I am sure this has been discussed before but I have missed it along the way. I have been keeping a food journal on fit day and I really like being able to look each day and keep trackof everything. Here is my ??? How many calories should we be consuming per day as not to put our bodies into a starving mode yet keep it low enough to lose at a 6-10 lb rate per month ??? I know high protien is important for our well being and keeping low carbs is also important..........I just hate to have to put out the $$ to the nutritionist if someone out there has an answer. Thanks in advance !!

I am right there with you.....unfortunately I don't know the answer. So I'll hang out and wait.......

Birdee:)

Unfortunately, there is not going to be one set answer for all people - and even the "experts" argue about the best way to go about weightloss. So be suspect of anyone who claims to have all the magic answers - I'm not sure they exist. At least not in one composite body of knowledge.

My suggestion is to do some www.google.com searches on the key words you're interested in: optimum weightloss nutrition, basal metabolism, etc.

You will find a lot of conflicting info, so you'll have to decide what makes the most sense to you, or find someone you trust who "witnesses" for a certain way, etc.

I am trying to keep my daily caloric intake at no less than my basal metabolism requirement, plus up to 200 calories more a day.

I am losing, but not like you are looking to do - I have long plateaus. My average is good, but... I am not down 6-10 pounds at the end of each month.

My way is working for me, but if I fixated on losing a minimum of 6 pounds each and every month I would be a very unhappy camper. Again - that's pretty much what my average is to date!! But these last six pounds have come off between March 28 and May 15, with lots of ups and downs in between.

Thanks Donali.....you sure make sense. I am going to look a little more into it. I have never heard of a basal metabolism. I came up with the ##6-10 only because that is the numbers my surgeon had said he is comfortable with and I really don't want to lose too fast because my skin just can't take it at 52 !! It's just that some days I only get in about 700-800 calories or less and other days I am at 1200......my concern is my health because with my wonderful little band i know i will lose the weight eventually !! Thanks again