How many calories should I really be eating?
MissMegannLee
Posts: 226 Member
MFP says 1,200 but on that I am starving. I try to workout daily. I recently started using a kettle bell and doing 15-30 minute kettle bell workouts followed up by 10-20 minutes of yoga. So I workout about 30 minutes a day give or take 10 minutes depending on what exercise video I follow. I'm not sure how much calories I really should be eating and I am so confused as to figuring it out. I'm new to everything fitness wise, but I need to get healthier for my mind and my body. Any helpful advice would be appreciated.
I try to avoid most junk food. I'm not perfect, but I am trying so that is what matters. I do weigh everything. I don't just "guess" because I know how very important weighing your food is. I've been at a plateau for 2 almost 3 weeks and I am just stuck.
Advice?
PS: I have bad knees so I have to be careful workout wise.
I try to avoid most junk food. I'm not perfect, but I am trying so that is what matters. I do weigh everything. I don't just "guess" because I know how very important weighing your food is. I've been at a plateau for 2 almost 3 weeks and I am just stuck.
Advice?
PS: I have bad knees so I have to be careful workout wise.
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Replies
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What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.0
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What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.
I haven't checked in awhile. I'd have to redo them.
What measurements are needed?0 -
What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.
I haven't checked in awhile. I'd have to redo them.
What measurements are needed?
For basic BMR and TDEE calculations, we need your age, height, weight, and how many days per week you work out.0 -
Go here: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
Plug in your stats. It will give you your TDEE.
Eat less than your TDEE (about 20% less).
Lose weight.0 -
I personally think Scooby's site is a little high. This one seems pretty accurate to me: http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/0
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What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.
I haven't checked in awhile. I'd have to redo them.
What measurements are needed?
For basic BMR and TDEE calculations, we need your age, height, weight, and how many days per week you work out.
25
5'8
211
5 days a week0 -
25
5'8
211
5 days a week
You could eat 1800 calories per day and still lose weight, at least for a while, until you get down to 170-ish. Then you'd need to lower it a bit more.0 -
What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.
I haven't checked in awhile. I'd have to redo them.
What measurements are needed?
For basic BMR and TDEE calculations, we need your age, height, weight, and how many days per week you work out.
25
5'8
211
5 days a week
Your BMR is: 1753
Your BMR is the amount of calories your body would burn all day if you were in a coma. Just walking to the bathroom will make you burn more calories than this. You should NOT eat below this amount of calories - your body needs these calories to function.
Your TDEE is: 2563
Your TDEE is the amount of calories you burn in a day doing all of your daily activities, exercising, moving around, etc. If you eat 20% less than this amount, you should lose 1 lb per week.
Your TDEE - 20% is: 2050 (that's gross calories (total), not net, so don't eat back your exercise calories)
Therefore, the 1200 calories per day you're eating is WAYYYYY too low. I don't even see how MFP would have suggested that. What did you put as your weight loss goal? Adjust it to "Lose .5 lb per week" and see what happens. If it's still too low, manually change it to about 1800-2000 per day, but no lower than that. Keep on exercising, weighing your foods, logging, etc. and you should see a loss. No wonder you're so hungry!0 -
25
5'8
211
5 days a week
You could eat 1800 calories per day and still lose weight, at least for a while, until you get down to 170-ish. Then you'd need to lower it a bit more.
So I'd say eating the 1,200 a day might be why I'm at a horrible plateau?0 -
What are you measurements? That is necessary to determine BMR and TDEE.
I haven't checked in awhile. I'd have to redo them.
What measurements are needed?
For basic BMR and TDEE calculations, we need your age, height, weight, and how many days per week you work out.
25
5'8
211
5 days a week
Your BMR is: 1753
Your BMR is the amount of calories your body would burn all day if you were in a coma. Just walking to the bathroom will make you burn more calories than this. You should NOT eat below this amount of calories - your body needs these calories to function.
Your TDEE is: 2563
Your TDEE is the amount of calories you burn in a day doing all of your daily activities, exercising, moving around, etc. If you eat 20% less than this amount, you should lose 1 lb per week.
Your TDEE - 20% is: 2050
Therefore, the 1200 calories per day (that's gross calories (total), not net, so don't eat back your exercise calories) you're eating is WAYYYYY too low. I don't even see how MFP would have suggested that. What did you put as your weight loss goal? Adjust it to "Lose .5 lb per week" and see what happens. If it's still too low, manually change it to about 1800-2000 per day, but no lower than that. Keep on exercising, weighing your foods, logging, etc. and you should see a loss. No wonder you're so hungry!
When I first joined which was about a year+ ago I put lose 2lbs a week and my goal is 150. I had no idea about it being so low calorie wise! I guess I should have asked more information on here ages ago, but I guess I was just scared...Thanks for your advice. I'm going to change it to what you said and see what it says.0 -
According to http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
you should eat 2000 calories per day to be 20% under the total calories your body uses per day, assuming you still exercise 5 days per week. Try to eat 1 gram of protein per 1 lb of body fat to help preserve your muscles!0 -
Thank you everyone for all your helpful advice. I appreciate it very much.0
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Hello op I don have a calculated but had the same question maybe someone can help me here so I don't repost
I am currently doing t25 & sometimes add 30 day shred I am currently eating 1600 since that's what t25 guide has me at mfp would have me at 1200
I'm 5'3 23 and 150 lbs been fluctuating from 148-150 haven't been able to get pass that I will admit I do order in at times so I know since I haven't cut out fast food completely it is probably hurting my weight loss I was just wondering if that's how many calories I should be at my gw is 135 so still pretty far I am a stay at home mom so really don't do much durin the day only those workouts0 -
Hello op I don have a calculated but had the same question maybe someone can help me here so I don't repost
I am currently doing t25 & sometimes add 30 day shred I am currently eating 1600 since that's what t25 guide has me at mfp would have me at 1200
I'm 5'3 23 and 150 lbs been fluctuating from 148-150 haven't been able to get pass that I will admit I do order in at times so I know since I haven't cut out fast food completely it is probably hurting my weight loss I was just wondering if that's how many calories I should be at my gw is 135 so still pretty far I am a stay at home mom so really don't do much durin the day only those workouts
Your BMR is: 1406
Your TDEE is: 2056
Your TDEE - 20% is: 1645
If you exercise 5 days per week, you should be able to eat 1645 calories per day (total calories, no eating back exercise calories) and lose about a pound a week. So, your goal of 1600 is almost spot on. I'd say that ordering in or getting fast food is probably why you're not losing weight like you want to, if these meals are making you exceed your caloric limit.0 -
Hello op I don have a calculated but had the same question maybe someone can help me here so I don't repost
I am currently doing t25 & sometimes add 30 day shred I am currently eating 1600 since that's what t25 guide has me at mfp would have me at 1200
I'm 5'3 23 and 150 lbs been fluctuating from 148-150 haven't been able to get pass that I will admit I do order in at times so I know since I haven't cut out fast food completely it is probably hurting my weight loss I was just wondering if that's how many calories I should be at my gw is 135 so still pretty far I am a stay at home mom so really don't do much durin the day only those workouts
Your BMR is: 1406
Your TDEE is: 2056
Your TDEE - 20% is: 1645
If you exercise 5 days per week, you should be able to eat 1645 calories per day (total calories, no eating back exercise calories) and lose about a pound a week. So, your goal of 1600 is almost spot on. I'd say that ordering in or getting fast food is probably why you're not losing weight like you want to, if these meals are making you exceed your caloric limit.
Oh ok so If it's within calorie limits the fast food and ordering in would be ok ?0 -
25
5'8
211
5 days a week
For that weight, if you use Scooby or any of the usual suspects, knock about 400 calories off of whatever it gives you for your BMR/TDEE.0 -
Hello op I don have a calculated but had the same question maybe someone can help me here so I don't repost
I am currently doing t25 & sometimes add 30 day shred I am currently eating 1600 since that's what t25 guide has me at mfp would have me at 1200
I'm 5'3 23 and 150 lbs been fluctuating from 148-150 haven't been able to get pass that I will admit I do order in at times so I know since I haven't cut out fast food completely it is probably hurting my weight loss I was just wondering if that's how many calories I should be at my gw is 135 so still pretty far I am a stay at home mom so really don't do much durin the day only those workouts
Your BMR is: 1406
Your TDEE is: 2056
Your TDEE - 20% is: 1645
If you exercise 5 days per week, you should be able to eat 1645 calories per day (total calories, no eating back exercise calories) and lose about a pound a week. So, your goal of 1600 is almost spot on. I'd say that ordering in or getting fast food is probably why you're not losing weight like you want to, if these meals are making you exceed your caloric limit.
Oh ok so If it's within calorie limits the fast food and ordering in would be ok ?
If it fits in your calories, fits your macros, and you're eating a varied diet to ensure that you're getting plenty of micronutrients, fast food or ordering in should not effect your weight loss. The only thing would be that restaurant food tends to have more sodium than homemade, which can lead to some water retention.0 -
In regards to your bad knees, do you stretch?
Your hamstrings and quads wrap around your knee. If not stretched occasionally, you'll feel knee pain because your muscles are shortening.
Also, I've heard many people say squats to parallel have cured their bad knees.0 -
In regards to your bad knees, do you stretch?
Your hamstrings and quads wrap around your knee. If not stretched occasionally, you'll feel knee pain because your muscles are shortening.
Also, I've heard many people say squats to parallel have cured their bad knees.
Would yoga count as stretching or no? My left knee is the worse. It was dislocated about a year ago and had some severe damage because I was trying to be "tough" and never saw a doctor till my knee swelled up like a balloon..so it's had some permanent damage. Also, I'll have to look into that type of a squat.0 -
So I changed my calories as suggested, we will see what happens and if I feel less miserable!0
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I personally think Scooby's site is a little high. This one seems pretty accurate to me: http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
ha, for me Scooby's is low compared to IIFYM and others! I guess it really is a case of YMMV.0 -
In regards to your bad knees, do you stretch?
Your hamstrings and quads wrap around your knee. If not stretched occasionally, you'll feel knee pain because your muscles are shortening.
Also, I've heard many people say squats to parallel have cured their bad knees.
Would yoga count as stretching or no? My left knee is the worse. It was dislocated about a year ago and had some severe damage because I was trying to be "tough" and never saw a doctor till my knee swelled up like a balloon..so it's had some permanent damage. Also, I'll have to look into that type of a squat.
Your probably tore your acl or mcl in your left knee. If that's the case only surgery will solve that problem.
Yoga may count for your other knee. Google hamstring and quad stretches if you still feel a daily annoyance.0 -
I personally think Scooby's site is a little high. This one seems pretty accurate to me: http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
ha, for me Scooby's is low compared to IIFYM and others! I guess it really is a case of YMMV.
Really? Scooby has my TDEE about 150 calories above what IIFYM does. Weird! It probably has to do with Scooby using hours instead of days when it comes to exercise. Scooby may be more accurate because of that!0 -
In regards to your bad knees, do you stretch?
Your hamstrings and quads wrap around your knee. If not stretched occasionally, you'll feel knee pain because your muscles are shortening.
Also, I've heard many people say squats to parallel have cured their bad knees.
Would yoga count as stretching or no? My left knee is the worse. It was dislocated about a year ago and had some severe damage because I was trying to be "tough" and never saw a doctor till my knee swelled up like a balloon..so it's had some permanent damage. Also, I'll have to look into that type of a squat.
Your probably tore your acl or mcl in your left knee. If that's the case only surgery will solve that problem.
Yoga may count for your other knee. Google hamstring and quad stretches if you still feel a daily annoyance.
Okay thanks so much! x0 -
I went to the IIFYM website, but it didn't calculate my information. In the response boxes it simply said NaN; what does this mean?0
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I went to the IIFYM website, but it didn't calculate my information. In the response boxes it simply said NaN; what does this mean?
It's working fine for me. I've never seen that error message before. Want to give me your numbers and I'll see if it does the same thing for me?0 -
I would really appreciate it! Thank you, very kind.
I am 26, 6 foot even, 219 lbs, I work out at least an hour a day M-F. Is there anything else you need?0
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