Deficit of 250 calories per day

Apparently I only burn somewhere around 1600 calories per day. So I should eat around 1100 calories in that sense. But shouldn't I be having at least 1200 calories per day?

I eat around 1350 calories per day though.

the recommendation for at least 1200 calories a day is generic, the minimun depends on the person and if you only burn 1600 calories a day then you could probably go below the minimum, like 1100.  So I think you'd be good at 1100 calories/day if you wanted to.

definitely DO NOT go under 1200 calories. If you want a bigger deficit, exercise more.

im in the same boat i burn 1580 a day however im sticking to 1300 to prevent bingeing and yo yo dieting, id rather lose weight like a snail and keep it off

Don't eat less than 1200.  I'd say you should eat more.  Even 1500 and exercise to make a deficit.

1350 feels alright, in the sense that when I eat less I feel like binging. But with a deficit of just 250 calories per day,I'll lose just half a pound per week.

Original Post by shells156:

1350 feels alright, in the sense that when I eat less I feel like binging. But with a deficit of just 250 calories per day,I'll lose just half a pound per week.

 Exercise to make the deficit more.

If you are small and sedentary, it is not possible to safey have a deficit as large as 500 cals/day.  Either do as you are and eat more, giving a smaller deficit and slower weightloss OR exercise more to increase the deficit.  Either will work.  The second option will make it easier to keep the weight off.

The 1200 rule is because that's how many calories it takes to fuel your body's ability to function properly. Things like breathing and such are important: )

Strength training can help maintain a good metabolism, and cardio will increase your daily burn, so you could increase your deficit that way if you chose.

I know I should exercise,  but I tend to give up soon after I start.

Rather than 'exercise'... try simply to be more mobile.  Use stairs rather than lifts or escalators.  Park further from your destination.  Take a walk at lunchtimes.  Get off the bus a stop earlier than normal.  Walk around the room when the ad breaks are on TV.   A good trick is to get hold of a cheap pedometer and see how many steps you do.  If it's sub 5000 you are genuinely doing nothing.  If you can gradually increase to 7000, 8000,... 10,000 steps over the course of the day you'll instantly move your energy needs up from 1700 to about 2000.  By incorporating more activity into your day rather than treating exercise as some kind of separate thing... you'll find it less of a chore.

Original Post by shells156:

I know I should exercise,  but I tend to give up soon after I start.

 I used to feel the same way. Then I decided that if I started again soon enough, I didn't 'give up,' I just 'took a break.' Maybe it's a mind game with myself, but it helped me. I'd have a week or two of not working out and then say, ok, that was a nice break, maybe I'll try something new. For me, strength training was what I found I like, I've never faithfully stuck to a strenuous cardio plan. But I love feeling strong, it makes me feel healthy.

Also, I try and plan one active activity a week. Maybe it's a long walk, or gardening, or even something like roller-skating. But when I stick to that, it means I really only have to 'work out' two more times that week : )

Original Post by shells156:

Apparently I only burn somewhere around 1600 calories per day. So I should eat around 1100 calories in that sense. But shouldn't I be having at least 1200 calories per day?

I eat around 1350 calories per day though.

 You body burns at least 1200 calories a day if you did not do anything. Eating less than this can be damaging to your vital organs. You probably burn more than you think.

I was on referring to the burn meter which says I burn 1570-1600 calories per day.