2,000 calorie diet seems extreme

vapianogirl19

I am 5'4 117lbs and I eat about 1,700- 1,900 calories a day. 8 am healthy and feel fine. When I look at the United states nutrition guidelines I feel overwhelmed. If I ate that much food it literally hurts my stomach and makes me feel bloated. Why is the us recommending so many calories? Is this normal what about other countries are there places where its acceptable to do lower calories?

MikePTY

vapianogirl19 wrote: »

I am 5'4 117lbs and I eat about 1,700- 1,900 calories a day. 8 am healthy and feel fine. When I look at the United states nutrition guidelines I feel overwhelmed. If I ate that much food it literally hurts my stomach and makes me feel bloated. Why is the us recommending so many calories? Is this normal what about other countries are there places where its acceptable to do lower calories?

The United States nutrition guidelines are very basic guidelines made for about an averaged sized, averagely active person. Your actually calorie needs varies widely depending on size, age and activity level. At your size and weight, 1700-1900 is probably right around maintanance. The "average" woman they are basing those guidelines around is likely heavier than you and that's where it comes from.

I on the other hand maintain at close to 3000 calories because I am a tallish man who is active. A short sedentary older woman may maintain on 1500. There really is no one size fits all, so not need to worry. You don't need to move out of the country to feel comfortable with your calorie intake 😉

kimny72

vapianogirl19 wrote: »

I am 5'4 117lbs and I eat about 1,700- 1,900 calories a day. 8 am healthy and feel fine. When I look at the United states nutrition guidelines I feel overwhelmed. If I ate that much food it literally hurts my stomach and makes me feel bloated. Why is the us recommending so many calories? Is this normal what about other countries are there places where its acceptable to do lower calories?

That's just the average that they use, they can't list everyone's specific nutrition info based on weight on the label. At 5'4 117lbs you are below the average weight, so yes, 2000 calories would be high for you. The guidelines aren't telling you to eat that much.

Redordeadhead

If you sometimes eat 1900, I doubt an extra 100 calories would cause such extreme distress.

However as the others said, it's just an average and doesn't mean it's the right level for you personally.

lemurcat2

The US doesn't recommend that everyone eat 2000 cals, that would be silly. MyPlate recommends a calorie goal appropriate for you. The labels say "percent daily values are based on a 2000 cal diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs."

At 5'4, you are the average height for a woman, and on the lower part of a healthy weight range, so certainly you know that your calorie needs would be lower than average, all else equal, even for those who are healthy weights, in that about half the population are men. Thus, I do not understand the question.

Panini911

great advice above.

just wanted to add that eating 2000 calories doesn't require adding MORE food. It can just mean selecting calorie dense foods. With proper selection of foods it won't take long to hit 2000 with very little in quantity

SuzySunshine99

The 2000 thing is just an average for nutritional labels, not a recommendation for everyone. Depending on your gender, size, and activity level you may need considerably more or less than that.

I am also confused however about how you say you eat up to 1900 calories on a regular basis, but think 2000 is “extreme” and would make you sick.

MostlyWater

Yes, that's too much for you on a regular basis.