just to clarify...

Dfracassa

My question is this: how many calories should I be eating? I know MFP defaults to 1200, but I kept effing that up, so I moved my daily intake up to 1350 after reading a LOT of posts on here. I work out every other day -- so three to four days a week, with some extra cardio and crunches thrown in for funsies -- and try (I swear!) to eat healthy all week. I allow myself a cheat meal on Saturdays, usually, and drink a protein shake on days I do work out. I'm trying to get down for my wedding, and yeah, being toned is great, but I'm on here to track myself and lose weight. My diary isn't the most sterling example, but I'm working pretty hard. I calculated my numbers from a site I found but I don't really know what to do with them. I read somewhere on here to eat TDEE minus 20%, and I might have had a different number before, from a different site, but that result would have put me at eating 1116 calories a day. That blows! Please help?

TDEE: 2382
BMR: 1543
BMI: 25.37
Current weight: 162
Goal weight: 130
Height: 5'7"
Age: 28

RobynLB

Yeah, losing weight blows in general. If you want to eat more, work out more.

Dfracassa

Yeah, losing weight blows in general. If you want to eat more, work out more.

It's not that I want to eat more, and obviously I know it's hard. Snark isn't necessary. I just want to know what I should be eating, according to the people on here, who seem to know a lot more than I do. I appreciate the helpful input from MFP people, and was looking for more.

AmyRhubarb

From the numbers you have posted, subtract 20% from the TDEE and you get 1905. I like to round things off, so if it were me, I'd set my diary for 1900 cals a day, macros at 40/30/30 carbs/protein/fat, and don't eat back exercise cals if you figured your workouts into your activity level when you ran your numbers.

Dfracassa

From the numbers you have posted, subtract 20% from the TDEE and you get 1905. I like to round things off, so if it were me, I'd set my diary for 1900 cals a day, macros at 40/30/30 carbs/protein/fat, and don't eat back exercise cals if you figured your workouts into your activity level when you ran your numbers.

Thank you! I must have used a different calculator site or something the first time, because I swear I came up with 1116. So eating a higher amount of calories can help, right? I feel like 1900 is a lot, but if it pushes my metabolism into a higher gear, it's worth it.

RobynLB

Yeah, losing weight blows in general. If you want to eat more, work out more.

It's not that I want to eat more, and obviously I know it's hard. Snark isn't necessary. I just want to know what I should be eating, according to the people on here, who seem to know a lot more than I do. I appreciate the helpful input from MFP people, and was looking for more.

I was trying to be sympathetic, not snarky, but I guess tone doesn't always come across right in txt. Take care though, and good luck.

Dfracassa

Yeah, losing weight blows in general. If you want to eat more, work out more.

It's not that I want to eat more, and obviously I know it's hard. Snark isn't necessary. I just want to know what I should be eating, according to the people on here, who seem to know a lot more than I do. I appreciate the helpful input from MFP people, and was looking for more.

I was trying to be sympathetic, not snarky, but I guess tone doesn't always come across right in txt. Take care though, and good luck.

Thank you, and I apologize. I have been known to attack without warning on the internet, at least since 10th grade. God, I was such a *****. But anyway, thank you for the wishes and good luck to you, too! Also: I think the person in your icon may have come into my office once. Maybe a family member.

Dfracassa

I forgot to add that I'm also on the Pill, and have been for five years. It's the third kind of birth control I've been on in my life, and I've gained weight with every one. Do you think it's possible for the Pill to be holding me back like this? I mean, the hormones mess with you, to be sure, but I also know there are thousands of other people that don't gain weight on the Pill.

rduhlir

I am 5'3" and doing TDEE-20% and eating 1800. It does seem like a lot, but remember you aren't eating back exercise calories. It is hard at first to figure out how to get up to such a high number, but you learn as you go. For example, using olive oil here, tossing in some nuts there. It gets easier, and now I have no problem getting up to 1800. Most days I am +/- 50 calories.

Dfracassa

I am 5'3" and doing TDEE-20% and eating 1800. It does seem like a lot, but remember you aren't eating back exercise calories. It is hard at first to figure out how to get up to such a high number, but you learn as you go. For example, using olive oil here, tossing in some nuts there. It gets easier, and now I have no problem getting up to 1800. Most days I am +/- 50 calories.

And you're losing on that amount?

mareeee1234

So eating a higher amount of calories can help, right? I feel like 1900 is a lot, but if it pushes my metabolism into a higher gear, it's worth it.

Most definitely! Check out the 'Eat more to weigh less" group