Ladies- How many cals do you eat?

aqm22

Looking at all of these answer...am I eating too little? Is it hurting my weight lost goals? I struggle to reach 1200 calories even on days I don't work out. Exception, friday...work tends to buy the most unhealthiest food for me to consume...

cmeade20

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.

An 800 calorie deficit is less than two pounds a week. 1000 per day would be 2 lbs per week. However unless you have a lot of weight to lose you might find this to be counter productive. And 4 lbs in 3 weeks is a good loss.

dakotababy

I am set at 1360. I have found this incredibly easy to stick to AS LONG AS i dont eat much junk/fast food. If i am wise in my decisions while out at resturants, i can still have a good meal and stay under my calories.

I also do not work out much, and for whatever working out I do do, i dont count it.

416runner

I think there is a little bit of trial and error involved in finding what works for you. I'd like to drop a little more weight but running and lifting are priorities and I don't do either well without a good amount of calories in my system. I've played around with different levels and so far, 1600ish seems pretty good for me (and more on Saturday, when I do my long run).

InTheInbetween

I generally net between 1200-1500 calories a day (usually closer to 1200), I eat back some/most exercise calories (or spend them on something awesome like rum and diet cokes).

Me too! :drinker:

I'm 5'8", 119 lbs and I exercise 7 days a week (20ish min before work, then either a 4-5k run or 45 minutes of strength on alternating days, I'm starting Insanity when the DVDs arrive).

I'm 5'7" and i'd kill to be 119! Even with my constant running I can't break 130. Maybe I should omit the rum and diets after all . .

shelleybelly35

I am perfectly healthy. I have great muscle tone and definition and am never lethargic. In fact, I have more energy than I have ever had. I eat whole foods, no processed junk foods. You want a lower net when you are dieting. My BMR is about 1000, and I have a low activity job, so it works for me. I guess people will do it their own way, but I see a lot of people struggling when they don't need to struggle. When nutritionists and trainers put you on a certain number of calories, they NEVER tell you eat your exercise calories. That would be counterproductive.

rockerbabyy

I am perfectly healthy. I have great muscle tone and definition and am never lethargic. In fact, I have more energy than I have ever had. I eat whole foods, no processed junk foods. You want a lower net when you are dieting. My BMR is about 1000, and I have a low activity job, so it works for me. I guess people will do it their own way, but I see a lot of people struggling when they don't need to struggle. When nutritionists and trainers put you on a certain number of calories, they NEVER tell you eat your exercise calories. That would be counterproductive.

when nutritionist and trainers put you on a certain number of calories, theyre taking into account that youll do their program (exercise, etc).
with mfp, they dont assume youll exercise so they give you a number to eat that involves your lifestyle excluding exercise - which is why when you do exercise it give you more calories to eat.
nutritionist - eat 2000 calories a day and burn 500 on the treadmill.
mfp - eat 1500 calories a day. oh you burned 500 on the treadmill? eat 2000 for the day.
same math, different approach

shelleybelly35

If it's miserable for you then don't do it. I eat healthy foods: turkey burgers, salad, veggies, fruit, beans, etc. I don't eat too many carbs, about 200-300 mg daily. So I eat all day long at 1200-1350 calories! I'm never hungry. I'm not sure I could eat much more than that. I think I am going to find it difficult to up my calories once I go to maintenance mode. I don't plan on EVER quitting the daily exercise.

HMVOL7409

The last number I went by for losing was 1600-1700. I now maintain at 2000. I do not use MFP calculations but use TDEE.

Edit to add: When I did have MFP set to 1200, I did eat most of my exercise calories back.

Thaney61

I stay under or at 1200 a day my DR told me i needed to do this in order to lose weight ..i have went from 191 to 170 in about 4 months. there have been maybe 4 days i went over..i am 5"7 50 years old i still need to lose20 pounds. ;0

shelleybelly35

I'm not trying to argue with you, but no fitness trainer, my mom used to be one, or nutritionist would put you on 2000 calories if a fitness program assigned had you burning 500 a day.

rockerbabyy

I'm not trying to argue with you, but no fitness trainer, my mom used to be one, or nutritionist would put you on 2000 calories if a fitness program assigned had you burning 500 a day.

really? it was a simple example to show the math is the same. plug in any damn number you want.

juliep1974

I'm 5'6" and anywhere from 149-151 lbs. I eat at least 2000/day but I'm training for a triathlon so I burn 400-800 calories a day. I'm not actively trying to lose weight while training but have lost a couple of lbs in the last month at this calorie intake. I'm happy at my current weight but would like to work on building muscle (once tri season is over).

invisibubble

Light activity TDEE - 15%, which is 1720. But I'll eat 100-250 more calories on big workout days. I'm losing just fine too.

lwoods34

I'm eating 2400-2500 calories per day to maintain my weight! When I was trying to lose I was eating between 2100-2200 calories per day!

FuneralDiner

I'm 5'4" and 168lbs. My daily goal is 1,380 calories. I work out every day burning between 200 and 400 calories.

I usually end the day about 300 calories under.

MochaMixAZ

1900 - keeps me satisfied, allows a splurge, and I can still lose. It's slower than I'd like, but I can stick with it.

mturgeon05

1800...every day. Sometimes I struggle with this and eat a bit over. I like food.

shelleybelly35

You also didn't start out obese. There is strong evidence that metabolisms are different. I tried starting out with 1600 calories and never lost a pound at 230 pounds. I dropped it to around 1200-1400 and started losing weight. You were already 130 pounds, 100 pounds lighter than me.

MireyGal76

I too am at 1800 a day, and find it incredibly tough to keep it there.

FrugalMomsRock75

Today, I'm eating around 2100 (1470 is my goal, plus I exercised a little over 700 calories off).

I am pretty confident in my burn, too-I have a polar ft7.

*I'm 5'2'' and currently 157.

I_love_frogs

I'm given 1200 a day, not counting exercise. With the exercise calories I get close to about oh 1600-1800 a day.

I don't always eat all my exercise cals back tho. I try to eat back at least 1/2 of them.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

I'm 5'3, 150 pounds and I do 1,500 to 1,600.

piebird79

I'm maintaining at 129 pounds. I eat about 2,000+ calories a day, lift weights 2 or 3 days a week tops.

weightlossloser13

I try to stick between 1200 and 1500 a day. I am *basically* exactly the same body type as you (26yrs, 5'6"-5'7", hovering around 190lbs at the moment, shooting for anywhere between 120lbs and 140lbs--no actual number, more just a figure in the mirror that I am happy with kind of thing).

I read something interesting the other day that I think that *EVERYONE* should keep in mind while trying to lose weight: During WWII Auschwitz inmates engaged in heavy labor received 1,700 calories per day and those on light work 1,300.

So, please, take care of yourself and don't push it! Working out 6 days a week is pretty dang awesome of you!!!

nae714

I am along the same lines, I eat 1200 and don't use my exercise calories normally, because in my eyes you want your exercise to stay negative so you lose better.

rhonniema

2000.
My BMR is 2011.

iwantahealthierme13

1620, MFP told me that calorie limit but my doctor said it was perfect when I asked her.
5'5.5" 184, swim twice a week for an hour and treadmill or walk whenever I feel like it.
I don't eat back all my exercise cals.

invisibubble

I am along the same lines, I eat 1200 and don't use my exercise calories normally, because in my eyes you want your exercise to stay negative so you lose better.

*sigh* You still need fuel. the more activity you do, the more fuel you'll need just to keep your organs and shizz in function. Looking at you, you should really eat more than that on a rest day, even.

shelleybelly35

I should say not for weight loss. For muscle gain or maintenance, maybe. But definitely not for weight loss if you are obese.