How many calories do you eat?

Hi all. Seems like many of us are in the same place - have 20, 30 or more pounds to goal weight that we'd still like to lose and struggling in losing it.  I've been tracking in sparkpeople.com and I think I'm doing well in all areas but the weight isn't coming off.  I've heard that our post-wls bodies readjust which makes us require fewer calories than non wls people so we need to stay between 700 and 1000 calories a day to lose weight when we are 18 months or more out.  Anybody else hear this? How many calories works for you to be able to continue to lose weight? Thanks for your input! Sandy

Wow, I had not heard this.  My nut told me to slowly go up to about 1500 cals/day.  I am 12 months out and average about 1300 - 1400 cals / day.  I certainly hope my weight loss does not stall and I hope I do not have to cut calories.  Ideally would like to lose another 20 - 25 pounds. I will be interested in what others say.

Sandy, there are a lot of variables, for example someone who exercises strenuously every day will be able to take in more calories and still lose compared to someone who doesn't exercise.  I am pretty active, and my maintenance level is 1500-1700 calories, while I have to drop it down to 1200 to lose. But everybody is different, one calorie level isn't right for everybody.   For me, it's easier to kick up the exercise than decrease calories.  That's my two cents' worth. Connie -147#

I'm 5 years out plus - and my surgeon has us work up to 1000-1200 per day by one year out and thereafter. I've stuck to that amount since hitting goal at about 11 months out and it's worked for me in maintaining.  I adjust the calories up or down depending on the exercise I do for that day. If you're having trouble losing and you're expending a lot of calories in exercise you may not be getting enough. You may have to up your calories to lose again. The body gets more efficient the farther out we are but we can still lose. If you're exercising a lot - switch up what kind you do - increase the water and the protein and you could see the scale go down. Sometimes we just need a different routine to make the body start losing again.

I don't believe it depends on a set number that counts, but more on the lbs you weigh. I had a nutritionist tell me that I would need to consume 10% of my weight and that would cause me to lose.   Of course that means that as you lose that means less and less calories you can eat if you want to continue to lose.  Now if you are diligent about exercising, you can up the calories a bit, but you have to be careful what and where those calories are coming from.  Like someone else said...lots of factors involved. Example.....I weigh 115 lbs.   So to lose I need to consume no more then 1500 calories.    Now if I was less, then I would eat less.   If you are eating your protein, drinking your water, you will lose.   Don't graze and watch what time of day you eat.    Christy

There are a lot of factors that play into what is the "right" number of calories for each of us.  It depends on your resting metabolic rate, plus your exercise and the composition of your diet (proteins, carbs, fats).  Unfortunately, what's right for one person is not necessarily right for another person that weighs the same.   I'm actually planning to be tested to determine my actual resting metabolic rate and my exercise metabolic rate.  There are tests based on the gas exchange rate in your breath that can give you pretty accurate information about your actual metabolism.  The company that I'm working with is called New Leaf Fitness - you can find them on the web pretty easily.  Anyway, their program is designed to tell you your resting metabolic rate and your exercise metabolic rate - sort of like telling you your personal "gas mileage" (e.g., how many calories you burn in a day, how many calories you burn while exercising, etc.).  They can also work with you to develop an exercise plan that will, over time, help bump up your metabolic rate so you can burn more calories on a day-to-day basis.   Anyway, I thought others may be interested in looking into this, so wanted to share the information.  Good luck on dropping that last 20-30 pounds!   Kellie

I love this Kellie, BUT I live in Michigan.  I am going to look to see if I can't find something here in my area. Thanks for the great idea.----Toni

I agree with the other posters.  Everyone's caloric needs are different based on their exercise routine.  I exercise a lot.  And, I do strength training.  Increasing muscle mass increases your metabolism.  It takes more calories to maintain muscle than fat.  I am currently a few lbs below goal and trying to maintain.  I don't want to lose any more weight.  I'm eating 2400-2700 calories a day.  That seems to be the magic number I need to be stable. 

Hi Sandy ... my nutritionist had me do a metobolic rate assessment.  Essentially, based on my metabolism, current weight and exercise level, it is suggested that to maintain my weight I should take in 1426-1800 calories/day, and to lose I should take in 1100-1425 calories/day. I think a health club might be able to do a metobolic rate assessment for you (I think Bally's does) ... so I think suggested calorie intake is highly individual. But I'm right there with ya ... I'm still trying to get to goal!! Karyn

I am very close to a great weight for me - I went up a few pounds over the holidays and have a goal to lose 1 pound a week til it is.gone.. My maintainece calorie level is around 1700 a day, and sometimes more depending on an activity level. when I added  pounds over the hoidays there was no question as to why I went up, I was not working out and I was eating Christma cookies.  I would definately not be willing to stay at a 700 - 1000 calorie diet over a long term. i dont think it is healthy to stay that low, and it  would totally screw up  my metabolism that I have been working so hard to increase.  there is way too much evidence that eating too low a calorie count leads to yo yoing weights, poor metabolism. and every time  you crash your weight down and regain it loses muscle and gains fat and ruins your metabolism.  Eat for health and exercise daily.  My goal to lose 1 pound a week is this. It take s 3500 calorie deficit to lose 1 pound. If I lose 500 calories a day I will lose 1 pound a week. so to do that I am eating about 250  less calories (1400-1500) and exercising to burn at least another 250 calories. i do cardio to burn calories and increase my metabolism, , weight training to build muscle which also increases metabloism, and yoga for flexibility and because it helps me be calmer and reduces stress which in turn reduces stress eating. journaling my food, and exercise, and working on stress mnanagement techniques. also important to my plan is my treatment for depression as when I go down in mood i eat. It is important to have a holistic plan and a real doable plan. it won't happen with out planning, forethought and a total mind -body program.  anything else is just a bandaid and will fail in the long run.  look at www.sparkpeople.com for a really great program.  Hugs!!!!