Daily Calories?

After loosing a quick 11 lbs, I'm stalled at the same weight for 2 full weeks.

I'm currently eating about 1,500 calories per day.  How much lower should I go in order to get the weight to start coming off again?

What are your statistics?  Age, gender, height, weight, activity level?

64, female, 5'.9" 293.5 minimum activity 

 Well, I plugged in your stats and using a sedentary activity level, you burn about 2300 calories per day. This means your calorie intake of 1500 gives you a daily defecit of 800 which is probably perfect for weight loss. You probably need to be patient (I know, that's the hardest thing to hear and do), and keep up your diligence.

Since you lost weight quickly at first, a good chunk of it was probably the common initial water weight loss. Please don't expect the same results each week. If you are looking for quicker weight loss (although no more than 2 lb a week is usually recommended), here is what I would look into:

--be EXTRA careful about keeping track of your calories that you eat. Weigh your food... record every bite you put in your mouth....it doesn't take much to consume 200 (or more) calories without meaning to if you're not careful

--be active. You say you have minimum activity. The bad news is that means it will take more willpower and less food to lose weight. The good news is... almost ANYTHING you do will be a step forward in your health/weight loss. go for a walk... park 3 stalls further from the store... walk up & down your driveway 2 extra times when you go out for the mail... ANYTHING

--drink lots of plain old water. It will flush out toxins and sodium. It keeps your tissues hydrated and healthy so your body performs properly. It also fills you up.

--add one new healthy decision each week (or every 3 days or whatever). Put in one less scoop of sugar in your coffee. Choose a lower fat option for your dinner. eat one extra vegetable with each meal. Just keep making purposeful steps forward

The bottom line is this has to be a LIFESTYLE change not a diet. You said yourself that you have dieted before and it didn't stay off. When you follow a diet plan (such as NutriSystem or many others), they give a temporary prescription and you just hold your breath and swallow it. You have to find activities you enjoy and will actually do on a regular basis.... or you won't keep it up! You have to make food choices that fit into your lifestyle... or you will eventually go back to old ways. If you know for a fact that you will not be able to give up cookies for life... eat a cookie!!! But make the healthiest choice you can and make sure you account for it in your daily calories. If you completely fall off the wagon... get back on. You don't have to restrict the next day... just follow your plan.

The best any of us can do is to start from where we are. You cant start from point E if you are at point A. You will get there. We can do this together!!! Don't ever give up!!

by the way... to answer your actual question (since I rambled on instead):

I wouldn't go any lower than 1500 for your calories. With your height, you would risk vital nutrition for your body by going any lower and it wouldn't be sustainable.

In fact, if you do start getting some better exercise.... you might need to INCREASE your calories consumed in order to keep your metabolism up. Imagine that!

Yeah start exercising! There's no reason not to. I started out at about your weight and I started by exercising in front of the tv. For instance you could walk in place; if you have stairs in your house you could use the bottom step as a stairstepper or improvise something else as a stairstepper; use cans or books to do toning exercises; pull all the furniture to the middle and make laps around the room; prop up a bike, take the chain off it and use it for peddling -- I did all these things starting out before I got up the energy and confidence to take my show on the road (walking that is.)

It'll make you feel goood!

Thanks so much for the Pep Talk.  You're right about the exercise, and that is nagging me, so, it must be the next step.  Have a Dr. appointment in one month, so any further weight loss will be a plus for me.

I'm glad you think I don't have to reduce my calories.  It can pretty much live with this amount of food, but I really don't feel comfortable eating less.  Frankly, this may be the first time I've really paid attention to the calories/measurment system and wow is it an eye opener.  You can't open your mouth without adding to the count.  I'm sort of "down for the count" before I know it.  Have to give up carbs big time.  They just count too much.  Also, I've noticed, Fat really adds it on.  Don't buy anything other than Fat Free Salad Dressing, for example.

Sugar Free is fairly easy, since my hubby is Diabetic, so we cook with low carb, and sugar free a lot.  My culprit is eating out.  I'm going to start carrying my bottle of salad dressing.  That's the best way to be careful.

Have either of you hear of Dream Fields Pasta?  IT's low in digestiable carb.

My diabetic litature speak highly of the brand and we use it.  I think it's wonderful.

Okay, I look forward to hearing from you all.   Nana