Now let me remind you right up front that I personally don’t count calories, neither am I advocating, advising, commanding,and/ or recommending counting them. With that said… I’m now going to talk about calories for a few minutes because I’ve been pondering those little buggers this week.
As I said in this post, I counted one day because I’m getting closer to goal. In the (almost) eight months I’ve been doing this, that one day was the only time I counted. I just figured that as my size decreased, so did my caloric needs. I wanted to make sure I was downsizing my portions appropriately and not eating myself into a plateau. What I found out was that I routinely eat 1600-1700 calories a day. Which seemed a bit high according to various sources of advice. Traineo says I should eat 1490, one trainer I asked said 1200-1300…but I’m losing weight! Why am I losing if I’m theoretically eating too much? I had to solve the mystery!
Then in the comments, Gina mentioned the BMR calculator. So I went looking and foundthis one. BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. It’s how many calories you would eat to maintain your weight if you did nothing but lie in bed all day. (Mmmm….bed) But this particular calculator also lets you tell it your activity level. Going by my current rate of workouts and life in general, I actually would need to eat close to 2400 calories to maintain.
So I’m coming in at 700-800 calories less than that on a daily basis, plus I’m building muscle. Plus I keep my metabolism ramped up with eating breakfast, doing my workouts in the morning, and having small snacks in between meals. All of that explains why I’m eating more calories than most charts recommend, but still losing weight. Otherwise I was starting to think I was a freakazoid…. which I am. 
But not for that!
You are too funny! Thanks for the info.
Comment by Tami — March 16, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
So… according to the BMR calculation on my current caloric intake of approx. 1400, I can get away with no formal exercise plan until I get to about 158 lbs!
But it will slow down considerably as I get closer - so I should start somewhere between now and then…
Oops, sorry, just thinking out loud here.
Comment by missy — March 16, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
No no no!!
Go ahead and start exercising! And exercise in the morning if at all possible! It ups your metabolism and keeps it burning higher all day!! Besides, it has other benefits - like combatting depression.
But I’m betting you know all that.
Comment by blestwithsons — March 16, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
There… I did it! I just shoveled snow for an hour and spent thirty minutes jumping up and down angry while locked out of the house by kiddos (not on purpose).
I do not choose exercise, it chooses me!
Comment by missy — March 16, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
I just like exercising in the morning because I hate showering twice in one day. *smirk*
Comment by Anita — March 16, 2007 @ 10:39 pm