How much are YOU eating?

laurenk182004
laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just finally read the "in place of a roadmap2.0" (thanks helloitsdan!) and I was thinking maybe I should up my calories. I'm just wondering how other people are doing with this? I'm losing weight with what I am doing, but I'm hungry a lot :(
My stats
1250 calories a day
26 years old
Female
Stay at home mom (sedentary? Lol)
251 (have lost 47lbs since July 19th, 20lbs since November 1st after a slack off on the healthy eating and exercise)

Thanks! :)
«1

Replies

  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    I doubt that being a SAHM you have a sedentary lifestly. I work a desk job during the day, with little moving around, but when I get home wtih the kids at the end of the day I don't think I sit down until I lay down in my bed!

    How tall are you?
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    DO IT!!!!!!!!!
    Seriously I read something along the lines, did a different calculator thing that suggested I up to 1700 and I did. Since I haven't been able to keep with my workout regimine the past couple of weeks I was worried I would get back to the gym next week and find I've gained. Instead this morning I wanted to wear Khaki's for a change and came to the conclusion another trip to Goodwill for clothes is in fact needed.... I undergrew my pants again... be it changes in my body from not working out or loss or both I won't know until I get back on the scale at the gym next week, but I know I would be better off going in naked than wearing my khaki's, my brown slacks, or my blue slacks... Naked I don't spend time wasting pulling my britches on :)
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Oops! 5'6"... And I am moving around a bit at home lol one 5yr old daughter who's not in school yet and a 5 month old baby boy :) I use my treadmill 20-30 minutes like 3-4 times a week
  • JosieJo2000
    JosieJo2000 Posts: 162 Member
    This is a popular topic on MFP!

    I am short, 5'2", and have a small frame. I started at 1200 calories a day and it was awful. The scales hardly moved, I think the main reason was I was so lethargic I didn't do much incidental exercise. If I wasn't out specifically exercising (eg walking, swimming) I sat on my butt starving. I was also a grumpy cow to be around.

    I upped my calories to 1400 which doesn't sound like a big difference but it was amazing. I was happier, had more energy and moved more. I started to lose weight - and fast! Part of this was because I was able to do fairly intense exercise for an hour or so a day.

    I'm at my goal weight now and still exercising quite a bit (cardio and strength) so I can eat up to around 1800-2000 which feels decadent!
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    DO IT!!!!!!!!!
    Seriously I read something along the lines, did a different calculator thing that suggested I up to 1700 and I did. Since I haven't been able to keep with my workout regimine the past couple of weeks I was worried I would get back to the gym next week and find I've gained. Instead this morning I wanted to wear Khaki's for a change and came to the conclusion another trip to Goodwill for clothes is in fat needed.... I undergrew my pants again... be it changes in my body from not working out or loss or both I won't know until I get back on the scale at the gym next week, but I know I would be better off going in naked... it would be just as effective
    Thanks! I might do it lol I'm scared to gain, but I'm hungry haha
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    i eat 2700 cals/day to maintain current weight
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I am 42 years old, 5'7'' and am currently 226 pounds. I am eating 1800 calories a day. I was eating less until a few weeks ago. Then I hit a GIANT plateau, and did some reading. I found the In Place of a Road Map thing and decided to up my calories. I stayed at the same weight until this morning, when I dropped 2 pounds. So I think that eating more may work for me.
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    So what are we thinking I should be eating? 1400? 1700? Lol
  • Still_Fluffy
    Still_Fluffy Posts: 341 Member
    I went to my dietician and she suggested I should be eating 2400 calories (my BMR) plus all of what I burn working out. I'm a large framed 6' - 270. I had previously lost 130 pounds, then hit wall and could not lose anything. Since eating more calories 2 weeks ago I'm down 3 pounds with no change in my workouts. The nice thing is if I am hungry, I eat something.
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    DO IT!!!!!!!!!
    Seriously I read something along the lines, did a different calculator thing that suggested I up to 1700 and I did. Since I haven't been able to keep with my workout regimine the past couple of weeks I was worried I would get back to the gym next week and find I've gained. Instead this morning I wanted to wear Khaki's for a change and came to the conclusion another trip to Goodwill for clothes is in fat needed.... I undergrew my pants again... be it changes in my body from not working out or loss or both I won't know until I get back on the scale at the gym next week, but I know I would be better off going in naked... it would be just as effective
    Thanks! I might do it lol I'm scared to gain, but I'm hungry haha

    Just make sure your choices are still whole, healthy choices and you will be good. I still find it hard to meet my caloric intake but I don't worry about indulging in a few extra almonds anymore...
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    I am 42 years old, 5'7'' and am currently 226 pounds. I am eating 1800 calories a day. I was eating less until a few weeks ago. Then I hit a GIANT plateau, and did some reading. I found the In Place of a Road Map thing and decided to up my calories. I stayed at the same weight until this morning, when I dropped 2 pounds. So I think that eating more may work for me.
    Wow! You have lost a lot! Wtg :) and thankyou for your response :)
  • elprincipito
    elprincipito Posts: 1,200 Member
    3100 to gain about a pound every 2 weeks? maybe a week...
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Ahh baby boy is up from his nappy lol I'll be back to read through this in a bit. Thankyou!!
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I lose on 2000 calories per day. I maintain on about 2300-2400. I'm 37 yrs old, 156 lbs, 5'7" and about 25% body fat. I run, lift, rest, repeat.

    EDIT: Oh, yeah, and I'm a SAHM... for me that equates to the third level of activity in MFP... not sedentary or even mildly active... the next one up (is it Moderately active?). I burn about 2200 calories/day on a rest day.
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    I am trying to find the website for the calculator I used... I thought I bumped the topic to return to it but I can't find it now :(
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    OK, with the numbers you gave, using 1-3 hours a week of "light" exercise (I like to underestimate my exercise but you'll have to twear this on your own) here are the numbers:

    BMR: 1929
    TDEE: 2653

    20% Calorie Deficit: 2122

    SO, there is your starting point. Try to eat at least your BMR, but get as close to the 2122 as you can. Reevaluate your numbers after 5 pound loss. Your numbers will come down as you get closer to your goal weight. But at 1200 calories no wonder you are hungry!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    So what are we thinking I should be eating? 1400? 1700? Lol

    whatever your TDEE is minus a deficit. i thought you read the thread? :smile:
  • sandradev1
    sandradev1 Posts: 786 Member
    If you use the road map to find out your BMR and TDEE (using the correct activity level) and you set your calorie goal to TDEE minus a deficit of up to 20%, (ensuring that result is above your BMR figure) then logically, so long as you are being honest and logging everything that passes your lips, there is no way that won't lose weight. Your body may take a while to settle down and in some cases has increased a couple of pounds, but once settled you WILL lose weight.

    This is simply because the calories going in are less than the calories going out.
  • cem9532
    cem9532 Posts: 32 Member
    I was eating at 1480 for a while and was starting to get hungry alot. About 2 weeks ago i decided to up it to 1700-1800. I have lost weight both weeks since then and had no issues with hunger. I defenitly say give it a shot! I makes it seem so much easier to maintain that calorie range for the long haul and get the weight off.(plus i dont exercise on a regular basis so you might could get away with even higher) Good Luck
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    What I would do is test the waters out so to speak but just increasing your calories by 100 more a day and stay that way for at least 2 weeks and then if you want you can increase them again the same way as long as your still happy with your progress. Once I reached my goal I did this and I kept losing lol so I had to have cheat days to gain back so hopefully you will find what calorie level works best for you
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    I had 15 lbs to lose and did 1200 NET along with strength and cardio until I hit my goal. I was not that hungry while I did the 1200 NET (mostly because I did significant exercise and ate back a portion). I now eat 1900 NET give or take a few. My maintenance is somewhere around 1900-1960 based on the calculations I've done from the roadmap calcluators.
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    Lauren I am 5'6" and I lost weight eating 1650 net REALLY fast at the beginning, but I lost weight at a wide range of net calories, anywhere from 1420 as high as 2100. I lost exactly a pound a week at 1420 and at 2100 both, you can lose weight eating high calorie, or low. The only difference is eating low calorie is hard and I hear a lot of people saying they stall out! They hit a plateau!

    I eat 2600 net to maintain my weight of 135 pounds. I keep saying net because I still eat back my exercise calories. I have been experimenting since July with maintenance and have been eating net 2600 since October.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    It does not matter what I'm eating, you're not me. :)
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I am 42 years old, 5'7'' and am currently 226 pounds. I am eating 1800 calories a day. I was eating less until a few weeks ago. Then I hit a GIANT plateau, and did some reading. I found the In Place of a Road Map thing and decided to up my calories. I stayed at the same weight until this morning, when I dropped 2 pounds. So I think that eating more may work for me.
    Wow! You have lost a lot! Wtg :) and thankyou for your response :)

    Thank you. I lost most of it pretty quickly, and then stalled. I am hoping I am back on the road now.

    You need to find a TDEE calculator, here is a link to one: http://thefitgirls.com/tdee-calculator.aspx. Figure out what your TDEE 9the amount of calories you burn evry day) and then figure out what 80%of that is, and eat that. That is what I am doing. I figured it did not hurt to try. What I am eating now is not enough calories for me to gain weight. So if I try if for a while and am not losing, I can readjust. I do know that it allows me to eat a LOT of food, and I feel great.
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    I am trying to find the website for the calculator I used... I thought I bumped the topic to return to it but I can't find it now :(

    You were reading the same post I did. Go to the link
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

    He tells you in his post how to configure it. I was skeptical but figured it surely couldn't hurt... and it didn't :)
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    Age 30, 5' tall, very active, paperweight! Maintenance is about 2000-2400 (depending on the day).
  • Chinadorian
    Chinadorian Posts: 200 Member
    I eat 1750 a day, and thats 200 less than what IPOARM suggested for me ...1900 is just too much for me to wrap my mind around to lose weight, so I settled for 1750 .


    Im not starving- ever. I am always satisfied. I dont eat back my exercise cals, unless for some reason I AM famished and then, if I eat over 2000 even, somehow I still do OK. :)
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    I'm eating around 1800 more or less if wanting to lose.
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    I currently eat 3300 calories a day in my bulk.
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    So what are we thinking I should be eating? 1400? 1700? Lol

    whatever your TDEE is minus a deficit. i thought you read the thread? :smile:
    I did read it but I haven't used the calculators yet. I was curious what kind of response I would get on the eating more. I will go do the calculators when I can get on the laptop. I'm using an iPod touch at the moment :)

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