Will I lose weight?

Hi guys,

I just wanted to confirm something. I'm 5'6, 145 pounds and 25 years old.  I am eating about 1200 cals a day and I am going to try to work out at least 4 days a week for an hour in which i loose about 400 cals.

Is that enough for me to lose 2 pounds a week?  I know there is a way of figuring it out but I dont know what it is!

Any comments will be appreciated!

If you are going to workout you have to eat more than 1200 cal a day. The goal to weight loss and exercise is the calorie deficit. The maximum difference between calories burned and the intake should be no more than 1000. A good range is usually between 500-700. A good way to figure it out is to look at the estimated burn calorie chart on your account page and subtract 500-700 calories and you should eat around that amount.

Have you used the tools on this site? they're designed to help you figure out how many calories a day you need when not active, and how many when active.

I believe they recommend about 1500 a day  (as a minimum)

for women who are working out regularly, but you should really use the calculators on the site to confirm.

your stats are the same as mine pretty much. Im almost 5'6, almost 25 years old, medium frame, 145 lbs.

A) you need to eat more. 1200 is for a woman who does nothing

B) you are already in a healthy weight range so it will be a much much slower process to lose weight. 2lbs a week applies to someone who has a lot of weight to lose.

C) make sure your goal weight is realistic. again- you are already deemed as being a healthy weight.... people who are in a healthy range find it the hardest to lose weight.

What is your goal? Do you want to wear a smaller size? What is your % body fat? As already stated, 5'6" and 145 is a healthy weight. To cut your calories to 1200 and then exercise will put you in starvation mode and you will never lose weight! You will get sick (or at least sick of your plan) and gain weight!

My suggestion is to lift weights and eat more! yup! Check out the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women. The author does a great job of explaining how to lift weights effectively--to build muscle and lose inches (so you can fit into a size 4 or 6!). He also explains nutrition and dietary needs. You won't become a "bulky weight lifter" but you will lose inches and feel amazing. And you will get to eat 1800-2000 calories of yummy, nutrious real food. (there is a forum on cc you can read through and join) You may not lose a pound (or maybe only lose a few...5-10) but muscle weighs more than fat so take your measurements and give it a try for 2 months. You will be bikini ready by summer.

Thanks for all the replies.

I know all the sites it says its a healthy weight but it doesnt feel like it.  I have really skinny arms and legs so all the fat is in my stomach and chest which makes me look overweight. 

My goal is 130. And the thing is i dont exercise daily.  On average its 4 days a week.  But when i do work out i do 30 mins of cardio and then 15 mins of weights and 15 mins of reg exercises like push ups and sit ups.

Maybe i'll try to up my calories and see how it goes.

Thanks!