Originally Posted by sedoniaraqs

If you are trying to lose weight, you can't (or at least most people can't) "just try to be sensible". What feels like sensible to our bodies is the amount of cals that maintains us where we are. You have to create a calorie deficit within a fairly narrow range of parameters. Too little of a deficit won't negate the occasional "cheat" and the error in the system (error in measuring/estimating portions etc). Too big of a deficit will leave you feeling tired and prime to fall off the wagon within a very short period of time.