How many calories should I be eating?!

BellaGowrie

Hi everyone :] I hope you can help me? I'm 5'5.5 and 145 lbs and I'm very confused about what I should be eating.

I'm trying to get down to between 120 & 125 lbs (I'm not sure what would be realistic yet) and I've lost 10 lbs already, but my weight is going all over the place at the moment and I'm being given conflicted advice: eat more / eat less!

MFP says you shouldn't eat fewer than 1200 calories / day, but I've got where I am now eating between 800 and 1000, and that has been a very slow process. I've heard that either I'm underestimating what I'm eating or I'm in 'starvation mode', but don't want to do anything too drastic to find out which in case I end up putting weight back on

My BMR is 1450 and being lightly active, I'm guessing 1200 a day would get me losing a pound a week, but that seems a lot given that I've struggled to lose weight on up to 400 calories fewer. What does everyone think?

Thanks in advance :]

Sobus76

i'd recommend eating as close to that 1200 as you can, and make sure you're eating a lot of protein. the weight will come off. from what i've see personally, when i go way under my caloric goal for a stretch my weight loss will stall, i found this out last fall when i was working out and not eating any of those calories plus being under my daily goal.

diannethegeek

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

1200 calories is the bare minimum recommended for a sedentary woman. This has less to do with weight loss and more to do with making sure you're getting enough nutrients into your diet. It's harder to get enough protein and fat as well as the various vitamins and minerals your body needs if you're eating at such a low calorie level.

1450 is the amount your body would burn in a coma. That's what it needs just to keep all of your organs alive and healthy. A lot of people will tell you not to eat below this level.

The link above will walk you through the two most popular ways to set your calorie goals on this site.

And here are some more really useful links for those starting out:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

marissanik

SAY NO TO 1200 CALORIES!!! Never.

Look into BMR. Don't eat below that number.
Calculate your TDEE.

Do your research on both of those two things and you should be fine.

DancingJester

Look on every label for calories, eat clean not just little. Try to be more active and weight your food. There is no way you are not losing on 800 if you've only really just began your diet. Go to 1200 or do what I did at the beginning and work it out for a week. 8400 os 1200, meaning you can have 1000 then 1300 then 1200 ext and trick your metabolism. I lost 20lb before it slowed down properly. Losing 1.5 to 2lb a week. Also, I know its cliché, but slow and steady wins the race, I have 9lb to go and I'm having to put up with 1lb every 3 weeks. But at leased I'm losing. Be patient, that's really all we can do in the end. You'll get there!
Make sure you weight yourself once a week as weight does fluctuate and that is the most accurate way to weight yourself. Although when its your time of the month it may be more. I recommend going to 125 as 120 will be tough, as its probably under your natural weight.

BellaGowrie

Thanks everyone so much - very helpful replies! I definitely need to get my protein up more - I'm vegetarian and it's hard to find many high protein low carb foods in my experience.
I'll check out the links and follow all your advice and see how it goes - will also up the exercise too :]
Congrats to everyone on your progress so far and thanks for the support! :]