If I am only eating around 1300 to 1500 calories a day (on average, sometimes a little more) and exercising for at least 20 minutes a day, will I lose weight correctly, or will it be too fast? I don't want to lose it too fast and have it all come back on later or something. Although I will NEVER go back to how I used to eat!! I have already lost 38lbs in a little over a month and that seems like an AWFUL LOT!! lol Anyone have any ideas, let me know! :)

:D :D :D :D

Christy, I was going to say it sounded fine till I heard you lost 38 pounds in one month. What is your starting weight? Sometimes you lose the most right off the bat cuz of water retention etc. A loss of 2 pounds more or less a week is what you are shooting for. What plan are you following?

My starting weight was 330lbs. I now weigh 292lbs. I started this new way of eating on 1/10/01. I am just following a low calorie/low fat plan. I don't really avoid foods, but I just eat in moderation if I eat the "bad" foods. LOL
I was thinking that the 38lbs. is mostly water weight because I used to drink cokes and now I'm not anymore. What do you think?

Christy my highest weight was 320 so I can def relate. I would say the first 10 pounds or so was water weight. One thing you might consider because I know you are in this for the long run..is,..you have reduced your calories dramatically..I have read that when you have alot to lose, you should reduce your calories more gradually as you become smaller..in that way you are less likely to gain the weight back because your metabolism adjusts as you go down. So for example, perhaps you should be eating 2500 calories now (i dont know exactly) then when you lose 50 pounds reduce that to 2000 calories..and when you lose 50 more reduce it to about 1500 where it could stay. Does anyone else have any info on this? This is not to discourage you!!! You are doing GREAT!!!!!!! Only one theory i have read..

Hi Christy and Sooz!
On the Richard Simmons plan he suggests the following:

weight calories
250-299 2000
200-249 1600
150-199 1400
under 150 1200

For every 50lbs above 300 he suggests you add a starch and a protein which amounts to about 200 calories...
Hope this helps! :)

I think when a person has more then 70 lbs to lose they will lose it faster at first. I think you are doing great. I also think if you ate 2000 a day you would still lose..

Neptune, I knew I had read it somewhere..thanks for supplying the right numbers!