how many calories do you eat a day?

Likensassafras

Hi. I'm a 42 y/o female, 5'7", 204lbs. I'm a grad student and spend much of my time in class or studying. I've been tracking with this app for six weeks now and am beginning to wonder if I'm eating the correct number of calories. I simply targeted 1200/day as that's what myfitness pal offered me based on my profile. Sadly I've neither seen nor felt any weight shift or loss un six weeks

my metabolism is notoriously inefficient as I tend to avoid food during stress. I'm also a lymphoma survivor, 9 years remission, and wonder if this has an impact. At 42, perhaps I'm facing a life change but the Dr. says my hormones are fine.

I eat very well...whole foods, organic, plant-based or lean proteins; I do eat healthy oils and avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol; I limit dairy as well as red meats.

Incorporating supplements, like Vega and Raw Meal shakes, i was able to meet nutritional needs at 1200 calories but again no weight loss at all.

Advice? I'm thinking of increasing calories but am not sure by how much. Info I've found range my base calories from 1682-2250. I was thinking i might bump up to 1450....just as a shot in the dark.

(oh, for what it's worth I'm also taking Garcinia Cambogia and Tonalin CLA.)

flitabout

I am 36 5'3" I eat 1670. I lose really slow and I am ok with that. if it takes me 2 years to lose the rest of my weight I am ok with that I get to eat and I don't feel starved.
EDIT: I just wanted to add that I shared a small peice of cake for lunch with my daughter. We both got a treat and now we are going out to walk the dogs!

SirBonerFart

about 3000 yesterday, I should have skipped the ice cream it made me bloated

bcattoes

I'm 52 yo female 5'5". I only track during the week and then I average a little over 1400 calories per day. On the weekends I don't log but probably average about 2000.

zeebruhgirl

I eat 1200 to 1400 a day based on exercise.
I drink a LOT of water to curb my hunger. I also try to eat a heavy amount of protein which keeps me full.

samntha14

5'6'' 34yo 142lbs I eat 1800-2200. I refuse to starve! Starving will just put you on the yoyo string.

Babygi6003

I am 5'6 180 and eat between 1200-1480 depending on the day. I also drink about 90 oz of water per day

Wilhellmina

Maybe you should try this link, TDEE:

http://thefitgirls.com/tdee-calculator.aspx

Easy to calculate and for me it was very accurate.

donnace7

I'm 45yrs and 5'4" - I've been eating 1300 calories 5 days a week, and 1800 calories the other 2 days (usually weekends), an average of 1500/day - I've been able to lose about a pound a week this way. When I get down into the 1200 calorie range, I get frustrated because I have a hard time staying under it - I don't like enough zero calorie or "free" foods.

luvsherhubby

you are probably eating too low, thus worsening the metabolism problem. There is a group on here called eat more 2 weigh less I advise you check that out, they also have a website. I am 23 5'1 and eat about 1500-1800.

Serah87

5'2, eat between 1700-2000

Kalee34

I am a 5'5", 30 year old, female. My calorie goal is 1900 a day. I don't really log on the weekend, but I usually eat around 2000-2300 on the weekend.
www.scoobysworkshop.com is a good place to figure your TDEE and then a cut %.

Melissa_mojo

Hi. I'm a 42 y/o female, 5'7", 204lbs. I'm a grad student and spend much of my time in class or studying. I've been tracking with this app for six weeks now and am beginning to wonder if I'm eating the correct number of calories. I simply targeted 1200/day as that's what myfitness pal offered me based on my profile. Sadly I've neither seen nor felt any weight shift or loss un six weeks

my metabolism is notoriously inefficient as I tend to avoid food during stress. I'm also a lymphoma survivor, 9 years remission, and wonder if this has an impact. At 42, perhaps I'm facing a life change but the Dr. says my hormones are fine.

I eat very well...whole foods, organic, plant-based or lean proteins; I do eat healthy oils and avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol; I limit dairy as well as red meats.

Incorporating supplements, like Vega and Raw Meal shakes, i was able to meet nutritional needs at 1200 calories but again no weight loss at all.

Advice? I'm thinking of increasing calories but am not sure by how much. Info I've found range my base calories from 1682-2250. I was thinking i might bump up to 1450....just as a shot in the dark.

(oh, for what it's worth I'm also taking Garcinia Cambogia and Tonalin CLA.)

Do you work out at all? you prob need to burn what your taking in my guess would be

sarah6336

Could you share your food diary? That way I can look and give advice.

HeyGoRun

Because of my lifestyle i cycle mine from 1200-1600 , i dont eat much boxed/packaged food so this is working for me!

DebbieLyn63

Hi. I'm a 42 y/o female, 5'7", 204lbs. I'm a grad student and spend much of my time in class or studying. I've been tracking with this app for six weeks now and am beginning to wonder if I'm eating the correct number of calories. I simply targeted 1200/day as that's what myfitness pal offered me based on my profile. Sadly I've neither seen nor felt any weight shift or loss un six weeks

my metabolism is notoriously inefficient as I tend to avoid food during stress. I'm also a lymphoma survivor, 9 years remission, and wonder if this has an impact. At 42, perhaps I'm facing a life change but the Dr. says my hormones are fine.

I eat very well...whole foods, organic, plant-based or lean proteins; I do eat healthy oils and avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol; I limit dairy as well as red meats.

Incorporating supplements, like Vega and Raw Meal shakes, i was able to meet nutritional needs at 1200 calories but again no weight loss at all.

Advice? I'm thinking of increasing calories but am not sure by how much. Info I've found range my base calories from 1682-2250. I was thinking i might bump up to 1450....just as a shot in the dark.

(oh, for what it's worth I'm also taking Garcinia Cambogia and Tonalin CLA.)

You are probably not measuring and logging as accurately as you think you are. Also, are you eating back exercise calories? If so, you could be overestimating your burn.
Measure and weigh everything. Do this every meal, every day, get in regular exercise, and be patient. It will happen.

ETA to answer your question, I will be 50 in 3 weeks, 5'6", SW last Aug- 228, CW 185. Lost my weight on 1200 cals. I maintain around 1500-1600.

A_Fit_Mom

I am 5'8 and 152. I have it set to 1350. But with exercise, I average eating about 1500-1600 a day. I started at 1350 back at 185 pounds and lost the weight pretty quickly. (Started the middle of March)

ChangingAmanda

35, 5'4", 1600+exercise calories calculated by my HRM.

You may be eating too little. Here's a good post with links for helping determine calorie goals: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

CLFrancois

5'3", 115 and I eat 1700 plus depending on how active I am.

n3verlettingmyselfgo

mine varies quite abit

RockinTerri

My days seem to fluctuate, based on my exercise/activity level that day, but my base number is 1350 calories without exercise. I typically sit at 1300-1700 calories consumed, with a net average of 1300-1400 calories. My weekends have been a tad higher recently, but my net still usually sits at 1300-1600 calories on those days.

Oh, my stats are 39 y/o (for a few more weeks ), 5'2.5", and CW is 207.6. I started out at 220 (as of end of March/beginning of April).

czechwolf52

I eat about 1700 calories a day. I'm doing TDEE -20%. According to the machines at the gym I typically burn between 600-700 calories (and those are always low).

c_tap77

I'm a 27 y/o, 5'8", weigh 204 lbs, and I have my diary set at 1200 /day. I try to stick very closely to that number in terms of logging, but I'm pretty sure I'm actually eating closer to 1300 to 1400 calories considering

a) I'm not always perfect at measuring portions and
b) When I cook, I like to taste things so a bite here and there eventually add up.

I'm fairly new at this but I find the weightloss/ inches lost comes in spurts...and not always together. I will go awhile and not see the scale move and then all of a sudden it will drop 4-5 lbs. I will measure every week and not see a difference and then all of a sudden my waist will be 1 1/2 inches smaller. I'm not sure why it happens this way, but I think everyone's body is different and if you keep working at it, you will eventually see results.

Best of luck

footiechick82

I'm 5'7 I eat 1,800 on a good day because that's my TDEE - 20%.

However, I also LOVE food, so I go up to 2,000 some days.

If I'm having alcohol, who knows? I need to cut that habit again!

MercuryBlue

I'm 30, 5' 6.5", 155 lbs at the moment. I eat anywhere between 1300 - 2000 calories a day, varying depending on activity and hunger levels.

glassyo

48, 5'2" and 133ish lbs. I average about 2250 calories a day but that's with a lot of walking for exercise.

laylaness

34, 5'4", 163. I eat between 1600-1900 depending on activity level for the day. Been doing Insanity, so on those days, I eat closer to 1900.

Likensassafras

I'm delighted by all the posts! Thank you. I feel encouraged and am certain that I was under eating. I do measure my food so I'm confident my calories are near correct. I think I was eating too low....and of course I should get more exercise.

btw, I'm happy to share my diary...once I figure out how. And I will look at the links provided when I get a chance.

thanks so much, due to the amount of quick replies, I really feel part of a community. Good luck to all of you

Ang108

I am 65, 5 feet tall, have no thyroid and take cortisone by mouth each day and injected once a week. I eat no more than 1200 calories,which completely fills me up. I do not do cheat meals and exercise very modestly . I walk 30-45 minutes a day at a brisk speed and walk another 30 minutes with my dog . The dog walking is not logged. I eat a natural diet ( but don't bother with " organic " food ) that is fast food, processed food, white flour, sugar and additive free. I have eaten like this most of my life....so it's nothing new and since it's my choice it's also not a sacrifice.
Since April 10th ( 4 month ) I have lost 31 pounds.....:o). My diary is open....feel free to check.

CynthiaEvans

You may want to watch your carb intake as you may be carb sensative. I sometimes simply do not eat carbs after 3pm except for a small amount of vegetables with my protein for dinner which seems to activate the fat burning process and I lose more weight at a faster rate.

kaotik26

I used to be doing 1200 at MFP setting but came across this formula in the Insanity Nutrition Guide. For women: 655+(4.35 x weight)+(4.7 x height in inches)- (4.7x age)---this gave me my TDEE at 2200 and suggested I subtract 500 for weight loss.

So this week I officially began 1700 a day. Although it has been a little hard to get that high with healthy meals after staying low I have more energy and feel stronger during the workouts. In the end it's all trial and error since everybody is different.

For sure if you are busting your butt at workouts you're probably going to need more fuel.