Confusion about calories

Sunjenk

Im not sure how it all works, maybe someone on here knows, but does caloric intake to do with size you should be, size you are, or size you want to be? All three? Height and all. I'm barely 4'11'', so I feel like more than 1200 would be too much for my smaller frame, which should be a lower weight. My height should be just under to just above 100 pounds, so does that affect how many calories should be suffient for someone ina day? Was that written in a way someone can understand o.O

Also, 1200 is the minimum for women, but I am below average height for women, so should be calories be below? Even if it was 1100, 1000. I know its the safe amount considering starvation mode and such, but does below average frames still fall in this? If your extremely tall you must get more?

Confused!

Lleldiranne

They base it off how much you want to loose a week and your daily activity. Trust me, unless you sit around all day, you don't want less than 1200 calories. There is a point where your metabolism actually slows down to conserve ("starvation mode") and you don't want to hit that. And when you exercise, your calories will go up, too
I'm 5 foot nothin' so I'm right with you on the size thing. My ideal weight is 120 lbs (I like a fair amount of muscle, yours could easily be less) and I can get there on 1600 calories a day with plenty of exercise, or at least I could when I was in my 20's. (My goal is massively different right now, maintaining healthy gain with pregnancy)

Give it a try, it'll probably surprise you!

anubis609

This may help you out if you want a detailed breakdown of caloric intake for your stats:

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

jmijaressf

Actually it does have a lot to do with your height and weight, activity level, and to a lesser extent, age. Your minimum caloric intake is based on those metrics. Though one size doesn't fit all and we're all built a little different.

Newfiedan

My advice is to give it a shot at that amount for a few weeks, if you are losing weight then do not mess with the formula and leave it at that, if you stay the same after 2 weeks on that then lower by 100 cals a day and go from there. Exceptionally small women do not really need to stick to that 1200 as the lowest point but until you get to know where your metabolic rate sits at then play it by the rules. You may have a higher metabolic rate than you thought, or it may be lower, either way a week or 2 of experimentation will not hurt you.

elliecolorado

My mom is 4'10" and has been told by her dietitian that 1000 calories a day is good for her to lose about 1lb a week. Her BMR is barely above 1200 & maintenance calories would be about 1500, so eating 1000 a day works for her. She doesn't do much exercise so she is losing weight by diet alone.

Sunjenk

I appreciate all the responses!!!!

Any more insight is appreciated!

Thanks everyone!