5 foot 1 - How much do you eat?

I've been struggling recently, so I want some perspective on people with similar stats as me. I am 5 foot 1 and weight around 150 pounds. Unfortunately, I've been between 147 - 150 pounds for the past 5 months and can't seem to get past it. My goal weight is 125 pounds. My MFP is set to 1460 calories and I try to eat back only half of my exercise calories (but I admit that I slack on that a bit, which could be my problem). I exercise 6 days a week with a combo of cardio/strength 4 days and just cardio on 2 days (running, elliptical, bike, stair climber).

I've read a lot about TDEE/BMR.
TDEE: 2294
BMR: 1480

I'm just nervous to increase calories when I'm already not losing and even gaining some weeks. So, what do similar people eat for success?

Replies

  • JemS_21
    JemS_21 Posts: 27 Member
    You're me but last year!!
    Sorry I'll start again, You're at the same stats I was when I started MFP last year!
    I'm 5'0 and was 143 at my biggest

    Portion size and not exercising was my biggest enemy

    I cut my calories on mfp last year to 1300 to get started and help me understand what a portion looked like and then increased it a few weeks in once i understood what I was doing

    I probably didn't do it 100% correct because I only started eating back my exercise calories after a month in
    I was watching what I ate, I did 30 days shred followed by ripped in 30 as well as 20 minutes on the step machine/strength routine on alternate days

    I had a goal of 30lbs (2.2 stones to lose in 6 months) I got as far as losing one stone and quite a few inches from toning and since then have maintained and am now ready to lose that final one stone and tone up properly.

    I have 14lbs to lose by 16th May (my birthday) so it gives me an achievable target of 9 weeks and just over 1lb a week to lose. I'm healthy eating currently at 1300 a day (i'll increase in a week or so) and working out 3 times a week - alternating ripped in 30 and 30 day shred. I've also started the NHS couch to 5k running programme which I highly recommend!!

    Hope this helps ;)
  • msthang444
    msthang444 Posts: 491 Member
    I'm doin 1200 calories a day. Im training for a half marathon, so I run 4 times a week (4,6,4,12 miles). I usually try to eat about half of the calories i work off, but... don't always succeed. I'm 5'2 152 and trying to get to 130. HOWEVER I'm 37 and my metabolism is NOT what it used to be :/
  • jharb2
    jharb2 Posts: 208 Member
    You were me last year. I did 1200 calories, plus ate most all my excercise calories back. That worked for a long time - slowly....... Be patient Not everyone loses at the same rate. Dont compare yourself to anyone else on MFP or anybody that you talk to. You are unique, not a stat. It will happen. Dont give up!! I am proof that it works. As you get closer to goal, it will slow down, thats normal. Keep it up.
  • smn76237
    smn76237 Posts: 318 Member
    I'm 5'1, down to 157 from about 200. My goal is set to 1500 calories and eat 200-300 exercise calories back because I work out fairly intensely every day (more than just cardio). I create a fairly large deficit throughout the week because I like eating dinner out Friday night with my man and don't want to bother calculating everything I eat.

    Do you use a food scale? I weigh everything I eat (except my Friday dinner out) and it really helps create an accurate picture of my intake.
  • ecw3780
    ecw3780 Posts: 608 Member
    I am 5'3 and I eat 1200 plus exercise. I steadily lose 1- 1.5 pounds. If you aren't losing, it sounds like you are eating too much.
  • Mistyvs
    Mistyvs Posts: 56 Member
    I'm 5'1 and 157. I have mine set to 1200 and I eat back my exercise calories, around 200-500 per day. I lose about 1.5 pounds a week.
  • aqualeo1
    aqualeo1 Posts: 331 Member
    I'm 5' 2 121 lbs and have been losing 1/2 lb every week - 2 weeks doing 1400 a day for 6 days a week & saving half my exercise calories up for one day during the weekend to go out to dinner or whatever. I have recently upped from 1250 since I'm working up to maintainence now. My loss has slowed since I've done that as expected. I don't think you should up your calories if you're not losing weight now. You may be eating more than you think or overestimating calories burned. It's so hard to know exactly. Make sure to use a food scale and be meticulous with logging. Maybe shoot for 1300 to give yourself a little margin of error.
  • Serena272
    Serena272 Posts: 53 Member
    Hi I am 5" and have lost 9 stone over the last 3 and half years,I have Mfp set at 1400 and I save all my excersing calories (approx 400 a day six days a week,cardio and strength) for the weekend as me and my family eat out every sat/ sun.xxx