Hey,

I am about 6 1/2 months out and nearing my goal weight. I can eat just about anything, not that I do. However I am trying to figure what my "lifetime" diet is going to look like. A lot of people are doing gluten free diets on here and the Paleo diet. To be honest all this is confusing to me. My Nut here is not very much help as she keeps telling me it will very from person to person and I have to find what works best for me. I appreciate that she's all for doing what's right for my body, but I could use some basic guide lines. Like what should my life long calorie intake should be, right now I'm normally around 800. Is that where it should stay. Anyways thanks for any help

If you want to know how many calories a day you should be getting you need to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate - Which is basically the amount of calories your body will burn just by being alive. http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ There is one that I've used. Just make sure you are using it for the right sex. As for what to eat, it really is individual.

I think it's going to be a bit of trial and error. It does have to do with your BMR, which is a guideline for basic calorie intake. If you eat more, you'll need to burn more to maintain. I think you'll probably figure it out as you go by watching your calorie intake (or food intake) and seeing how your weight responds. Depending on your metabolism and activity level, I imagine it could be anywhere from 1200 to 2000 calories a day. In my program, at 6 months they clear us for a "normal" diet, but include guidelines that we live by now....avoid high caloric nutrient poor foods, avoid slider foods, pop, don't drink with meals, and all the other basic rules we live by during loss. Personally, I think "avoid" means a treat once in a while is fine, but it's the exception, not the rule.

Also, you are going to need to monitor your reaction to foods. Some folks discover that they cannot eat certain carbs because if they do, it triggers their carb addiction and makes them hungry all day long.

Also, you are going to need to monitor your reaction to foods. Some folks discover that they cannot eat certain carbs because if they do, it triggers their carb addiction and makes them hungry all day long.

This just happened to me this weekend, I was crazy busy and had not prepared we'll for the day. It was 2 and I had not eaten at all and someone handed me a donut, my first one in 7 months. Oh man did it put me in a crazy carb hunger mode for like 24 hours, which sadly I would have to say I caved to. So I'll be doing some extra workouts this week to be burning it all off and steering clear of all processed sweets like that. Glad I read about it here so I know it's not to uncommon. Thanks all