Hi there

Been having some real difficulty losing this stupid weight. Not that I thought it would be easy but, come on. I joined a gym back in October 2007 and have lost a wopping 10 pounds..

I literally bumped into CC last week and I love the concept and the support here...

I'm 5'6

CW-184

GW-140

CC gave me a calorie allowance of 1450 daily. My first question is everyone says to keep the calories you expand between 500-700..So if I work out and my burn meter says 2300, Does that mean I should raise my calorie allowance for that day by 300 (1750)?? I would like to lose about 2 pounds a week and would like to get this straightened out.

Thanks so much in advance for you help 

Start at the 1450 it says and see how much weight you loose after a few weeks.  You can adjust it then.  300 cal isn't that much - bascially 3 slices of bread.

It is hard to consistently lose at 1000 calories/deficit each day, which is what you need to do to lose 2 lbs a week. The 500-700 will give you 1 lb/week and is easier to do. As you get a bigger "gap" between what you eat and what you burn, your metabolism might adjust/slow down to adapt. So the info here says never have a deficit more than 1000. Also, just from personal experience, I find I'm too hungry at the 1000 cal deficit (unless it happens on the odd day here or there). Too hungry = overeating = no weight loss. I'm doing pretty well aiming for about 500 calorie deficit everyday.

I found it hard to settle for the slower pace at first. But it has been a pretty darn easy 6 weeks thus far (and 6 lbs) so I'm not going to complain.

I have lost 33ish pounds since March. I have had the most success with a 1000 calorie deficit (burning 2600 w/ exercise...eating 1600). The 1.5 month where I wasn't maximizing my deficit, I noticed a definite change in my weight loss, it slowed down quite a bit.

Since I have returned to my 1000 calorie deficit, I have gone from 202 to 198 in a little more than two weeks...so it is working for me (again).

I don't necessarily agree that it is hard to keep this deficit. I supplement my lunches and dinners with raw veggies to help fill me up (plus whatever else I am having). But you do need to do what you are comfortable with. If you do end up too hungry at a 1000 calorie deficit, then decrease it...because hunger can make you cave.

okay ... Thanks so much for the advice ...So i'm going to try the 1000 def and see if it works for me...

i"m getting very fustrated and starting to think maybe i'm meant to be this way

Thanks so much for the help

The burn meter is only an estimate (as are the exercise burn amounts and the amounts on the machines at the gym). Your actual metabolic burn may be higher or lower than the amounts stated.

This really fancy BMR/Calorie calculator here: http://www.phord.com/cc/?m=US&q=f-22-164- 60.45-1.55-0-0-20 would not recommend weight loss of more than 1% of body weight per week. You may consider a factor like this as you set your eating and exercise plan.

Good luck!

Mike

i have lost 30 kilograms by eating between 1200 and 1600 calories, sometimes even more, but best results are of course on the days when i eat 1200 or 1300. 

my only exercise now is walking, and i plan to start jogging once i am a bit more lighter, as i do not want to put too much of a strain on my joints