This is probably not the correct section of the forum for this post, but its the only one I ever check, so I thought you might all humor me?

I eat between 1200 (rarely) and 1600 calories daily. I'm 226 pounds (down from 277 in Jan 2006!), female and about 5'7". I go to the gym 3-5 times/week and do cardio and strenght. When I do a BMR calculator and then multiply by 1.2 (for light activity) I usually get something around 2100 cal/day to maintain my weight.

SO: If I eat 1300 cal/day, and then go to the gym and burn 300 calories, should I leave it where it is (and only net 1000 calories for that day)

OR should I eat 1800/day and work off 300 at the gym, to net 1500.

Maybe vary them? Eat 1800 on days when I will work out and 1400-1500 on days when I know I won't?

Goodness this is pain. I know its not an exact science, but I am anticipating a plateau ANY DAY now and would like to be armed and ready ;-)

I'm open to any suggestions.
Thanks!!

I don't exactly keep track of calories burned because
I try to not go over 1200 calories and exersice for about
an hour a day 6 days a week mainly walking and crunches
or stationary bike and crunches and I was at 255 I am 192
so I figure I am doing something right lol!Looks like your doing
good you have lost 51 lbs that is awesome so your plan is working
for you I wouldn't change it except if you hit a plateau try either
upping or lowering 100- 200 calories and switiching up your
exersicing.Have a gr8 day,Tammy

you seem to be on the right track empalminteri, perhaps you should set yourself up a diary in the diary threads ?

Good work

After you figure out your caloric maintenance level with your activity level factored in, deduct 20-25% from that for losing weight. Then you want to be very close to that number daily. If your activity level goes up, you will need to reconfigure your calories with the higher activity level, this will increase your calories. Do not keep adjusting your intake daily based on how many calories you think you burned or the machine told you you burned.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the help/suggestions. I'll look into that diary thread, too.
Congrats to all.