calories to consume to maintain?

Okay, so the last couple of weeks I've realized that I just don't want to lose anymore weight (if some still comes off I'm for sure not going to be angry lol) but I'd rather just maintain my weight because I look in the mirror and am finally sort of happy with the way that I look.

So I'm 5"3 (ish) 120lbs (sometimes more sometimes less) I go to the gym 5-6 days a week but am more focused on weight training rather then cardio now, so I only really burn about 200-300 calories with my warm up and run

so to keep my weight at 120, how many calories a day should I really be eating?

(I dont want to gain weight, and am slowly going to up my calories everyday)

You should be able to get up to about 2100-2200 and still maintain your weight without too much problem.

First, CONGRATULATIONS on meeting your goal! It's a very proud moment; I should know...

While I'm maintaining @ 5'3", 127 pounds, and light activity, I burn about 1800 calories. I currently go to the gym 3 days a week and try to walk at least 30 minutes on the other 4 days. So if you're more active (you're probably moderately active), about 2,000 calories or so might work well for you. But definitely slowly increase your intake so your weight doesn't shoot up. Congrats again!

Congratulations to both of you.  Very impressive.  I am very much interested in what works to "maintain," because I have never ever been in a position to try maintaining.  I (6' male) went from 215 to now where I weigh around 179 in the morning and 182 at night.  My goal is to get to a "window" of 175-178 AND STAY THERE.  I figure I have 5 more pounds to get off and keep off.  Then I need some good advice about maintaining.  Currently, I am doing a variety of exercises (mainly walking 90 mins. at around 3.6 mph and 1 hour of light exercise bike.)  I want to someday cut back to 1 and 1/2 hours of light exercise.  My calorie intake is on the average 2200.  I will need to somehow figure out how many calories I can consume when I cut back on my exercise time.  Again, great job by both of  you.  I  hope I can achieve similar results.

Thanks guys, took long enough, but I'd rather do it slow and steady that way it stays off longer.

As for the calories, Ive been eating around 1800 - 2000 the last 5 days and have gained 1 1.5 lbs. (so now im up to 120) It could possibly be that my body may need to just get used to consuming a little bit more then im used to? water weight, or even water weight due to the fact that I'm lifting a little bit of heavier weights so I know that water can sit there to try and repair the muscle.

Anyways, I'm hoping that I dont start to see this weight gain lol, hopefully I stay active enough to control it. I'm cutting back on my intense cardio workouts, and going to focus more on weights so at least now if I gain some weight, but dont notice a change in clothes its just muscle =)

Congratulations to you girlygirl81 for making it :) it's an awesome feeling, and when you finally come to terms of being happy with the way you look, you feel even better (took me 1 1/2 months at being where im at to finally come to realize that I should just be happy lol)

it's entirely possible, if you've been eating below maintenance for a while, that your body may have adjusted to the lower intake. my advice is to keep eating at maintenance and your weight should stabilize after readjusting.