5' 6" ladies -- how many calories?

fourluvbugs

I'm having trouble (still!) figuring out the "right" amount of calories for loss. I know that everyone is different, but a range of what is working for others would be extremely helpful.

So how about it... what is your daily caloric goal? Are you eating to lose or maintain? How active are you? Are you achieving your goals?

graysmom2005

This is going to totally depend on the person. I'm an instructor so I'm super active. 1700 no workout day, 1900 teaching one class, 2 or more classes 2200. I'm trying to lose one pound a week.

sjeagle30

I am also trying to figure this out. It confuses me with the BMR and all that stuff. Im not sure how to tell. When in input my stuff it said 1200 cals per day to lose 1.7 lbs per week based on a sedinatary lifestyle. I feel that is way too little so I upped it after some advice from others on this site to like 1500

lmvince

Eating to lose. My goal is 1300-1400 calories a day. I do 30 minutes of cardio at least three times a week mixed with some weight training. I've seen great results.

LeenaRuns

I'm 120 lbs, eating to maintain. I'm at 1500/day, plus I eat back all of my exercise calories. I work out 6-7 days/week with 30DS, mixed cardio, running, P90X, and power yoga at the studio. My diary is open if you ever want to check it out.

Siannah

I'm on 1400 at the moment (settings are to lose 0.5lb/week) - and seriously struggling to stay within that amount to be honest.
I'm not looking to lose much (more), am 134lb now, but really just trying to keep myself from gaining.

JodaNord

I am maintaining, and have around 1700 with no exercise, and depending what i burn for exercise anywhere from 1950-2500 after exercise... I have been same weight for months now...

beccala18

Currently my goal is 1500 (and then I eat back my exercise calories). I lost 30 pounds eating about 1400 plus exercise. Now I've maintained that for 6 months with this. I've got a desk job, so pretty sedentary throughout my day.

christy0623

I'm on 1400 at the moment (settings are to lose 0.5lb/week) - and seriously struggling to stay within that amount to be honest.
I'm not looking to lose much (more), am 134lb now, but really just trying to keep myself from gaining.

Exactly the same for me but I'm not struggling most days. It's doable. Would like to lose a few more but I am happy with my weight. I went from 148 to 135. Started Jan 2nd. I do not exercise.

marycmeadows

I've lost 105lbs so far - have about 38lbs more to lose.
sw 303.4 (1/1/11)
cw 198.4
gw 160

I eat typically 1800-2000 calories a day.
I work out 6-7 days a week (2-3 days of strength + cardio, and then 3-5 days of just cardio)

christina721

I had the same question. I have a desk job and I work out at least 4 if not 5 days a week. I have lost 7 lbs and today was my 70 log in. I started at 1350 and went up to 1450. I am still confused on where I should stay in. I also eat back my exercise calories.

XXXMinnieXXX

Weigh 246lbs. Eat 1400 calories to loose 1-2lb per week. If I exercise I eat back a couple of hundred and loose more. Doctor said its fine to doing this, being still so heavy X

missfancy1980

This whole topic is just so confusing, i keep going back and forth changing my calorie goals as in 4 weeks I've only lost 1lb (all in the 1st week). For now I'm sticking with 1,300 per day and if exercise cals take me down below 1,200 nett, i will eat some of those back as really that's the lowest the body needs to function from what I have read. I'm 130lb and hoping to get down to 115lb. Feel free to add me

Lib_B

i'm 5'6 and trying to lose - i've got about 100 to lose, so that also impacts how much you need. after being berated in a post on a similar topic, i visited with a nutritionist about what i need to consume. the more weight you have to lose, the fewer calories you can get by on in the beginning. but it also has to do with the quality of your calories. for me, i eat mostly lean protein and fruits and veggies. very little dairy (i use almond milk for my morning protein shake) and only "good" carbs that are high in fiber.

so with that said, i eat between 1000-1300 calories a day and i've gone from doing 30DS to 40 minutes a day of cardio/strength. I have a HRM so I know what i've burned and i only eat back half of those calories. as i progress and lose weight and increase activity, i'll be increasing calories.

if MFP goals don't seem correct, i'd make an appointment to visit with a nutritionist to find out your specific needs based on your goals.

TheBakerGirl

I'm shooting to lose a pound per week, and my goal is set at 1390. I try to work out 5-6 days a week just so I can eat back my exercise calories…otherwise I'd starve and go crazy! This number seems to work when I can control myself enough to stay under.

Good luck!!

kellymarie111

I was on 1220...but after reading on here the other night, someone suggested that if I was to keep my calorie count at 1220 and exercise I'm to eat back my calories burnt-but if I go by my (bmr) amount...stick to that and when I exercise don't worry about eating them back...I hope I've explained that properly. I'm struggling big time to eat that amount...I'm
Eating way l less than I should, half the time I'm forcing myself :-/

bellisima6

Bump

kellymarie111

This whole topic is just so confusing, i keep going back and forth changing my calorie goals as in 4 weeks I've only lost 1lb (all in the 1st week). For now I'm sticking with 1,300 per day and if exercise cals take me down below 1,200 nett, i will eat some of those back as really that's the lowest the body needs to function from what I have read. I'm 130lb and hoping to get down to 115lb. Feel free to add me

I total agree with you. I keep changing mine as well cause one person says to do this another says to do that....so frustrating! :-(

gemiwing

I work out three to four times a week, enjoy an after-dinner walk with Hubbs (relaxing and slow). The rest of the time I enjoy sitting and playing video games- so I'm not your most active bear in the shed.

I eat 2000 base and eat exercise cals back on top of that. I lift heavy, workout hard and want energy PAST my workout. So far I've lost ten pounds in a little over a month and have lost over 17 inches.

I went from starving myself (eating 1200 a day) to eating tons of yummy food now. The key is to give whatever you try time to work. A week is not long enough. The body needs more time than we think it does

juliekaiser1988

I have mine set at 1500. And I eat back my exercise calories, too. Sometimes I don't eat them all, but it's always nice to have some wiggle room!

I was always hungry at 1200. I'm doing much better at 1500.

juliep1974

I started at about 1300 but exercised because I needed to eat back the calories (I was losing very well here, but was unhappy because I was always hungry). I've upped it to 1510 plus I eat my exercise calories back. I'm active - I walk 2.5 miles a day, spin twice a week and lift 3 times a week. Most days I eat between 1800-2000 calories. My weight loss has slowed (intentionally when I'm lifting a lot), but have lost pretty steadily when I'm just doing cardio. I started at 170 in November or so and right now am at 151 - looking to get to 145 but at this point bf% is going to be my focus.

Blueyz82

I'm 5'6" and sit at my desk a lot at work...My calorie goal is 1330 a day, but that is including 4X/wk minimum workouts of 45 minutes. I have been following it and have lost 14 lbs so far, so I guess I'm doing ok. I also don't eat after 9pm, if I do it's a few pickles (0 calories). Feel free to add me if you'd like! I have 71 lbs to go... Good luck to you!

Maude_Lewbowski

Desk Job 1275 cals have only lost 7lbs since January and holding. I excersise 3-5 times a week and do not eat back my excercise calories. Not sure what else to do.

phresh21

I started out at 236 and was eating like 1400ish calories and only loosing 1 lb a week while working out. I upped it to 1650 and do the same workout and still loose 1-2 lbs a week. The more I eat the better I loose.

jendavis07

I weigh 194 and I try and stay around 1500 calories for the day. I work out 3-4 times a week doing about an hour of cardio(500 calories) then I do strength training. Remember, you don't want to eat too much or too less.. Good luck!

HotCuppaJo

I am 5'6 and am allotted 1200 calories. I've lost 28 pounds since January 16th when I started. I exercise 5-7 days a week...(try to do something EVERY day...but can't always find the time being a single mama. ) When I workout, I usually gain back 300 or so calories, but I very seldom eat them all back. I try really hard to stay under the 1200 calorie mark and it seems to be working for me!

gemiwing

Desk Job 1275 cals have only lost 7lbs since January and holding. I excersise 3-5 times a week and do not eat back my excercise calories. Not sure what else to do.

Your story sounds like SO many of our group's members- maybe you'd like to check out the group? Super nice people there too!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less

SimplyShanRunning

My cals are set to 1650

Im lifting tho and I usually attempt to eat back all of my exercise cals if I don't Im famished

Im still trying to lose tho at this point inches is where I am seeing results .....and the change in my body. To me honestly I don't care about the number that scale gives me just that Im healthy, in shape, and happy when I look in the mirror, and every day that goes by I am getting closer to accomplishing that

chevy88grl

This whole topic is just so confusing, i keep going back and forth changing my calorie goals as in 4 weeks I've only lost 1lb (all in the 1st week). For now I'm sticking with 1,300 per day and if exercise cals take me down below 1,200 nett, i will eat some of those back as really that's the lowest the body needs to function from what I have read. I'm 130lb and hoping to get down to 115lb. Feel free to add me

I total agree with you. I keep changing mine as well cause one person says to do this another says to do that....so frustrating! :-(

Everyone is different. Yes, we all have the same parts on the inside, but things work differently for different people. What works for me - may or may not work for you. The key to success in this journey is to not be afraid to step out of the normal and see what works for YOU. If what you're doing isn't working, then do research... read articles, use calculators to get an idea of your BMR and your TDEE. Don't be afraid to try new things - even if everyone else says "That won't work!". Just because it didn't work for them, doesn't mean it won't work for you!


I'm shorter than you ladies are - I'm only 5'4". I've learned that I can easily lose weight on 2100-2200 net calories a day. I can easily maintain in the 2300-2500 net range. I know that anything under 2000 isn't enough and I won't lose any weight - and strange enough will start to see a small gain if I try and be under 2000 for an extended period of time. I've learned all this by trial and error, figuring out my BMR and TDEE and taking all my activity into account.

Some people have success eating back their exercise calories (I am one of these people) and some people don't. If you aren't eating them back and aren't losing, try eating the majority of them back for one month. If you are eating them back and not losing, try only eating 1/2 of them back. And for heaven's sake, when you switch things up? Give it TIME! Your body needs between 3 weeks to a month to adjust to what you're doing.

I see people (women especially) who aren't losing and assume they need to drop their calories to lose.. before you do that, do some research. You may find that you actually need to UP your calories vs lower them!

runfrommygenes

I'm 162 pounds... Right now I was working on maintaining while i recover from surgery...
So I set my cals at 1840 (sedentary maint for my weight)
I am losing eating that..
Little workouts in the last week...
Crazy, I typically eat about 2100 while burning about 800 a day... and was not losing...
Maybe I really was eating tooooo little... Hmmm...

donna_glasgow

Im 5'6 CW 169 lbs and I am trying to lose 22lbs.

I was living on 850-950 a day I was losing weight on this, also active, healthy and full of life

however I was reading up on "healthy eating" and realised I wouldn't be doing my body any good long term eating so low, I have struggled for a long time to eat more than 1000 cals a day, I have just raised my intake to 1200 a day (by eating nuts seeds and dried fruit) so Im awaiting the results .... however I have also upped my exercise so that the 3-400 cals dont go straight to my waistline lol

feel free to add me and see if it works for me

edit

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I normally exercise about 20- 30 mins a day ... thats on average across the week jogging walking and rowing but,,, at the moment im doing 60 mins a day (due to my up in cals)