How much calories do you eat to maintain weight?

yayhappygirly
yayhappygirly Posts: 13 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
It would be much appreciated if everyone could write an estimate of the calories they eat to maintain?
Please include your height and exercise activity!
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Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited June 2016
    2200-2300

    41 year old female
    5'9"
    Currently 177 pounds

    I lift heavy 3X a week, and cardio (5k runs, usually) once or twice a week.

    I am on a "diet break" and maintaining for the summer. Plan to go back to deficit calories of 1930 in a few weeks, and lose another 12-15 pounds.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I eat around 1400 and I net 1270. I do at least 30 minutes active exercise/12 hours standing/330 calories activity every day - that means an hour walk and my regular activities. I'm 57, 5'10", 157 pounds. I've maintained 4 years.
  • kirstenb13
    kirstenb13 Posts: 181 Member
    I think this varies widely and won't really tell you anything. I maintain on around 2700-3000/day but I'm 5'11, 150 lbs and apparently pretty active compared to most people. So your numbers might be very different and the easiest way to get them is to calculate them from your current intake and loss, the difference will be your increase to maintenance.
  • Amanda_1973
    Amanda_1973 Posts: 28 Member
    So once this goal is met MFP will give an option for maintenance mode? What if I want to take off say an additional 5-6 lbs beyond that goal I have set, is there an option to change that too? I'm like 2 lbs away from this and it's driving me nuts, I want to reach it so bad.
  • mommarnurse
    mommarnurse Posts: 515 Member
    Amanda_1973 wrote: »
    So once this goal is met MFP will give an option for maintenance mode? What if I want to take off say an additional 5-6 lbs beyond that goal I have set, is there an option to change that too? I'm like 2 lbs away from this and it's driving me nuts, I want to reach it so bad.

    There's ways to change your goal at any moment. it's under "Goals" on the app.
  • kirstenb13
    kirstenb13 Posts: 181 Member
    Goal weight and losing per week/maintenance calories are completely separate. The goal you set affects exactly nothing. Your daily calories depend on whether you set it to lose x/maintain/gain x and your body stats so if you are not happy with your weight yet just keep it set to losing.
  • ShrinkinMel
    ShrinkinMel Posts: 982 Member
    Well 1800-2200 is working as my deficit. I do cardio 5-6 days a week minimum. And heavyish machine lifting(low reps high sets) about 4 times a week(alternating upper and lower body). But my weight loss still has a long way to go so I suspect my maintenance can be even lower than that in the future. I'll just follow MFPs guidelines when time is near.
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    My maintenance calories that MFP set me are 1890. When I work out I usually eat all the exercise calories back too. I calculated my TDEE once and it was around 2200, that seems about right.
    I'm 5'5". 136-139. 31 yo.
  • Josh_lol
    Josh_lol Posts: 317 Member
    23, Male, Pretty active job (on my feet lifting heavy stuff for 37.5 hrs a week) Run 3-4 5km runs a week. I currently eat like 2800-3800 calories a day but I've been losing 1lb a week doing that. So just add 500 calories a day onto that for an estimate.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    I'm 44yo. 5'4 and 116lbs.
    I lift heavy 4xs/wk and do light cardio 2-3days/wk. I average about 7k steps/day.

    My maintenance calories are 1700-1750.
  • itsthehumidity
    itsthehumidity Posts: 351 Member
    I'm not sure how helpful this will be, but I'll tell you anyway.

    TDEE (maintenance calories) is probably around 2200 for me.

    Male, 28, 5'7", 155 pounds. I lift weights 3-4 times a week, and I average 10,000 steps per day.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    I run 4-5x a week, not very active otherwise, 5'4 105 2200-2600
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    edited June 2016
    I'm 5'7 and 131. I am very active and have to eat at least 2000 plus calories a day, otherwise my weight goes down again. I've been maintaining for a little over 5 years so far. :)
  • BernieMBurke
    BernieMBurke Posts: 206 Member
    5'10", male, 58 years old, 165 lbs. I average around 15,000 steps a day and eat around 2,500 calories. I'm still fairly new to maintenance (been maintaining since January 2016) so I don't have this down yet.
  • victoria_1024
    victoria_1024 Posts: 915 Member
    I'm 5'2.5" and 125 lbs. MFP gives me a goal of 1700 calories to maintain. However if I actually stick to that number I lose weight so I usually eat closer to 1900-2000 a day. I think because I'm more active now that summer is here.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    2100-2300 cals / 5ft 2 1/4" / 130lbs / 47yrs.
    90 mins a day x 6 days (run/walk/lift)
  • wdyh2l
    wdyh2l Posts: 2 Member
    F/5'2/120lb/27yrs
    My TDEE is ~2450 calories per day
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited June 2016
    47 year old female
    weight 112
    height 5'3 3/4" (just under 5'4")
    maintain on 1650

    run/walk/lift
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited June 2016
    OP can you share yours too? I am a bit curious as what this study is for??
  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    5'8"
    120-123 lbs
    Moderate activity level (cardio) with 8,000-10,000 steps a day, some weight lifting as well
    2300-2400 calories a day to maintain
  • katepig54
    katepig54 Posts: 12 Member
    edited June 2016
    I'm 41 female. 124 pounds. gym 2 -3 times per week. weights only - never cardio. 1200 calories per day to maintain. Its impossible. I mean really - where is the room for wine with that daily amount of calories. the answer is cardio.......... oh and im 5foot 5- there is no way i can eat so little for the rest of my life. i have never weighed a lot - but i do want to stay well under nine stone. frustrating.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    edited June 2016
    Hey there! I'm almost 47 years old, 5'2, and maintaining at 120 lbs after losing 78 lbs. If I don't workout, I eat about 1300-1400...on days I workout it's usually between 1600-1900. I do cardio 4-6 times a week, and lift 2-3 times if I have time :)
  • micropreemiemum
    micropreemiemum Posts: 161 Member
    21 year old female, 5ft 1in, 105lbs

    I maintain at around 1580calories although i have lost 3lbs in a month as i struggle to eat that much. I workout about 5times a week for up to an hour, HIIT and light strength training. I have a toddler and run a farm so i am always busy. I never eat back my exercise calories :)
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    27, 5'5", 125 lbs

    Sedentary during the week, lightly active on weekends. 1 hr of exercise 6 days a week. Right now it's 4 lifting days and 2 running days, but I'm about to drop a lifting day for a running day. I maintain on 1800-2000.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    55, 5'7" -- about 1,800 calories per day (plus exercise calories if I work out)
  • DM01234
    DM01234 Posts: 317 Member
    5'6" - about 1750 calories per day. I don't intentionally eat my exercise calories back, but it's nice to know I have them in reserve for the stuff I enjoy from time to time over the course of a week.
  • UPSGregg
    UPSGregg Posts: 6 Member
    edited June 2016
    I'm still experimenting with my maintenance calories. I'm not sure what the APP recommends is accurate. My problem is that I had gotten so use to eating 1400 calories spread out over 5 times per day. Plus, I'm still drinking water instead of snacking like I did when I was still borderline obese. Now I'm having to force myself to eat more. I'm set for 2200 calories but usually end up way under that. Especially on my cardio days. I obviously need to make some adjustments.

    I also lost two more pounds during my first week of maintenance! Not to worry though. I'm still within the healthy weight range for my age and height. I'm 168 lbs, 5' 10", and 39 years old.

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