I have 5 years of Fitday records to show that, along with years of hearing "You don't eat enough to be fat"...and they were right.  My body had an issue with the balance of fat/protein/carbs and a few choices not understanding that, along with insulin issues, caused my obesity.  I never could "align" with the idea that all overweight people have a problem with food.  Some do, sure, not all.   But also you address the concept of if exercise is removed for whatever reason you'll have a problem...only if you don't adjust your calories.  If for instance, I was injured, I'd be eating about 1600-1800 calories to lose.  Since there's absolutely no reason I can't exercise, I choose it as the optimal method so that when I get to goal, my metabolism is also optimized.  One's BMR changes with mass, but not drastically, unless you've lost muscle and increased bodyfat.  The likelihood is that my BMR will remain in the 1800-2200 calorie range.

i stayed around 1800 the entire time i was losing weight (i started at 280). this was with workingout at least an hour a day. i don't necessarily track my calories anymore as i don't like change and pretty much eat the same thing everyday. as long as i'm under 2000, i'm happy. i have been told that i am not eating enough for the amount that i work out (at least an hour daily plus personal training 3 times per week) and its something i'm looking at tweaking, but this is after 5 years of weight loss maintenance. i also believe in everything in moderation and that carbs are a good thing.  in my opinion, most people on this message board do not eat enough at all. but hey, to each his own. you have to figure out what works with your body.