different people need different amounts of calories a day. so glad you found the daily plate! i have been using it for about 8 months now almost daily (i only don't when i am out of town and find it harder to get to a computer and/or guesstimate calories in unique foods) and i swear by it. as the site shows you, you will need to consume lower and lower amounts of calories as you reach a lower weight to maintain your weight loss, unless you are exercising more as you lose weight (which you should). i find the daily plate helps keep me accountable for everything i put in my mouth.... i tend to forget the bad things i eat otherwise.
i actually just recently rewarded myself with --instead of food-- a gold membership on that site. i probably sound like i work for them or something but i just cannot say enough how much i LOVE that site! since my surgery 7 weeks ago, i have lost an average of 2 pounds a week, which is right on track to what my calorie goals are set at. it works so far! it breaks everything down to a science.

good luck!

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Thanksgiving/1 Year Bandiversary Challenge:


surgery November 20, 2008
High-260/Preop-249/Surgery-241/Current-166/Goal-160
biggest size: 20 current size: 8/10!!!