Ladies- How many cals do you eat?

mama2shi

I am 5'7" and currently at 154 lbs. I do cardio a couple of times a week and lift heavy 3 times a week. I eat 1,900 calories a day. There is a great site to go and figure your BMR and TDEE which will help you gauge where you should be. It is http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/. You need to eat at least your BMR since that is what your body needs to simply "be here". There is also a great group on the forums: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less.

Check them out

AmyFett

i try to net my BMR (1790) .. so some days ill eat 1790 and some days i eat 2500, depends on exercise

how do you figure out calories from your BMI??

BrendaKayMay15

MFP puts me at 1960. I am 5'8'' and 241 lbs. (80 lbs to lose). I wore a bodymedia fit for over a year and my average burn without a workout was about 2900 so I think MFP has me a little low (I'm set to only lose 1 lb a week) BUT I figure with as much as I have to lose, adding in my workouts, my occassional mess up etc.. it's close enough That's just me. I'm just getting back in the swing of using MFP after a few months of falling way, way, way off the wagon so yet to see if 1960 does the trick or not.

mama2shi

I'm at 1400 right now. Once I start to lose, after a few months, I'll probably drop it to 1200. Especially the more I work out.

The more you workout the more you need to fuel your body. It needs it to function properly.

Lampy00512

1,300-1,600. Way before I started caring about taking care of myself, I always thought successful weight loss = less calories/starving. Boy, am I wrong!!! Ever since I started my MFP journey, I've learned a lot and have been eating like piggy whilst still losing!

ChristiH4000

Too many...but I'm working on it.

rockerbabyy

i try to net my BMR (1790) .. so some days ill eat 1790 and some days i eat 2500, depends on exercise

how do you figure out calories from your BMI??

its not BMI, its BMR and theres a calculator on this site, under tools..

Josie_lifting_cats

At 1,200 I didn't lose an ounce.

While doing Jillian I bumped up to 1,500 with HUGE success.

After Jillian I reduced to around 1,400.

Now I'm healthy BMI and my primary exercise is long bike rides, so I've increased to 1,600, but allow myself to go over a couple times a week by a bit. I'm maintaining, and I'm okay with that.

ETA: 5'5'', 148 pounds.

AmyFett

i try to net my BMR (1790) .. so some days ill eat 1790 and some days i eat 2500, depends on exercise

how do you figure out calories from your BMI??

its not BMI, its BMR and theres a calculator on this site, under tools..

oh woops, what is that ?

themommie

I eat 1290 , I dont eat back my exercise cals. and I work out 6 days a week., nothing strenuous though usually walking, bike riding, swimming, lunges, crunches, planks, tricep dips

kariebo

My calories are set for 1950 a day, however I am breastfeeding and added those calories in (so really it started at 1450). I exercise about 6 days a week, burning a minimum of 300 a day (usually double that because i exercise at lunch and in the evening). I eat back my calories to within about 100 calories each day... so Im eating over 2000 a day. So far I have lost about 11 lbs, but i keep fighting with the same 3 pounds -- have started weights and im wondering if that is temporarily hanging me up until the muscle kicks in...

fit4lyfeLisa

1200 - 1500

tappleton17

my dr told me 1500 but this thing says i should take in 2024. i am not even getting close to that and having a hard time getting to 1500. i work out 2 times a day so i am burning 300-400 cals a day. not sure how to change the 2024 on here.

picassoadagio

I always shoot for around 1500 calories (300- breakfast / 400- lunch / 500- dinner/ two 150- snacks)

If I go with MFP:
No exercise- 1630 cal.
With exercise- around 2000+ cal.

ipsamet

Between 2,200 and 2,800 depending on my workout. I don't lose when I eat less! I'm 5'9" and currently 198 for the record.

jenny4teach

MFP has me set at 1200 but I find it very hard to meet that if I dont exercise...and then it discourages me so I quit. Thanks for posting this! It makes me feel like I can range from 1200-1500 and still maybe lose weight! Those 300 calories could make my days and help me keep this up!!!

HorganMom3

I am at 1200 plus I try to eat back most of my workout cals back. Sometimes its hard, but I try. I work out 6 days a week and rest the 7 th. I'm currently doing p90x and do not follow its diet.. I eat healthier, but I do eat what I want if I want it. On my 7th day, or rest day, I log in everything I eat, but I don't pay too much attention to whether I go over or not. No, I try not to go way over board, but its my "care free" day.

gauchogirl

I'm sure the body doesn't work in exact 24 hour increments so I just try to keep a week's average about right. My MFP goal is set to 1353 and I add in and try to eat back the majority of my exercise calories. I don't make myself eat if I'm not hungry though, so some days (week days) I honestly only net 700-1000 calories, but other days (usually weekends) I net 2000-2500. It evens out in the end.

ladyraven68

I'm 4ft 11, started at 189 lbs , and lost my first 24lbs eating at 1600 flat. I have now readjusted to 1470 and will have more on workout days.

rockerbabyy

i try to net my BMR (1790) .. so some days ill eat 1790 and some days i eat 2500, depends on exercise

how do you figure out calories from your BMI??

its not BMI, its BMR and theres a calculator on this site, under tools..

oh woops, what is that ?

BMR is the number of calories your body would need to function if you were in a coma. bare minimum you should eat, imo

shelleybelly35

Those of you who have weight to lose, why do you eat your exercise calories? I have lost 108 pounds total, but I ate around 1200-1450 daily and burned about 600-1100 6 days a week. I tried to get a "net calorie count," calories in minus exercise, of around 500-800. I lost another pound this week. No it's not muscle. I have built a tremendous amount of muscle, as I lift weight, do push-ups and pull-ups, and run sprints. My arms are cut for the first time in my life. I still have 10 pounds to reach my goal, but I am getting there. Once I do, I can eat my exercise calories to maintain my weight. But eating your exercise calories won't make you lose much weight. Your body needs around 1200 calories to sustain metabolic functions. So if you sat around doing nothing, you would need that. Sometimes people need less, depending on the speed of their metabolism. I just want to throw my opinion in because someone told me to do that and I tried it. I lost 2 pounds in a month, when I was obese and could have lost at least 1 1/2-2 pounds a week, so I had to switch back to my original ways. It was only then that the weight started melting off again.

cmeade20

Those of you who have weight to lose, why do you eat your exercise calories? I have lost 108 pounds total, but I ate around 1200-1450 daily and burned about 600-1100 6 days a week. I tried to get a "net calorie count," calories in minus exercise, of around 500-800. I lost another pound this week. No it's not muscle. I have built a tremendous amount of muscle, as I lift weight, do push-ups and pull-ups, and run sprints. My arms are cut for the first time in my life. I still have 10 pounds to reach my goal, but I am getting there. Once I do, I can eat my exercise calories to maintain my weight. But eating your exercise calories won't make you lose much weight. Your body needs around 1200 calories to sustain metabolic functions. So if you sat around doing nothing, you would need that. Sometimes people need less, depending on the speed of their metabolism. I just want to throw my opinion in because someone told me to do that and I tried it. I lost 2 pounds in a month, when I was obese and could have lost at least 1 1/2-2 pounds a week, so I had to switch back to my original ways. It was only then that the weight started melting off again.

Because my body burns about 1300 calories just existing. It burns another couple hundred from daily activities. Then another 500-700 from working out. Plus it burns calories when digesting. Netting 500-800 is not healthy.
And considering I would be STARVING eating only 1200-1400 calories per day I'll stick with my low deficit.

jennifer907

I try to end at 1300 a day or a little lower, and when I workout, I eat back all (or most) of those. I try to burn at least 300 a day in workouts, so generally I actually eat 1500 a day. If I'm not working out, then obviously I have to tone down the eating, but to be honest it's extremely difficult for me to eat such a low amount and not work out. I'm happier if I can enjoy my snacks and just know that I have to do some form of physical activity for 45 min to an hour as a result. (On my "rest" days I still go for a brisk hour walk.. I would feel bad if I had a day where I did absolutely no physical activity.)

I am 5 ft 3 and I lose about 1.4 lbs a week. I wish I could lose faster, but I know that to be able to do this long-term, slow and steady is the way to go.

And I eat back my calories because if not I would be starving and miserable. I don't want to feel like being on a diet is a horrible punishment. I want to be happy even if this does take a lot of work.

Desika87

My calorie goal (according to my BMR) is 1540... But the last few days I really had problems to come onto 1200.... Not feeling hungry at all respectively I've had enough in the evenings and don't know what to eat more to fill up my calorie-intake... :-s I try to eat back about 50% of my calories...

I'm 5 ft 4 and 152lbs... I've started this journey 5 weeks ago and lost 15lbs so far.

nickollette113

On days I work out, I eat around 1800 usually, sometimes closer to 2000. I average about 700 burned from exercise. On days I don't work out, I eat around 1500. And I think (based on a calculator) my BMR is around 2230.

MissLuana

I'm currently set at 1200/day but I usually exercise 5-6 times a week burning anywhere from 500-900 cals/day. I usually eat all but 30-50 of my cals back.

babycook

The calories you take in vary according to height, weight, age and activity level.
I'm short. I have about 30-35 lbs to lose. I'm 40.
My workout schedule varies but I am pretty sedentary.

My calories range to I'm pushing to get in 1200 to 1500 plus exercise calories. It all depends on the day.

rockerbabyy

Those of you who have weight to lose, why do you eat your exercise calories? I have lost 108 pounds total, but I ate around 1200-1450 daily and burned about 600-1100 6 days a week. I tried to get a "net calorie count," calories in minus exercise, of around 500-800. I lost another pound this week. No it's not muscle. I have built a tremendous amount of muscle, as I lift weight, do push-ups and pull-ups, and run sprints. My arms are cut for the first time in my life. I still have 10 pounds to reach my goal, but I am getting there. Once I do, I can eat my exercise calories to maintain my weight. But eating your exercise calories won't make you lose much weight. Your body needs around 1200 calories to sustain metabolic functions. So if you sat around doing nothing, you would need that. Sometimes people need less, depending on the speed of their metabolism. I just want to throw my opinion in because someone told me to do that and I tried it. I lost 2 pounds in a month, when I was obese and could have lost at least 1 1/2-2 pounds a week, so I had to switch back to my original ways. It was only then that the weight started melting off again.

because my body needs more than 1200 to survive, even if i sat on my *kitten* all day (hence me eating at my bmr) and i burn calories doing everything else i do throughout the day. just because im obese doesnt mean its healthy to net low just to lose weight faster. im miserable on anything less than 1500 calories a day (i tried it) - id much rather eat more and still lose - totally enjoying life. eating exercise calories doesnt make you maintain - eating at maintenance does

Merrysix

I eat 1500 cals per day and exercise abou 5 days a week, mixing kettlebells, pilates, rowing, biking, yoga. I don't add back in my exercise calories except if I exercise over 1 hour, I have 100 calories for each additional hour. I am losing at a reasonable clip (5.8 pounds for July). I believe in slow and steady ....this isn't a diet but a lifestyle change.

LadyL2012

Currently I am eating no more than 1200 a day, with running for 30 minutes twice a week and aerobics for an hour once a week. I have been on this diet 3 weeks and have lost only 4lbs .

I eat back some of my exercise calories but not all. My BMR is 1450 and m TDEE is 2000. So I normally have a 800 deficit, which should give me a 2lb weight loss a week, but it hasn't.

My aim is to get down to 145 - 140 before the beginning of my holiday in September and then once I've reached that weight I intend to up my cals to about 1500 until I reach my goal of 130.