How many calories are you guys eating?

meshashesha2012

5'5 , 216 pounds. i log around 1700 to lose approx 2 pounds a week but since i dont weight or measure i assume i eat around 2100 calories. my current maintenance is 2700-3000. I dont eat my exercise calories back because that's already included

ana3067

Use this calculator to help you. Lots of folks on MFP, including me, use this instead of the MFP method.

http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

If you are a 35 year old woman working out 3 days a week (at your current weight and height) your TDEE is 2619. Subtract 20% from that to figure out how many calories you need to lose 1 lb. per week. For this example, that would be 2095. Then you would just adjust for every ten pounds lost.

I would just encourage you to lose slowly so that it becomes a true lifestyle change, not just another diet where you lose fast and then regain. Good luck!

Just adding to this, IIFYM calculator is notorious for estimating low. so use the 10 or 15% deficit only that is on there if you want to use that calculator, and if your losses are too slow after a month, decrease another 100 and monitor.

I would disagree. I feel like it estimates high.

Most of the other websites I have come across that estimate even higher than IIFYM are ones that are recommended more as being fairly accurate. I'd guess that if someone doesn't weigh (or at least measure) all food, then a very low estimate might work better to allow for likely under-logging of calories/macros. Otherwise, most people I've spoken with agree that IIFYM calculator isn't ideal for getting an average estimate of caloric needs

I guess I would feel better if there was just one set way and I could feel in control of the situation and I don't feel in control of it. To many variables I guess and theories it frustrates me.:explode:

It's really all a guessing game unfortunately. But if you run the numbers, maybe get an average of them, and eat at a deficit from that number for a month or so, then you can use your own experience to determine whether you need to lower or increase your calories. So in that way you do get a bit more control after a while, just takes a bit of time first

kawasakininja13

6'1 here and 205 lb. 4th week into a bulk and was eating up to 3800 cals, no dropped down to 2800 cals in prep for a cut.

115s

I'm pretty sure I eat more than 2500 on days I work out. I eat around 1200-1700 on resting days (days that I just sit around like a couch potato, depending on what my stomach can handle).

Capt_Apollo

2400 baseline... i'm 6'3" and 228. i'm a triathlete, so on big work out days, i can eat close to 4000 calories.

grogers511

It can be confusing unless you immerse yourself in researching and working to understand it all. I would just go with MFP's recommendation. If it works for you - keep doing it. If it doesn't work for you - adjust it.