Girls, how many calories are you eating?

Sabine_Stroehm

I'm 5'6". My BMR is 1333. I eat 1500 a day and workout about every other day.

blueroses_78

5'4, 162 lbs (down from 270). I eat between 1200 to 1430 a day, but I also eat back my exercise calories. When I hit a plateau, I usually do up my calories to around 1600-1700 to see if that works.

wendybrat75

I'm 5'2'' 119.5 lbs, I eat around 2000 calories a day & I workout 5-6 days a week. I'm not trying to lose anymore weight, just maintaining!

octoberfalling

I'm 5'6, and I've been eating 1200 cals a day based on MFP's suggested number. I am considering switching to TDEE - 30% though, which would give me 1350 per day. I was having great luck with the 1200 cal a day, dropped 27 lbs, and then I plateaued out for over a month, and gave up and ended up gaining ten back. I've lost 8 of those again doing to 1200 cal a day thing, but once I plateau again I think I'm going to try upping my calories instead of lowering them and see if it breaks it.

Sloth_TurtleGirl

This is something I've been thinking a lot about. I was just doing 1200 and losing. But, I started working out. Unfortunately, I also started my time of the month. For some reason I gain every time and then it takes me the first week after to lose what I gained. So frustrating to be set back two weeks every month.

Anyway, now that I've started trying to work out, I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure if I trust what I'm burning enough to actually up my calories or if I should stay at 1200. I'm going to go over this thread later, so this should hold it in my topics. I guess I'll see what the most successful people are doing and go with that. I'm trying to lose over 100 pounds. But, it is frustrating to get set back several pounds every month!

I can't afford to mess around. I really need to finally lose the weight this year.

priyaFitnessFreak

I'm 5 ft 5 inches and 170 pounds now ... I exercse for an hour 4-5 days a week and my calorie intake ranges from 1400 on a good day to 1700 on a bad one...I'm seeing some results though they are slow. But looks like they are steady right now.

Mistila

I'm 5' 3.5" and 134 I just went to a weight loss Dr and he put me on 900 calorie diet!!! I also have PCOS that factors in just a little bit!

Impy84

5'2 161lbs
and my nutritionist has me at 1300

DawnieB1977

I'm 5'6" and I had been eating about 1200 a day and recently upped it a little to 1400 (all from healthy food) and have lost an inch off my waist, hips and thighs in 3 weeks! I exercise a lot, and I also have a 3 year old and a 1 year old and I am constantly on the go, so I guess i need more calories.

theartichoke

This is something I've been thinking a lot about. I was just doing 1200 and losing. But, I started working out. Unfortunately, I also started my time of the month. For some reason I gain every time and then it takes me the first week after to lose what I gained. So frustrating to be set back two weeks every month.

Anyway, now that I've started trying to work out, I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure if I trust what I'm burning enough to actually up my calories or if I should stay at 1200. I'm going to go over this thread later, so this should hold it in my topics. I guess I'll see what the most successful people are doing and go with that. I'm trying to lose over 100 pounds. But, it is frustrating to get set back several pounds every month!

I can't afford to mess around. I really need to finally lose the weight this year.

If you figure out the secret to getting around the 2 week disaster that's TOM please share. I have the same issue so I just stay off the darn scale.

OP
I'm 36, 5'6, 205lbs from 263 and at 1700 cals a day. I eat back cardio calories, but I hate cardio and don't do it very often.

angelina2585

I'm 42, 5'4", 133lbs and have PCOS.

I've used the calculator at:-

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

which factors in my 3-5 hours exercise per week.

Using the calculator I eat 15% less than my TDEE (maintenance calories) - 1750 calories every day. I've just recently had a period of eating at maintenance for 4 weeks @ 2050 calories per day. I plan on eating 1750 for 4 to 5 weeks then upping to 2050 for a week or 2...and repeating the cycle.

BinaryPulsar

I am 5'3" and 110 about 15% bodyfat and I eat 2000-2200 to maintain!

This is helpful to hear. I have very similar stats as you.

Thanks everyone for sharing. It's just helpful to read how others are doing this.

onyxgirl17

5 ft. 6 in.

Current: 161 pounds

Currently eat: 1200-1400 calories a day

(Average 1300)

Workout 3-4 X a week

Barberini

5'3", 115lb (GW 111lb) 1800 regardless of workouts (I burn about 500cals a day though, currently doing p90x), with an unintentional higher calorie day about once a week (2000-2200).

Noor13

I am 34 years old 5'7.5'' and 148lbs
Eating 2400-2600 to maintain
Love my foot
Exercise-3xper week lifting heavy and 2-3x HIIT

jaeone

I eat 1800 to 1950 daily! I'm 5'7" 132.

socalgirl68

5'4 1850 calories+ exercise

Susan2BHealthier

bump

CassGRFH

I'm 5'2", 110lbs, and my daily recommended intake is calculated at 1610 calories a day. Some days I'm over, some days I'm under. I aim to work out 3 days a week. My weight stays pretty stable here.

jenillawafer

5'0, 104 pounds and eating roughly 1800 calories daily. I work out 4 days per week (25 minutes of cardio and 'bout 20 minutes weight lifting, alternating days between arms and legs/abs). My weight hardly fluctuates, so eating to maintain is up to par.

fteale

I am 5'5" 125 lbs and eat 1500 cals a day for maintenance.

Graelwyn75

5'10, 125/126, 1600-2600 to maintain.

leeanneowens

I'm 5'3" and weigh 189lbs. I eat around 1200 calories a day.

JoniBologna

I'm 5'6" and 150lbs. I eat 1650 on rest days. My BMR is approx 1500 cal. Some days I eat upwards of 3000+ calories. Eat up, ladies.

Lisseth03

5"5 149, I net around 1700 on avg

hannah_rose05

5'5, 110lbs and on 1350 calories, dont usually eat back my exercise though...seem to be losing weight slowly which is how i want to do it

bulbadoof

I'm 5'3, 147-148, eating 1400 a day and losing weight. You're fine.

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

Type in your height, weight, and age here. As long as your daily intake is lower than the number it gives you, you'll lose weight.

kiwilan

I'm on 1700 (recently changed it) but not eating exercise cals as its 20% off my TDEE.

uwdawg07

5'3" and 121 pounds. I eat around 1200-1300 calories a day. Planning on upping it a bit soon, to about 1400 - 1500, so when I go to maintenance my body doesn't freak out.

ash190489

5'5" - approx. 130 pounds. My calorie goal is set at 1500 calories per day. I can eat anywhere between 1300-1700 calories and be happy as I currently am exercising 5 days per week for minimum 60mins and it includes a lot of weight training.

I originally was eating 1200 calories from January - March and then once I begun proper weight training I upped it to 1300 (to cater for my protein shakes) and then eventually I upped it to 1500 calories as a trainer told me that I could do so and still lose body fat (which is my goal now, not a number on the scales).

Keep in mind you may initially gain a teeny bit back after the first week - as your body will go into "shock" getting more food than its used to and will probably hold onto some of that food in case you restrict yourself again, however you will quickly lose it again as your body recognises that it continues to get a bit more food and what your actually doing is putting your body into fat burning mode again and your metabolism will no longer be as slow (or at least that's my understanding).

Give it a go, what have you got to lose! :bigsmile: