I can only eat 1200 calories because I am short

MissFit0101

Ditto! I am only 5'2 and eating 2000 calories a day to lose 1lb a week.

flabulous4

True. I am 5' 2.5" and maintaining at 115-119 lb. I don't log, I eat pretty much what I like (3 proper meals a day plus snacks), I drink beer (and wine), I run 3-4 times a week. Life is good.

FitFabFlirty92

I remember you from my post about this! Thanks for bringing this up, it's an issue that seriously needs to be addressed on here.

Madholm

I'm only eating 1200 calories a day; even MFP put me at 1220 to loose 2lb per week based on my age ect.

In my 20's I could have lost weight on 2500 calories a day.

Ann1964x

Glad this works for you, but I am 48 & gain over 1400 calories a day. I am active too.

ToughTulip

Glad this works for you, but I am 48 & gain over 1400 calories a day. I am active too.

Even at 48 you can certainly eat more than 1400 with out gaining fat.
There is no way that is a surplus for most people unless you are in bed all day

freckledrats

Actually, someone my exact size but 48 years old would have a sedentary TDEE of 1494.

EDIT: Obvs that means she can maintain over 1400, but it's a super technical point to make and I just wanted to point out that she's not all THAT far off. If by active she means she does 20 min of elliptical a day, she could still gain on 1700.

Lyra89

I think age might matter here. When I was 20, I could eat anything I wanted without exercising and maintain. My metabolism has slowed down continually as I've gotten older. It sucks.

I completely disagree.

I gained 4 stone (about 50 or 60lbs) in the two years between being 17 and 19!

If you eat junk and don't exercise, it catches up, no matter what age you are...if you are repeatedly in a caloric surplus you'll gain.

I HATE when older people say to me 'Yeah, WAIT til you get older! You wont have that fast metabolism any more!'

LOL bull****.

Lyra89

...also, I LOVE this post, Sunshine! You're so right! I'm almost at my ultimate goal weight and I'm eating way more than any 'diet' would ever recommend

ChitownFoodie

I am 30, 5' tall and eat 2,000+ a day. I didn't even realize how many calories I could eat until I bought a BodyMedia Fit. Most of my Moderate activity is from living every day life. I walk to the train, take the stairs, walk to whatever restaurant my meeting is at, cook, etc.

Yesterday's stats (rest day):

Burned: 2226
Consumed: 2732 (trying to gain)
Moderate Activity: 04:08
Vigorous: 00:29
Steps: 15,385
Sleep: 5:17


Sunday's stats (lifting day):

Burned: 2530
Consumed: 2692 (trying to gain)
Moderate Activity: 05:29
Vigorous: 00:48
Steps: 19,258
Sleep: 5:07

Even though I am trying to gain weight, it's taken me 2 months to gain 2 pounds.

sarahisme18

I am 5 3 and on 1200 cals a day and go to the gym twice a week do sit ups at home in between and use an exersice bike I am losing on avarage 1 1b a week

But have you been doing that for years? I did.... and couldn't lose eventually. No metabolism.

angiechimpanzee

Well I'd definitely gain eating 2000+. I don't have much muscle mass at all (which I'm working on). In fact when I was at my fattest I think I was eating about 2500 a day.

Anywhere from 1000 to 1500 can be fine for me, & i won't be starving. I'm eating anywhere between those two numbers each day right now and doing 30 minutes of cardio and some strength training.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

There's no good reason for an active, young female to eat less than 1500 calories a day. NONE. (okay barring a thyroid disfunction or disorder of the endocrine system).