Help with calorie deficit?

[TaylorsLeftShoe]

Hi all,

I am currently eating in a calorie deficit but finding the right figure hard to find. Just wondering if anyone is in the same place and can advise their calorie counts?

I am 5 ft 6, weigh 72kgs and am looking to get back down to around my previous 65kg. However since my 8 year old son died last year I am on Citalopram which I feel is contributing to stubborn weight gain and perimenopause in full swing also hampering.

I have tried eating at 1500 cals a day but was still gaining. Dropped to 1200 and was maintaining, no loss at all. Tried Michael Mosley fast 800 and weight started to come off but another side effect I get with perimenopause is acid stomach and 800 cals really made this worse so have had to up.

I feel like losing is nowhere as easy as it was even in my 30s but don't feel able to come off Citalopram yet, it's just keeping me afloat with my bone-deep grief.

Anyone else trying to lose with peri and antidepressants who has magic formula?

Antidepressants, menopause and gabapentin. I lost my weight by working out my TDEE
https://tdeecalculator.net
You need to take 20% off your total to find your weight loss calories.

Weigh and log everything accurately on My Fitness Pal so you stay on track, and don’t add your exercise or it gives you the calories to eat back and halts weight loss.

Add 10-15000 steps a day to the 1500 and see if it starts to shift. I'm so so sorry about your son and I hope you have lots of support, over and above weight loss advice

@NeverRunAfterAManOrABus Thank you for this tool! I didn't know such a thing existed.

It tells my maintenance calories are 2159 so I took off 20% as you suggested which is 1727.

However it tells me on the link page that cutting number is 1659 calories. Did you mean I should take 20% off the cutting figure of 1659?

Sorry if I'm being dense!

@WickedWineWitch Thank you 🩷

My steps per day fluctuate wildly based on whether I'm in work or not and if I've had time to go out with the dog. I really need to get the steps up consistently! 😊