DCDesigner's Journal, 12 August 2014

check out http://eatmore2weighless.com/ explains why you need to EAT MORE! continuing to lower and lower your calories is just going to cause your body to stall. you need to feed your body so it trusts you and doesnt hold onto every morsel you eat since you are currently underfeeding. also check out this site on how to calculate how much your should be eating and how much of each macro. dont cut more than 20% as that will just keep you at eating too little. http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ 

DCDesigner, in your case, I'd say it's not the total number of calories, but rather the net carbs. A quick glance at several day's of your food log show net carbs in the 150-250 range. Use MuscleHack.com free calculator: http://www.musclehack.com/calories-to-build-muscle-calculator/ Then go to MuscleHack.com and half way down the main page are links to the GLAD diet and the MANS diet. Read over both of those to get some solid, scientific but easy to understand facts on controlling your weight. You don't have to follow Mark's workout advice, just use the lower activity levels in the formula he provides. Check my bio, I've been following his TSPA program for about 5 months now with great success. Since you like carbs, you should probably start with the GLAD diet. I'm about to switch to that one myself. 

Yes, the RDI's on here on higher than other sites. They should just be used as a guideline any way. You have to do what's right for you. 

You know your body well, and if you can get in all the nutrition you need (vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc) at 1300, then do that. Though honestly, 1500 is not that much more--a two mile walk would address that difference. I also find that calculators sometimes target too high, and occasionally (rarely) too low for me. One, for example, suggested 1200, and for me that's so crazy low that I'd be a very, very unhappy, hungry, cranky person--not sustainable. I usually target a range, since a range is easier to hit than a mark. I've got 1300-1500, and usually hit somewhere in the middle. So far, for this 5'5" person who's 40 lbs overweight, this is resulting in fast and relatively easy weight loss. 

And remember that you can't exercise your way to weight loss. It is primarily diet. Think of sick people, their diet changes and they lose weight. Compare that to the multitude of overweight people on ellipticals and treadmills day after day who never make much progress. 

I recommend using a different site.....it's a common thread amongst the users here...typically you should figure out your baseline (use a BMR calculator) depending on your age, weight, height, activity level and it should give you a "maintaining" calorie intake...then subtract between 500-1000 calories from that to lose weight...just be careful to not go below 1200, that's the amount your body needs to survive without any exercise... 

I disagree with socolova. i think you should find your BMR and never go below that! once you find your BMR you can find your TDEE (total daily energy expeniture)this is the number of calories you eat to maintain your weight. you should then subtract 10-15% from your TDEE and eat at that for fat loss but keep in mind it matters what you eat. You need ample protein to feed/build muscle and also need adequate carbs for energy. 

Remember you can go to settings and set your calorie intake to whatever you want. or every -3500 calories you lose one pound of fat. Since I don't want to worry and have to calculate everything I eat I set mine to 600 I input everything except fresh unprocessed fruits and veggies.  

Sorry NINJAA9, I missed a step....calculate your BMR then your calculate your RDI based off of your activity level, THEN subtract the amount of calories to lose...I apologize