Does 300 more calories make a difference?

Rippedly

I'm a 22 y/o female, 5'1.5" and 145 pounds. Using the TDEE-500 method, I figured out that my daily calorie intake should be 1500.

I've been doing a lot of reading about how eating 1200 calories - what the site originally had me on - is unsustainable in the long run. Indeed, that seems to be the case for me, since I've eaten that low and lost weight, but it would then come back.

I know little to nothing about the body science, but does an added 300 calories make enough of a difference for me to see healthy, sustainable weight loss over time, or should I bump my calories up even more? I don't want to screw up my metabolism any more than it already is.

Thanks!

honkytonks85

Why do you think your metabolism is screwed up?

ChrisM8971

Sorry, I am new here and don't know enough to give you an answer on that one, but from my experience of this site so far, I am sure that someone will have the information you need

Mrscaperton

I cant offer much help either but I am trying to stick to 1200 and wonder if I should go up to 1500?? Sorry to jump on the thread but good post :O)

Rippedly

A few years of super low caloric intake on-and-off - I was eating 1200 and below for a long time, which I've since learned can slow your metabolism to a crawl.

Mrscaperton

A few years of super low caloric intake on-and-off - I was eating 1200 and below for a long time, which I've since learned can slow your metabolism to a crawl.

:O( argh don't tell me this!! lol

_HeartsOnFire_

The TDEE-500...what percentage is that of the TDEE #? How close are you to your goal?

pcastagner

Your metabolism is probably fine.


This time, after you manage to lose it again, don't go back to your old habits and it won't "come back".

Francl27

Well, it depends. Your metabolism may be screwed up if you ate 1200 for a year or something. If you only did it on and off though and ate normally (or even overate) for months at a time since, you're fine.

And yes I do TDEE-20% too, and it's been working.