Confused by calculators here...

Okay, so according to CalorieCount's Allowance calculator I should ingest approximately 1600 calories in order to maintain (technically to go from 119 lbs to 119 lbs), however the Expenditure calculator says I burn roughly about 2100 calories a day and that I should use that as a guide on how much to take in.  What the heck?!  Which one should I listen to?  Obviously I've been going along with the former, but... I just don't know.  :\

Well in my case, I had better go by the Expenditure, it said 1,600. But the Allowance one said 1,200. I eat over that now and am still losing. Most of the advice in maintaining that I've seen says to gradually add 100 calories a day for a week or month and see how you go.

Plus you have to factor in your exercise levels. The calculators give an estimate. For me the 1,200 for losing weight has always been too low and I'm a small person, just 5'3". I realised that was too restrictive more me after a month or so.

I'm not a big fan of the formulas. Not because they don't give big broad stroke answers but because of how broad the answer is.

 

You may have a fast body and need more. You may have a slow one and need less. You may carry more/less muscle. Etc.

 

Instead of worrying what the formula tells you track what you eat. If you gain a little cut back. If you lose a little eat more. After a couple weeks you should have a pretty good personal guide.

 

The formulas suggest a fairly low number for me. I eat more then the number and I had to buy a new belt yesterday

I suggest you use the 1600 as a base, and check to see if you continue to lose weight. If you do, add 100 more calories and check again. This way you will find YOUR number. Everyone is different as their bodies have changed during dieting.

Keep us posted. 

I would start out at the allowance figure and work your way up if that doesn't work. For me it seems, the average between the allowance and expenditure seems to work.

Thanks, kids!  Your replies were all greatly appreciated.

I've added a bit more, between 1600 and 1800, over the past few days and will be hitting the gym again tomorrow morning and will hop on the scale real quick to see just what's goin' on.

okay, heres my obsessive side coming out, i wanted the calculator to tell me: if im 135 lbs now and i eat 1200 calories  a day when will i expect to be 130? (i know the answer in my head, but i wanted this to show my goal. it said that was too aggressive a goal to achieve this month! i thought we were allowed to lose 2 lbs a week? hmm.

silvraynebow, in order to lose 2 lbs. a week you need a daily deficit of 1000 calories.  The site tools will not allow you to have a daily intake of less than 1200 cals.  so if you are not burning 2200 cals a day it will not let you lose 2 lbs a week.