I'm very confused about my calorie consumption now please HELP!!!

O.k.! I haven't been losing lately (just maintaining) and its getting rather annoying.  I've been working out extra hard I do at least 45 min. of Cardio/weights and 30 min. walks puling my kids in a wagon (roughly 75lbs.).  The most I ever eat in one day is 1700 calories. 

I'm not sure if I have my activity level set right, I had it at moderately active for a long time but now I'm wondering if it should be set at light activitey??  Like I said I have 2 small children (3 and 1) and I'm rarely sitting during the day and I do workout go for walks.  Is this what hsould be considered moderate activity? When I have it set at that the CC coach says I should consume 2150 calories per day (which I have to say seems like a LOT of food for one day, especially if I'm trying to lose weight.) I'm 22 yrs. old 5' 6 and weight 242lbs.   When I set the meter to light I'm supposed to consume 1850 calories.  The Burn meter states I burn 2930 calories/day on moderate activity!

So my questions is this... Am I no longer losing because I never eat the "full" caloric amount?? I thought if I ate less then that I would lose weight as well.  I've lost 75 lbs. thus far and the scale not moving is just making my motivation go down the drain.  Some days its very hard for me to find the energy to work out but I push myself and do it ( I never work out on the weekends and am I little bit more leniant with food on these days).  I'm just so confused,  I know I've gained a bit of muscle since I started this thing so my metabolism has increased substantially.  I just need to know if I do in fact need to eat the full 2150 or 1850 calories each day?? it just seems like so much food, that I wil lnever lose weight if I eat that much each day?? PLease HELP me!! :S

You should try having a day where you consume a good 2900 calories.  Because you've been dieting for a long time (and well done on the 75lbs loss) your body has probably got used to functioning on less food than normal and your metabolism will have slowed a little as a result.   The much vaunted 'starvation mode'.  More food for a day will help in that respect.

I would say your activity level is moderate as an average... 2900  So go with 2150 cals a day when you come back to your diet as suggested.  Get those 2150 from as 'clean' a diet as you can with lots of vegetables, wholegrains and so forth.    Eat/snack regularly and frequently starting with a good-sized breakfast.  This will give you the energy to do your exercises and should kick start your weight-loss.

Also try to shake up what you eat and what you do in exercise.  Bodies can get 'bored' with routine. Plan meals so that you're trying new foods and recipes rather than sticking to the same things all the time.  Vegetarian recipes are excellent, for example.  Swimming and cycling could replace walking from time to time, perhaps?  Different foods and exercise keeps things interesting and can be motivating.

Congratulations! GI-Jane has giveny you great advice and I just wanted to say how inspiring you are! Good luck and keep it going.

Agreed. A rule of thumb is don't eat less than 20% below your maintenance level (BMR * activity factor) for longer than 3 days. Any less than that, you risk invoking the starvation response.

(However, consistently eating at 1-20% below maintenance yields very safe fat loss, provided you continue exercising as you have).

Your commitment to fat loss is outstanding. 45 mins/day, 5 days a week is an excellent amount of exercise, and your 75 lbs loss is a testament to that. Keep it up!

If you're working out every day, giving your body at least 1 day rest may also be to your advantage. Many people who give themselves days of rest report feeling recharged and are often able to push themselves harder than before.

If you want to lose more calories, don't cut your food intake any more than 20% below maintenance - instead, burn the rest off. Increase your exercise intensity or duration (or both). To paraphrase Tom Venuto, you want to BURN the fat, not STARVE the fat.

Thanks!!!! You guys are great :) I love this site.  I will definately give the 2900/cal for one day a go and then start tomorrow fresh and shove as much healthy food in as I can (for 2150 cals that is ) I hope this helps my weight loss journey to the finish line. 

Enjoy the extra food!!!  If you have a 'more food than normal day' about once every fortnight to three weeks it really does keep things motoring.  I used to take the oppportunity to coincide it with the odd evening at a restaurant or a party invitation etc.  Pretty civilised if you work it right.... :-)  When you've lost another 15lbs or so you'll need to redo the calculations on how much food you need.  But well done, good luck and keep smiling!