Calorie Intake

Jennacita

Hi everyone,

How do you determine what your calorie intake should be? Do you use the guided from MFP or do you calculate your own? If I use MFP it puts me at 1400 if I use Cathe or my BRM I'm 1500 calories. And my TDEE is between 2000-2300. I just want to calculate correctly so I lose weight but don't starve. Also do you ladies eat back your exercise calories? I often do because I like to eat.

Jenn

firecracker1026

Great question Jenn!! I was just wondering the exact same thing myself. As for the calorie intake, I used the guide here on MFP. It set me at 1200 calories and I upped it slightly to 1250. I usually eat back all (or close) of my exercise calories. I've actually stalled out a little bit since i've been using MFP and I think it's because by adding the exercise calories MFP claims I can eat around 1600 a day and I think this is to much for me when i'm in weight loss mode. I used to try to keep my calories under 1500 and, while I wasn't losing weight fast, I was losing consistently (1-2 pounds a month). So I guess the bottom line is...I don't have a clue! :-) Hopefully someone else will chime in and give us a little insight.

PedmomJill

Insight-I'm not sure. What works for me-yes I can share!

I do not eat my exercise points. Well, I should say I don't eat all of them. I try to stay around 1200 calories per day regardless of exercise, but some days I go over , and some days I'm actually under. It depends on other things (like PMS, TOM, etc). PMS week I eat more; TOM week I ate less. I never have a problem with having enough energy for my workouts either.

I think because I have yoyod most of my adult life I've wrecked my metabolism. Seriously. I'm only talking about a 20 pound swing but it can still hurt your metabolism. (I'm not talking about the last few years where I gained a ton and ventured into obesity for a year or so.)

All that said, I'm a big believer in zig zagging. I eat around 1200 calories for a few days and then I'll have a really high day (preferrably not getting high numbers from junk) and the next day a really low day. Then back to 1200. This seems to work for me, I think because of my crappy metabolism. And age - I'm 45.

I think you can get other people's opinions but have to experiment to find what works for you. You'll figure it out after awhile. Just be sure to track everything and it will be clear!

Edithrenee

I been wondering this to i try to eat mine back well half of it and i seem to get more then i think cuz i have not lost any Im getting frustrated lol.. Cant give up though i just know i got to keep doing tril and error i supose i wish i had the answer!! Once i figure it out im gonna tell everyone what worked for me!! lol