Need advice on daily caloric intake

[zortil]

I'm 5'5", almost 42 and weigh 150 lbs. I'm a Weight Watchers Lifetimer (3 yrs) and have fallen off the wagon. I've gained 15 lbs and want to get back to 135 lbs.

I'm getting tired of counting points, not interested in WW's Core program but realize that it's all about calories in vs. calories burned. Therefore, I'd like to start counting calories. I just don't know how many I should aim for.

I've read many times that 1200 calories is the minimum to properly function. I plan to get back to my old workout schedule (6x/week). During my weight loss journey, I plan to do cardio (3 steady and 3 interval) 6x/week and 2-3 days of weight training.

During my cardio workouts, I burn at least 500 calories. I sometimes burn up to 700 calories. With Low Max and KPC, I burn 800-900 calories.

I've been reading several books which say to aim for 1500 calories to lose weight. If I burn 500-700 calories, that will get me below the 1200 calorie minimum.

There are so many formulas on calculating daily caloric intakes that I don't know which one to follow.

What do you think? If I burn 500-700 calories per workout, should I aim for 1500 calories/day or maybe 1600-1800 calories/day? I just don't want my body to go into starvation mode.

Thanks in advance.

Lorie

 

[bella2005]

Hi Lori,

For my body, 1800 calories produces a nice loss and I go there whenever I need to. If I stick with it long enough it puts my weight in the teens. I workout 5 days a week for an hour or less.

I suggest eating as high as you can get away with, to keep your metabolism up. It will be an individual thing. On 1500 I found I was too weak to exercise after a few days and wanted to sleep all the time.

I'm an old hand at ww too. I do count points, but assume a point is 55 calories, so I guess I'm really estimating calories not points.

Good luck!

Bella

*I'm about your age and a little shorter

 

[Lean Lori]

This site might be of help to you:

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Lori

 

[honeybunch1]

This seems to be a good calculator - it rings true in my case anyway.
Just Do It!

 

[laura35]

Is the bodyfat estimation correct on this web site?

 

[dreamyjeanie]

I just did the Body Fat calculator. It said I was 6% less than my Tanita scale which would be really wonderful. So now I'm more confused. Anyone know the most accurate way to measure body fat(I've heard the water method, but where can you have that doen)?

Jean