Same question, but need THE answer

I have been using calorie count since March 11th, and I lost weight very quickly at first.  I'm down 20lbs and want to lose an additional 40lbs.  However, for the last 2 weeks, I have not lost ANY weight.  I have been pretty religious about eating 1200-1300 calories per day.

I am 5'3.5" tall; 169.5lbs; and 34 years old.

What is the ideal calorie intake for me.  Calorie count states it is in that 1200-1300 range, but BMR states 1524.275 and then I would have to multiply this by 1.2 to get what exactly?  Is that my calorie maintenance or is that the amount of calories I should be eating to lose?

How many calories under this number (assuming it's maintenance) should I be eating - 500-800?

Thanks to all.  I know this is a well covered area, but I am still lost.

I just want to know how many calories I should be eating per day.

THANKS!

I also was confused about BMR and all that- I really like this site- they have several different calculators.

Hope it helps! :)

Hi there. They say never to go under 1000 calories a day. I would say to increase your activity level. 

Hi sherrijoy! I was having trouble with a plateau so I did a little research. I was so frustrated because I was working my tail off and wasn't losing. Then I found out that there is a maximum calorie deficit. I was unaware that there was a max so I had just figured the bigger the deficit the better. I had a deficit of around 1400 some days and it turns out that it should be more like 1000. So I kept my exercise routine the same because I enjoy it and then ate more calories to make up the difference. Now I am not so exhausted and my weight loss picked back up again. Hope this helps!

I have had good success with eating a bit more one day and coming back down the next. Shake up your activity routine...your body is probably working efficiently at what you are doing and the weight loss is slowing as a result.

Your customized recommendation:
EAT 1444 calories :: BURN 1733 calories :: LOSE 0.58 lb per week