modert

Not sure how old you are, but your Basal Metabolic Rate is probably around 1800 calories. That is how many calories you need to maintain if you are completely sedentary.

To lose weight 1400-1600 calories should work. If you are inactive, the lower number is better. If you say you are gaining with a 1500 calorie diet, something is wrong. In most similar cases, the food portions are actually larger and calorie consumption greater than the person realized.

How are you calculating the calories you consume? Do you weigh and measure your food? I recommend that you do.

I also recommend not taking in less than 1400 calories because your body will go into "starvation mode" and begin preserving fat cells. This will cause you to lose more muscle and water, which will result in a fast temporary weight reduction, but not a slow permanent loss of fat, which is what you ultimately want.

Good luck!