Basic Question

I'm 15 years old, 5'4, 135 lbs. I'm trying to lose 20 lbs. I am pretty much sedentary, too. If I eat 1200 calories per day, that will be a deficit of 600-800 calories. This means I will have a weekly deficit of 4200 - 5600 calories per week, which would be a weight loss of 1.2 - 1.6 lbs, is that right? And is that ok?

Lol, I like to calculate. Just trying to be accurate. :)

calculator,

since you're only 15, CCs calculator will not be appropriate for you... somewhere on this site there is a link (anyone?) for a calculator that is more "teen-friendly", and will hopefully let you eat more than 1200 and maintain that deficit (losing 1-2 pounds/wk is reasonable) ;)

also! since you are still growing, you really should not go below 1500 (keep your daily deficit at 500 max), even if you are "sedentary". seems counterintuitive but you still need to eat to lose weight and keep your body burning fat... stay above 1500, and if you can, throw a little exercise in there, rather than reducing calories :)

good luck!

Original Post by lahnals:

calculator,

since you're only 15, CCs calculator will not be appropriate for you... somewhere on this site there is a link (anyone?) for a calculator that is more "teen-friendly", and will hopefully let you eat more than 1200 and maintain that deficit (losing 1-2 pounds/wk is reasonable) ;)

also! since you are still growing, you really should not go below 1500 (keep your daily deficit at 500 max), even if you are "sedentary". seems counterintuitive but you still need to eat to lose weight and keep your body burning fat... stay above 1500, and if you can, throw a little exercise in there, rather than reducing calories :)

good luck!

All right! I'll definitely stay above 1500. Thanks for your help.

http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html

This calculator is more accurate for you.  If you input your stats you'll find you're a perfectly healthy weight already.  So that's good news. 

A 15 year-old is unlikely to be completely sedentary.... you walk around at school, hang out with friends, you don't drive, you take part in compulsory sports at school etc.   So you're 'low' on the activity level.... You need 2170 calories to maintain your healthy weight.

Young people need good nutrition in order to grow and develop successfully.  You don't stop growing until your early twenties.  Teens like you who are not overweight are advised not to cut calories.  Instead

1. Eat better food...  Make healthier choices. e.g.  Eat more fruit & vegetables and fewer sweets.  Eat more grilled foods and fewer fried foods.  Drink more water and fewer sodas.  The link I've posted is to an excellent website about teen nutrition. 
2. Be more active i.e. 1 hour of exercise a day.  This combined with better food will mean you control your weight very successfully and you will become leaner rather than just 'thin'

Original Post by gi-jane:

A 15 year-old is unlikely to be completely sedentary.... you walk around at school, hang out with friends, you don't drive, you take part in compulsory sports at school etc.   So you're 'low' on the activity level.... You need 2170 calories to maintain your healthy weight.

 

I don't think there's any need to make these types of stereotypical assumptions. Even among 15 year olds, it's case-by-case. I personally was quite a sedentary 15 year old, having homeschooling instead of normal school. Though normal school does not imply a non-sedentary level of activity. Going to school and sitting in classes all day doesn't make a very big difference over sitting at home, if the person is not involved in any sports at the time.

Original Post by ibez:

I don't think there's any need to make these types of stereotypical assumptions.

You're the one doing the stereotyping, love...  Always read past posts.

Quote from a thread by the OP on July 10th  http://caloriecount.about.com/new-calorie-cou nt-question-ft144965  "I guess my weekly exercise would be walking and biking about 30 min to an hour about 4 times a week."

I have no clue about the calorie needs of a 15 year old so I'm of no help there.

But, I just wanted to say, you might rather just up the exercise and try to tone what you do have than restrict your diet.

When I was your age, I weighed about the same as you. I joined Weight Watchers with my best friend and lost some weight... gained it back... lost it again.. and so on and so forth. By the time I graduated High School I was 145lbs and by the time I finished college I was 175lbs. Basically, I started an awful yo-yo effect.

And today, at 34, I'd be thrilled to weigh 135lbs, a healthy weight at 5'4"!  I've been as high as 195 and as low as 149 since then. And I'm sitting right back around 175 now.

So basically I've spent the last 20 years of my life yo-yo'ing when I believe, if I'd just worked on toning and exercise instead of restricting calories, I'd probably weigh a lot less today!

Just my 2cents. :)

Original Post by cristere:

ISo basically I've spent the last 20 years of my life yo-yo'ing when I believe, if I'd just worked on toning and exercise instead of restricting calories, I'd probably weigh a lot less today!

Just my 2cents. :)

 That's the most appropriate and intelligent thing I've read all day.  Really beautifully explained and so, so true.