I thought I could have 1500 but it's telling me 1200..aww?

Just some introductory info - I am 5'5 and weigh around 152 pounds and cc has recommended 1200 calories per day because I said I was sedentary.  I do walk 20 mins each way to work and back 5 days a week, (so 40 mins of fairly brisk walking daily ) but I'm not sure if that counts as anything and I haven't been doing any other exercise apart from housework etc (and I have a desk job).

I had originally decided on 1200 a day by myself but then after reading a lot of info revised it to 1500 (based on a light activity level), so I'm disappointed..would the walking make a difference?  I'd rather be eating 1500 obviously.  I want to get down to at least 132 if not a little lower.

Normally when I try the weightloss/healthy eating thing I would seriously increase my exercise..but I work shifts and it's hard to get into a routine, plus I have never coped well with strenuous activity, I just get exhausted to the point I can barely function, and I don't think it's all down to being unfit.  I did read somewhere that certain types of people respond better to certain types of exercise, like I can walk for miles but if I tried running I'd die, lol (I've been like that since I was little).

Another thing is treats.  I have been eating very healthily for 4 days and have cut out junkfood and sugar.  I don't think I can allow myself to have anything like that again because imo I have an addiction to those foods.  I find if I allow myself small amounts I just want to eat them all the time.  i have gone through periods where I will eat nothing but junk..I have never gotten seriously overweight because I don't have vast portions so that's the only thing that has saved me, but I think it might be an all or nothing thing for me, like it would be for smoking or similar..not sure how realistic this is., I am coping fine atm but am sometimes surrounded by food at work.

cc is only a guideline. you could easily do 1500 cals! the only difference it would honestly make (besides a fuller tummy) is that it would take a bit longer to get to your goal weight. and honestly, that really isn't so bad, is it? even if you only live to be 65, if you stay on a diet for 5months (which would be a loss of less than a lb a week), it would only be .02% of your whole entire life. that's not unreasonable at all!

If you walk briskly for 40 mins a day then you're 'lightly active'.  If you reset the calculator you should get a slightly more generous calorie intake suggestion.

I'm 5'2" and 160lbs and CC told me also to do 1200 to lose 1-2lbs a week to get down to 120 by June. I set my level to sedentary. After hearing about how many other people were told 1200 too, I'm not trusting so much what CC says to be good advice (bad advice from the internet, who would've thought right?). I'm going to try to see a nutritionist in the next few weeks to get a more professional opinion.

Original Post by jamers23:

 I set my level to sedentary.

 'Sedentary' assumes that you literally don't do more than roll out of bed onto the sofa each morning and back again in the afternoon.   If you set your activity level to at least light..... and you don't have to be 'working out', just regular daily chores and some walking about like the OP will get you to that level... then you'll get a much more realistic suggestion.   If you really are completely immobile then still set the level to 'light' and make more of an effort to move around.

A nutritionist will probably tell you the same thing but charge more, that's all.

Try entering a longer goal date.  If you let it default it will go to the lowest safe level which is 1200. 

Even better, start with the burn meter and add in any extra activity on top of the basic level.  Once you know your burn you can deduct calories from that to get a better idea of what you have to do to lose.

or don't enter a date at all

My stats are eerily similar to yours! I'm 5'4", 153 lbs, and walk 20 minutes each way to work 5 days a week, plus housework. If I stick to 1600 calories/day, I find that I lose weight quite easily (the hard part for me is just sticking to it!). Definitely don't start lower than 1500, and give it a few weeks. If it is effective, you can keep on eating that much, and if it isn't, you can always try a lower target.

Thanks everyone for the replies..theholla 1600 sounds good, lol, I could do a lot with those 100 extra cals! but I'll try sticking to the 1500 and see what happens.