Hey I saw your awesome name on the November challenge and had to come say hi

I weight about 13 pounds more than you but I have no idea how tall you are so that makes a difference. Still though after seeing how little you ate the first day that really doesn't look like enough. I've fought my weight all my life and tried just about every diet there is and also varying kinds of major calorie restriction. None of it was anything I could stick to long term, nor did I ever get that great of results..especially after a week or two in.
But the last several months I finally have kicked my "diet" mentality and I'm not starving myself or feeling deprived or hungry and I this is really the best I've ever done in so short a time. All I did was use an online calculator for BMR that also accounts for some activity to figure out what I burn each day then I set my calories below that. I'm eating about 1900 a day and losing 2.5-3.5 pounds a week and it hasn't even been difficult.
Hope you don't take offense at me saying this. I just know guys need more calories than women and you really should check it out. Cutting back too drastically doesn't work and your body is going to resist and win sooner or later. It took me a while to be brave enough to up my calories too but after reading all the info about it in the stickies and seeing how much success everyone else here had doing that, I finally am doing it and like I said I couldn't be happier with the results. Honestly the simpler and less restrictive your plan is the more likely you're going to be able to make it a successful life change. Good luck and welcome to the forum

~Lisa
So, i missed posting a couple days so i'll sum it all up today.
Day 2
It's been going pretty smoothly actually, I don't feel as lethargic as I expected I would. Heres what I ate for day 2
Breakfast
1 banana 75 calories
6 eggs scrambled 570 calories
snack
1 oz cashews 160 calories
Lunch
1 apple 75 calories
4oz top sirloin 186 calories
1 oz provolone cheese 100 calories
1 bread roll 300 calories
Dinner
2 tbsp natural peanut butter 210 calories
2 scoops whey protein 225 calories
16oz 1 % milk 250 calories
Total calories 2151
I also walked for 3.25 miles in an hour.
Day 3
Breakfast
bowl of cereal with 1 % milk 450 calories
banana 75 calories
Snack
1oz cashews 160 calories
Lunch
8oz top sirloin 372 calories
1 oz cheese 100 calories
1 orange 60 calories
1 bread roll 300 calories
Dinner
2 scoops whey protein 225 calories
16 oz 1 % milk 250 calories
Total 1992 calories
And I missed my walk as I had a very stressful long night at work.
So, just from looking at my calories, and feeling the difference of energy levels between 1500 calories (first day) and 2100 calories (second day) I can see how important it is to count calories.
According to the BMR calculator, I need 2718.5 calories to maintain weight. If I was to reduce calories to 1718.5, I would lose 2 pounds per week, according to my calculations(at least until my metabolism catches on haha). So, that's the number I'm shooting for, if it's too hard for me and I feel the need to eat more then I will. So far water has been the best weapon in defeating hunger between meals. Maybe I should start the drown yourself diet lol.
Anyways, Lisa thanks for the reply! I appreciate your insight into the situation and while I won't be increasing the calories over 1700 unless I feel the need I totally understand what you mean. How long have you been on your current diet? That's awesome weight loss you've had so far, congrats. Hopefully I'll be able to post some negative numbers this coming monday.
As for todays meal plan
Day 4
Breakfast
1 apple 75 calories
1 bowl of cereal 450 calories
Snack
Cashew bar? 160 calories
Lunch/Dinner
Subway footlong 980 calories wow didn't know it was this much
rest of protein shake from last night 100 calories
Total 1765 calories
Damn subway tricked me lol. Oh well, won't make that mistake again.
Anyone else not looking forward to saying a lot of "no's" on turkey day?
Adam