Opinions on my calorie goal? LONG!

 So, I have a nutrition question for you, after reading an article about BMR.  It is insane that I'm even considering this, but I think I'm not eating enough.      My goal has been 800 calories, plus what I "earn" for various activities.   I always keep close tabs in that and I ALWAYS consume well below my goal + activity calories burned number.     I rationalized that yes, I am eating few calories but I am getting protein and water, so it just means I'll lose quicker.     That's not happening, and I'm getting discouraged.      I calculated my BMR at around 1800, then multiplied that by the lowest activity level multiplier (1.5) and came up with 2700 calories per day, then I subtracted 500 calories to give me my target of 2200 calories per day, max.  That seems like an incredibly high number.     Is it possible I'm doing this all wrong??  Any advice?

Hey, Mrs. Dean. I am not sure about your exact stats, but I don't think you should be discouraged with your loss so far. It seems like 15 pounds a month? That's great!

You'll get a lot of opinions with this question, I'm sure, but I'll just give you my take. I use a PC-based nutritional program and I set my calorie goal at 700 cals. I log the food I eat as I go along, so by the end of the work day I know I have X amount left and I decide how to allocate. Do I always stay at 700 calories? No, probably never. I am usually between 700 and 800. Occassionally, I go over, but I log it an move on. I don't count exersize or anything else when setting my food goals, because as long as I'm not hungry eating 700-800 calories a day, that's what I'm going to do.

It is easier for me to add calories than take them away. I don't want a target of 1000 on some days and 600 on others. I do best when I eat pretty much the same way all the time, and that is much easier for me. I get even crazier in the brain when I jump all over the calorie map. I know the day will come when I will be hungrier, so I'm "saving" those calories for when I need them. I am usually satisfied on the 700-800 range.

But really, I'm not sure there is a "perfect" food plan. I think peace of mind with food comes from *having* a food plan and doing my best to follow it. Doing my best to follow a less-than-ideal food plan is better than not having a plan at all, in search of the perfect one. That's just me.

Be very careful with BMR charts and calculators. Recent research has shown that the formerly obese must eat much lower calories just to maintain than folks the same size that were never obese. So those figures don't apply to us.

I'm 5'9" and 171.4 lbs. If I ate 2220 calories a day, even if I worked out every day, I'd GAIN not lose.

How much protein are you eating? How many ounces of fluid are you drinking each day?

There are differences of opinion on the eating back exercise calories thing. I never did.

 Thanks for the speedy replies!  I was thinking of bumping up to 1200 calls a day and ignoring exercise calories burned.

I currently get a minimum of 80 grams of protein a day.   

 I don't know about all those calculations.  They make my brain hurt.  All I know is that my surgeon recommended 1200 calories per day, and I found that I was not really losing unless I kept under 1000.  I usually kept around 700-800.  But what was important for me was what those calories consisted of.  Protein grams of at least 60, but closer to 100 if I could get it in.  And lots and lots of water.  The surgeon recommended 64 oz of water, but that would be my bare minimum.  I shoot for 80 to 100 oz..  If you get in lots of quality protein, you will not be able to get in tons of calories and you will be very satisfied, plus lose weight quickly.  Also, since I am very carb sensitive, I severely restricted carbs.  No bread, pasta, potatoes, etc.  If I do eat any of these things, I pay for it by being hungry again in 2 hours or less.

Mrs. Dean,

I should have added that I have had one or two very high calorie days since surgery, and I've never crossed 1500 calories!  That's with some fatty foods really bumping up the calories.  I can't even *imagine* eating 2200 calories - I'd have to drink them.

I would suggest discussing your calories with your nutritionist.  My Dr doesn't believe in setting calorie goals, but the nutritionist still worked with me to set numbers.  For the first 6 months or so, my calorie range was 600-800.  Once I started working out more (around 1 hour a day, 5-6 days a week), I upped my calorie range to 800-1200, with most days being around 1000.  There is NO WAY I'd be losing on 2200 per day, unless I worked out TONS more.  Right now, losing about 7.5-8 lbs a month.

I used a BMR calculator just now, and I'm at just over 1900 calories.

Given your exercise level, you could probably maintain at 2000. 

If you're losing 8lbs/month, your calculated energy deficit is 872 calories per day.  Once you go off calorie restriction, your metabolism will rebound a bit.  If you're averaging 1000 per day intake, you're 'using' 1872/day right now.  One study I read suggests the verage person on a calorie and carb restricted diet loses 13% of their metabolism's efficiency which can bounce back over time.  It comes back faster if you exercise.  Food for thought :) 

1,872 x 1.13 = 2,115.