How many calories do I need a day

cherellenjohnson9

Height: 5'7
Gender: Female
Small Frame
HW: 145lbs
CW:138-139lbs
LW:132-133lbs
GW:125lbs
I've been using my fitness pal for a month, but I'm confused on how many calories I should be consuming daily to lose weight. My goal is 1.5 lbs a week and I'm active. I workout 5 times a week doing a combination of weights cardio and I just started kick boxing twice a week. Myfitnesspal is saying that I should be consuming 1200 calories a day since my goal is to lose 1.5 pounds a week. I was wondering if I'm on the right track or if I'm eating too little. Also please don't comment on my goal weight I've heard all the negative comments already I just want advice and my question answered.

bpetrosky

Plug your numbers in. 1.5 lbs/wk is probably far too big a deficit to be working on, it is only going to give you 1200 if the calculation falls below that.

The most you probably can reasonably do is 0.5 lbs/wk, maybe 1.0 if you're lucky.

Liftng4Lis

With that little to lose, it isn't smart to have a goal set for 1.5 pounds a week. Lower it to a half pound a week.

Ninkyou

1.5 lbs a week is too aggressive for you.

I plugged in your numbers on Scooby's TDEE calculator, and considering your activity level and height/weight/age, even with a 20% reduction at most you'd lose a bit less than a pound a week. You shouldn't aim for a more aggressive goal because you'll be burning through your LBM more (which you don't want, trust me).

I agree you should go for .5 lbs/week

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

cherellenjohnson9

Ninkyou wrote: »

1.5 lbs a week is too aggressive for you.

I plugged in your numbers on Scooby's TDEE calculator, and considering your activity level and height/weight/age, even with a 20% reduction at most you'd lose a bit less than a pound a week. You shouldn't aim for a more aggressive goal because you'll be burning through your LBM more (which you don't want, trust me).

I agree you should go for .5 lbs/week

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

Thanks for the website!

MKEgal

Age: 20
Height: 5'7"
Gender: Female
Small Frame
CW: 138-139 lb
GW: 125 lb

I'm guessing "CW" is "current weight" and "GW" is "goal weight"?
Your ticker says you want to lose another 10 lb, which would make those correct.


This calculator from the Baylor College of Medicine will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of
various foods to eat to maintain that weight, and how many calories.
If you enter your current healthy weight, this will help you plan your food intake.
https://www.bcm.edu/cnrc-apps/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html

If you're active about an hour a day, it says you need 2446 cal/day to maintain weight.
(If you're INACTIVE, it says you need 1759.)
Since you're at a healthy weight, you're going to lose weight slowly, so DO NOT try to make the huge calorie
deficit that you've been doing so far.

I'd suggest aiming for 1500 (1759-250) for maybe 1/2 lb per week, IF you ignore exercise calories, just eat at
this healthy level. If you're really hungry, try eating 1/3 to _maybe_ 1/2 of your exercise calories as a snack once
in a while (not regularly). Most people underestimate what they eat, most machines overestimate calories burned.

Being 125 lb would put your BMI at 19.6, which is well toward the bottom end of a healthy weight range (115-168).
No wonder people have been telling you it's not realistic, not a good idea.
If you really want to try for that, it's going to be very slow, because you're already at a healthy weight.
1.5 lb is WAY way way way too much to expect, or even try for when you have so little to lose... plus you're
already at a healthy weight (think I mentioned that before).


Read these:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045