I'm 5'0" and eat 1500 calories. My story of weight loss.

pennysaurus

Now this is a great post!

MrsG31

Great information, but I am still so confused, lol! I only started this about 2 weeks ago and according to my scale, I did lose a pound....I think. My weight seems to flucuate daily cuz when I entered my 1 lb weight loss on here that was from like Tuesday morning. Then just for grins, I got on the scale last night and it had gone even further down! But then this morning, for more grins, I got on again...and it is now .5 lb more than my starting weight!

I don't have any exercise regimen right now, just walking during my breaks at work and cleaning at home, sometimes dancing while doing it. I was thinking about trying a work out game/DVD at home, but trying to figure out when I should do it as I have trouble getting up in the morning. And whenever night comes, I feel like "ahhh, kids are bed now it's time for me to fold laundry without the babys 'help' and watch my shows" and I just sit and relax.

Would you mind if I friended you? Maybe you could take a peek at my diary now and then and give me some pointers? Anyone else that likes to help us newbies please feel free to take a peek as well.

pollyineedtobeskinny

Hi fellow MFP'ers,

Upon the new year I have noticed a lot of new people with a lot of questions. There's been a lot of the whole 1200 calorie argument thing. This post isn't a dig at anyone who eats a particular amount of calories. So with that being stated, try not to fight too much. I just wanted to share my experience briefly. I hope someone might benefit from it. But first my stats:

Stats:
Age: 33
Height: 5'0"
SW: 134
CW: 106
GW: I'm fine where I am. Pounds don't matter at this stage for me. Up 1 down 2 whatever. My clothes fit and I feel good.
Calorie intake: 1500 a day give or take, my diary is open (some weekends I skip logging, I skipped the holidays and I skipped when I had surgery in December).
Workouts: 3-5 days a week, cardio, yoga, and strength

I wanted to tell you what I did because as a very petite woman I've seen time and time again that short ladies should eat 1200 calories or even go lower than that, just because we are short. It's lately been kind of annoying me. Just to clarify, I did start at 1200 like most people did on here, blindly following MFP's numbers they gave me. I was also working out at least 7 hours a week. I started with not eating back exercise calories. I realized wow, I'm starving. So I started eating them back. Then my weight loss plateaued. I started doing "doubles" at the gym (i.e. back to back classes for hours, just killing myself). I didn't know what to do as I couldn't possibly eat less nor could I work out any more hours or I would most definitely hurt myself. I did a lot of research at this point. I looked into BMR, TDEE, Eat More to Weigh Less, etc. So I upped my calories. Slowly. I have to admit I was terrified to eat more. This is when I began to realize that maybe I was being too obsessive with my calorie counting. I let go of the reigns and eventually settled on 1500 calories a day (gross, not net).

And guess what? I lost more weight! I eased back on my crazy amounts of cardio/gym classes and started eating more food (whole foods, lots of protein) and adjusted my macros. It took me a year to end up here and I feel amazing. Some weeks I go without logging. I cut myself a break. I have a glass of wine. I want people to read this at the BEGINNING of their journeys so that maybe it will save someone the 6 months that I tortured myself. I was so hungry and so tired. Now I feel human and normal.

And if 1200 works for you then it works for you. I'm not judging or telling anyone what to do. I just really want people to know (and especially short people like myself) that you can eat food and to be gentle with yourself. It's not a race and this is a lifestyle, something sustainable for the long haul.

Good luck! (and be kind to each other and yourself)

Wow amazing.

I posted something not too long ago about me not eating more than 1500 calories, i wanted to drop my calorie intake to 1000 calories a day and was avoiding eating lunch so i ate tea later on without feeling guilty.
I came to this conclusion yesterday after speaking to several people who have done the same thing as you, I think we all go through that phase of eating less calories because we believe that's what we need to do to lose weight but now I am making my calorie intake bigger. 1500calories and if i'm less then great and if i'm more, then there is always tomorrow.

I'm 5'3" and 10st 2lb... I can't wait to see where this takes me and I really hope I can lose a lot of weight

MelodieRSA

Dont remember who but someone posted this awesome link http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ to calculate your BMR. MFP doe let you customise your goals including calories which I have done.

Good luck all!

susanstpeter

44 and 5ft 1/2. Thanks for the post. It is hard for the over 40, shorter ladies. It goes back on way to quick! :0)

rebasporty

Great story

Kath712

Great post and great advice! Congrats on reaching (and maintaining) your goal!

Amazon_Who

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

bekdavis

Great post, thanks for sharing your experience with us.

I started out on the 1200 bandwagon too. Far far too few calories for me. I now eat between 1600 and 1900 depending on how hungry I am and how much I exercise and feel so much better and lose anywhere from a half to 3lbs a week.

ditto!

eating 1200 was killing me. I am now between 1600 - 1800 and have found I am dropping more weight weekly!

Mamajeans1973

i too am a shorty, i am doing the 1200 cal. for me, i will continue until the plateau, thank you for the info, i think i will do the increase of 100 cal every 2-3 weeks when that happens:)

SusanDoesIt

This applies to EVERYONE. I made the same mistakes starting out, and wasn't losing at all at 1350 calories (I'm 5'8"). I thought I would never succeed because like you, I couldn't possibly eat any less...I was already SO hungry and tired. I did some research and experimenting, and now, I eat around 1650-1700, and I'm still in the losing phase, at about a pound a week. Life is so much better when you have enough to eat, not to mention, this is much more sustainable!

Seminolegirl97

Bump to read later.

eganita

Congrats on your loss!

I think it all depends how you do things, though. For example, I had my calorie setting at 1,200 for awhile and now at 1,340. We differ in that I DO eat back my exercise calories. From my understanding, this is the MFP default.

I tend to exercise about 5-6 days a week and eat anywhere from 1,500 to over 2,000 on those days. I guess my point is that I don't think there's anything wrong with 1,200 calories as a base/starting point, especially for people on the small side (I'm 5'3" and weigh ~125-130), if you are eating back exercise calories. Either way, I think it's great for people to listen to their bodies and do what's best/healthy for them.

mousepaws22

I'd love to be able to lose weight on 1500 calories a day! I'm 5 foot with at least 70 pounds to lose. MFP gives me 1420 a day to lose 1 pound a week, I stayed the same. Read about EMTWL and tried 1800- I put on weight. Came down to 1600- I put on weight. Back down to 1420 at the minute and staying the same again. Going to have to try 1200 I think even though I don't want to. Maybe it's because I don't exercise much.

cuboids

This is great advice. Thanks!

msrootitooti

Great post! I completely agree. I hear so many petites say that they have to stay at 1200 calories and then exercise and end up netting 900 or so calories. I can't imagine-I would starve. I really never started on the 1200.. I was so hungry. I started at 1300 and am now at 1600. Somedays I may eat 2000. I think it is the only way i can make this a lifetime change. I am working on the last 10 pounds but know it will come off in time.

You are a great inspiration.

smurfette75

I have a similar story...I started eating 1200 and lost weight but I had to eat back my exercise calories because I was so hungry...so eventually I changed to 1500 and still was losing weight. 4'11" currently at 105ish and maintaining.

otrlynn

Nfgchick, I am at work and can't take time to read all the posts, so I apologize if you have addresses this--but in your first post you stated that you finally settled on eating 1500 calories gross, not net. So on days that you exercise, it is more than likely that you burn at least 200- 300 calories --which effectively puts you back at a net of 1200-1300 calories. I don't really see how this is different from accepting a net of 1200 and eating back all of your exercise calories. It seems like the only difference is that you eat 1500 calories on non exercise days.

cindiva65

Thanks, this calorie configuration is confusing sometimes. Im 5'7.5" and started at 216lbs and they were telling me to eat 1200 also. Must be the lowest default that MFP gives women. I set mine at 1500 and sometimes eat back some of my exercise cals (300-400 a day burn). It may still be a bit low for me but since Im only into week 3 and it seems to be working I will stick with it for now and adjust if need be. Good luck everyone :drinker:

altinker

Thank you for posting! I'm 43, 5'2: and 122.4 today. I think what has happened over the years is that I've become more sedentary (sitting at a desk). Drives me nuts. I've gone from 105/110 weight range to a little over 120. During the last 2 years, the weight wants to go up from that.

I've always eaten between 1500 to 2000 calories, but 2000 is high if I don't work out. It is refreshing to hear somebody say you can lose if you eat more than 1200 calories. I can do that once in awhile, but I don't feel good and have a tendency to want to binge because I am starving.

Most of my life, I've said I should be a large person based on how much I eat because I've always eaten a lot, and I'm not able to eat quite as much these days without noticing a change on the scale. What has been helpful for me is getting a heart rate monitor. I was always a little more on the hyper side when I was younger and moved about a lot and fidgeted. These days, I'm calmer. That makes a bit of a difference over time on calories burned. Now, I just need to get more activity.

The HRM has been helpful for me to see calories burned during different activities, and this helps me figure out which activities I should increase to burn more calories. It also shows that just taking a walk can burn a lot more calories than just sitting at a desk.

DietFemme

Well done!

I do think it all depends on whether you eat back your exercise calories, I had my head wrecked over it until I realised that 1230 NET + eating back all my exercise calories brings me to almost the exact same place as the TDEE way, circa 1650 GROSS.

Do whatever works for you, but if you are doing the MFP circa 1200 way, log and eat back *every activity calorie*. Seriously.

I'm 5'1 btw, and have lost 58 lbs since January 2012.

AmyW125

bump-great job!!!

kylamb

Thanks for sharing this. I agree with you 100%!

PrinnyBomb

As youAs you said, do whatever works best for you. I'm 5'3 and also eat 1500 calories. I'm doing ok so far plus I don't get cranky or miserable (most of the time!). I also enjoy things like a bar of chocolate or a drink. It's all about adapting for life, not dieting. :drinker:

LaStefany

I think this is a really great story and I'm so happy for your success!

However, I'm 5'4" on the 1200 calorie thing.. and I really only eat, on average, 850 a day.
Granted, I've only been doing this for almost week. I don't feel starved though. Actually, I can't imagine eating any more than what I have been. And, I'm working out about 30 minutes everyday (squats, walking/jogging (C25k) Push-ups, Ab workouts, etc.) Drinking lots of water.

I do want to lose weight, but more importantly gain muscle and be healthy, strong and toned.
So, I guess I should up my calorie intake? It may sound silly, but I don't know how I would do that. EAT MORE. Yeah, yeah, I just can't imagine eating more without sabotaging myself. o:

otrlynn

I'd love to be able to lose weight on 1500 calories a day! I'm 5 foot with at least 70 pounds to lose. MFP gives me 1420 a day to lose 1 pound a week, I stayed the same. Read about EMTWL and tried 1800- I put on weight. Came down to 1600- I put on weight. Back down to 1420 at the minute and staying the same again. Going to have to try 1200 I think even though I don't want to. Maybe it's because I don't exercise much.

Perhaps you may also be really sure that the calorie data that you add to your diet is really accurate. Don't guess on quantity. Weigh and measure everything. I bought a digital food scale at Walmart and it is invaluable and was not expensive. I have seen many articles on weight loss, and almost all talk about how the majority of people underestimate what they eat. For me, it was realizing that I have to record even the incidentals, like the little bit of low fat half and half that I put in my tea--with several cups, it adds up.

akfulkerson

Thank you for sharing! I'm 5'2" and also recently discovered that 1200 calories wasn't enough. I researched what to do when hitting a plateau. I ate more calories for a week straight, worked out less and lost 2 pounds. I was scared that I would undo all of the hard work I had put in for months, but it really has taught me to raise my calorie intake.

Great post! First one I have commented on.

reerazzle

Bump

jules1202

Thanks for the reminder. I am short and I know its so easy to fall into this trap. I just wish I could get my DH to understand the concept! Every time he works on losing weight he limits his intake severely and then is miserable. Yesterday I asked him if he stayed on plan (eating healthy throughout the day) and then he answer "Yes, I skipped lunch". :huh: Its about eating healthy not starving yourself.

Mutant13

Draw the offensive coworkers likeness on to a tomato with edible ink, make a little toothpick body and slowly bite into the "head' whilst staring directly at them. Maybe pointing at them with your free hand for emphasis. That's what I'd do

EDIT
This was obviously meant to be posted elsewhere. *backs away*