Calorie counting

[BreadmakerFan]

I would like to lose 24lbs. At the moment the only exercise I could do is walking but not briskly or for far so no pounds off. I'm really confused as to the calories I should be eating. I'm struggling to be hungry so maybe not eating enough.

I'm 5 foot six and currently about 11 stone ten.

[Vivacia]

How old are you?

[BreadmakerFan]

43

[dun1urkin]

You could do with knowing your TDEE - the number of calories you need to stay the same weight. There are lots of online calculators.
I've dropped your info in, assumed you're 'sedentary' from what you've said about exercise, and you need approx 1700 per day to stay the same weight.
To lose weight, it's suggested cutting by around 20%, so for you that'd be approx 1350 per day.
I've found MFP very helpful in the past to get my head round what x no of calories means on a daily basis other calorie counting tools are available!!

[Vivacia]

I put those figures in to a calculator and get

BMR 1400 calories. This is the number of calories you need daily to maintain healthy body functions if you just laid in bed all day. You shouldn't eat fewer calories than your BMR.

TDEE 1949 calories. (I put you down as "exercising 3 days a week"). This is how many calories you would eat with your normal activity levels and to lose or gain.

So, I pretty much agree with dun's post which I only just read . How many calories are you eating per day at the moment? And how accurately are you measuring them?

[BreadmakerFan]

I haven't measured for the last two weeks as dcs have been ill and they have been my priority. I don't regularly eat three meals a day but I do drink lots of water and no alcohol. Previously I did the 5:2 and since then I have lost a stone on a meal delivery plan but nothing properly for ages which always happens.

I plan to start properly counting today. I will follow 1350 and see what happens. Thank you.

Is it worth me walking even if I have to take it steady? I could walk to the shop which is an hours round trip and up hill on the way home. I have asthma so make myself not rush but since I have had a few falls I am carrying an injury from a year ago I find it painful at times. I know I'm fat. I come from a family of fat women. My baby is ten. It is ridiculous now. Though mess did cause me to put on two stone, I have lost one of them, several times .

[BabyGanoush]

What's your bmi?

Walking is good, if you can manage it

[Vivacia]

I plan to start properly counting today.

Personally, I found that measuring and recording as accurately as I could really helped. Use kitchen scales and take the information of the packet when possible.

Is it worth me walking even if I have to take it steady?

Personally again, I think so. I find walking is great for my mental health. But I wouldn't do it if it caused pain. Have you tried a pedometer? I aim for 15000 steps a day. If I have a lazy day or lots of train travel I do feel a bit sluggish by the end of the day.

[BreadmakerFan]

It is 27.2. I should be 7 stone 13 to 10 stone 11.

I will never be 7 stone anything. At 21 I was 9 three. When I got pregnant with baby number 1 I was 10 stone two. About to give birth to baby three I was 14 stone. Lowest I've been since then was 11 three.

At least I'm only over weight now. Last year I was obese.

[BreadmakerFan]

I have an app on my phone but it doesn't count every step which is quite annoying. I had a little over a week of doing at least 10000 steps a day and I lost nothing really.