Question about Calories!

Heatherfev21

Hi!

I have been doing this (well properly) for about 2 weeks now, I started with 1300 calories, but some days I barely scrape through with 1200. My partner worked out with the aid of some online calculator about base rates that I should probably eat around 1400, 1600 with exercise.

I do exercise, I tend to burn off only about 100 calories a day atm tho!

Some days I struggle to get to 1200, some days I want to eat like1200000! Like today, I have 400 odd left and still have to get through dinner, yesterday I had 700 left at dinner and struggled.

ANYWAY, my entire point is... I am currently 210lbs, and 5ft2". I am mostly non active apart from walking and rowing at night for between 5 and 20 mins depending on how utterly exhausted I am (I'm always sodding tired!)

How many calories should I be eating? MFP said 1200, but I read somewhere that I really should eat more than that.

Cheers!

Heatherfev21

Anyone?

EatClean_WashUrNuts

Your BMR, which MFP can set for you, is 1709 - this is the caloric intake your body needs on a regular basis to MAINTAIN your present weight.

I highly advise you use the tools within MFP to set a 2 pound loss per week as your goals.

With that said, and I will blunt honest here, you need to get your head straight. Ask yourself if this truly what you WANT. IF so, then do you what you need to in order to achieve. You do not have to work out to lose weight, but it helps.

Heatherfev21

Get my head straight? I'm sorry I don't follow. Naturally I want to lose weight or I wouldn't be here, was just looking for some advice calorie wise., as I've read different advice.

I will stick within the limits given, as I have been attempting to do. I enjoy working out but I'm terribly unfit, which is why I am starting slowly and working up my pace.

Thanks for the reply.

shelbiejo

Try the 1200 and if you feel like that isn't enough to keep you going up it. Try your hardest to at least hit that number though. That was my biggest problem when I started was actually hitting the 1200 mark. I learned to at least eat that much, but I still don't always hit that many net calories. Try eating higher calorie foods like nuts to hit your goal! Since I started lifting weights though 1200 wasn't keeping me full so I recently upped it to 1300.

postrockandcats

Based on the info you have given, you burn about 2300 calories a day. If you want to use the method that MFP employs and you want to loose a pound a week, you'll need to eat about 1800 calories. More if you exercise.

Go here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/my_goals

Don't put in a two pound a week weight loss goal because that will put you at the 1200 calorie a day intake that you're at now that you're not liking so much. Loose at a slower pace to keep your body healthy. Exercise isn't needed PER SE, but strength training will tone you and Cardio will help your overall endurance.

PS- if you eat, you'll probably feel more like working out

AnvilHead

Your BMR, which MFP can set for you, is 1709 - this is the caloric intake your body needs on a regular basis to MAINTAIN your present weight....

Just to help make sure she "has her head straight" and isn't taking in bad information - your BMR has nothing to do with maintaining your weight or establishing your deficit. BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the bare minimum your body needs if you're lying in bed in a coma. Your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) is what you base your deficit upon - that's your BMR plus your daily activity (walking, eating, sitting, standing, showering, going to the bathroom, working out, etc.).

OP, you may want to read this thread and try Helloitsdan's method:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

RawVeganFlirt

NEVER eat below your BMR! i'm 5'2 also and 1200 is definitely undereating in a bad way. BMR is solely what your body needs to fuction (heart pumping, breathing, etc). Going under your BMR causes your metabolism to slow down overtime. eventually you'll stop losing weight. this is why people constantly say they hit a plateau and dont understand because they are eating so little. find out what your TDEE is, subtract 15-20% from that, but make sure its still higher than your BMR. thats where the magic happens

Heatherfev21

Thanks everyone. I don't want my body to think I'm starving it, so I'll futz around with suggestions and see what works best!

Going to read that thread when I'm at my PC and take notes!