How Many Calories Should I Be Eating??? HELP!

samanthalee87
samanthalee87 Posts: 178
in Food and Nutrition
Hi MFP world! I have a question regarding how many calories I should be eating. I'm working out 6 days a week, doing the Turbo Fire series, averaging about 40 minutes each day. Mostly cardio, some strengthing. I burn anywhere between 200 - 650 calories depending on the length of the video I do. I also walk the dog for about a half hour each day and burn about 230 calories.

My calories are set to a maximum of 1250 per week. Is this enough? I'm not seeing or feeling any results. Mind you it is only my second week of tracking and exercising, but I thought I would physically look or feel different. When I started tracking and exercising last time, I definitely noticed it even just in my second week. My personality is much brighter these days and my body FEELS good (happier and better able to complete each workout) but it doesn't look any different and I don't think any inches or weight is coming off. I weigh-in and take measurements on Friday so I will see then, but as of now, there seems to be no change from what I can see.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you!

Replies

  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    It is more of a minimum. You not eat less than that. You are exercising a lot, are you eating back any of your calories.
  • AKDonF
    AKDonF Posts: 235 Member
    Hard to know exactly what you need to eat because we need a little more info. Age, gender, activity level, current weight, and goals all are important in making an estimate and even then it will have to be adjusted based upon increases or decreases in weight as you go. If you send me more info in a message, I would be happy to give you a rough estimate. In the mean time, it looks to me like your calories are probably set too low. Hope this helps some.

    Don
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I find it easiest to start with sedentary settings, then log each of my workouts to find out how many extra calories my activities give me.

    Wait a minute! A MAXIMUM of 1250 calories per week?! That can't be right. You mean per day, don't you?
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    You need to change your settings to active. You should definitely be eating more. Are you logging your exercises? If not, you need to do so. You'll want to eat some of those calories or you're going to start feeling tired all of the time which defeats the purpose. Does anyone here have a similar schedule? If yes, pop in and maybe she can look at your diaries to get some ideas of eating right for that level of activity. I'm not there yet - need more time but hopefully, I'll get there one day.

    Monica
  • samanthalee87
    samanthalee87 Posts: 178
    Yes 1250 a day!!

    I am female, 25 and currently weigh 129. Right now I workout 6 days a week with mostly cardio. I would like to drop 10 lbs and strengthen as well. My ideal goal is to weigh 120 and to look lean and fit.
  • alexveksler
    alexveksler Posts: 409 Member
    Hard to know exactly what you need to eat because we need a little more info. Age, gender, activity level, current weight, and goals all are important in making an estimate and even then it will have to be adjusted based upon increases or decreases in weight as you go. If you send me more info in a message, I would be happy to give you a rough estimate. In the mean time, it looks to me like your calories are probably set too low. Hope this helps some.

    Don

    It is well worth for you to take time to learn and understand TDEE, total daily energy expenditure. It is a good point to start. There are several excellent topics on this site. It took me several days(if not weeks) to figure out what I have and where I am trying to go.

    I just searched on the topic. Here is the first one: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Again, this is just first of the topics. There are more. Once you learn TDEE, BMI/BMR, it will help you determine your diet, your fats and your carbs. And then calorie counting will be nothing but FUN!! Good luck!!
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    You are not going get lean or fit if you are not eating enough.
  • samanthalee87
    samanthalee87 Posts: 178
    Yes this is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. I really want to LEARN but really wasn't sure where to start which is why I turn to awesome MFPers. Thank you!
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    I never know what activity level to choose when doing the TDEE calculator, so today I am wearing my HRM. I put it on last night at 10:00pm and will take it off at 10:00pm tonight. This will give me how many calories I burned in a 24 hour period. (MY typical day) I will then subtract 20% from that number and set that answer as my calorie goal for losing weight.

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