somebody set me straight

Hi everyone--anyone? I need to know something that may seem kinda silly for someone 3 years out but what is the best calorie intake to kick in weightloss? I've have maintained my weight for 1 year and after keeping a journal for about a week I realized that I've been eating 1500 or just slightly over that. I have been dealing with the water weight issues from the start so I am realistic about a few lbs here and there. I was thinking 1200 calories and following the more protein & water, less carb and fat rule, is a healthy start to weight loss. any thoughts? advice? anything? the nutritionist I spoke with in the early part out didn't seem too helpful. and I can't seem to find a new one that has much experience with the calorie/volume thing in regard to wls. I figure, why not ask those that know what works for them best. please share.

first of all realistically assess if you need to lose more weight or if your body has reached the healthy comfortable weitght (setpoint) that your body wants to be at. maintaining for over a year on a calorie count of 1500 a day sounds like you are there. Your profile had no info as far as start point etc or where you are now so I am just guessing. sometimes the number on the scale is not the best answer. If I look at the scale and the numbers and charts,, I am over weight. But I am a nice size and my body fat is 23.5 % with 24-31 % being average for a woman my age. If I were you, I would have a body fat analysis, look at my exercise habits. are you doing at least 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week? are you doing resistance training such as weights, resistance bands, etc? definately talk to a dietician. You know, we tend to think we are so different than everybody else. but while we have some differences we are more *like* other normal people than we are different. Once the fats, proteins, carbs are ingested and absorbed we metabolize and store them pretty much like anybody else. We have the fat malabsorption and calcium, iron and B-12 malabsorption, but our calorie and other macro nutrient needs are like any other person. the dietician will be able to help you if you approach with an open mind. bring a food journal with you and as for honest imnput on where you can improve. If you focus on what is needed for your HEALTH the rest will come into place.

Depends on how much exercise your doing along with the calorie intake. Darlene