How Many Calories?

liaalyn

I am currently going for 1400 calories. I know that if you eat too MANY calories you obviously won't lose, but also if you don't eat enough you won't lose either. How did you find your perfect number?

Some calculators ask me what I do MOSTLY during the day... (sit, 9 hours, desk job)
Some calculators ask me how often I work out... (5-7 days a week, 60-120 minutes)

What do you guys do? I want to make sure I am hitting my correct amount.

PS if anyone wants to be a doll and really help me out, here's my info.

Female, obviously
20 years old
5'7"
156-159lbs
Goal: 140
1/2lbs a week

Thanks in advance

jamiesadler

I have a very sedentary job, I sit at a desk for ten hours and then I work out 5 times a week. So I do 1200 calories. I am 5'6 and need to lose about 40 pounds.

samrockrocks

I just followed the guidelines that MFP gave me... i'm also 5'7'', starting weight 151 and goal weight 130. I set my goal at 1 pound/week weight loss and mfp had me at 1400 calories. i put that i'm lightly active and anything i do outside of my normal daily activity i add as exercise. the more you exercise, the more you eat

Fatbuster205

Given that you are one inch taller than me and your weight is less I'm insanely jealous! LOL! I'm joking of course as what is an inch among friends. 140 seems a little low to be aiming for (my goal is 147 which I know is right for me) but your target of 0.5lbs a week is excellent. I would say go 1200 for 2 weeks then 1400 for 2 weeks - you will know then within 2 weeks if you are losing too fast allowing for the normal initial dump in weight - mainly fluid. If at 1400 you are still losing too fast because of your exercise regime then you can up the calories. I am noticing that I eat about 100 calories a day less than recommended once I have added the exercise calories in. As a result I am losing 1lb a week (starting weight 205lbs hence the name!). I am more than happy with that rate of loss as I want this to be a long term and permanent lifestyle change and not a crash diet! I suspect it will be harder for you because you have less to lose but keep at it. Add me as a friend if you would like to.

psych101

Ok, I'm just going to throw this out there:

1700 then log and eat most of your exercise calories too

liaalyn

Thanks to everyone! My first goal was 150, BUT I'm thinking it will take a lot more than that to get me happy. Its not pretty. Anyway, healthy is the point but believe me I've got at least 15lbs I can stand to lose