Calories and weight lifting- What's your goal?

mka06002
mka06002 Posts: 6
edited January 13 in Food and Nutrition
I've been trying to stick to my goal, which I believe I looked up online and it was set at 1200 calories a day. If i excersize and log it, obviously MFP will net me back those calories.

I'm 23yo female, 5'6" and 136 and even though I have a desk job and don't move much during the day, 1200 seems so little! I am starving all the time. I'm wondering if it has something to do with lifting weights vs. doing cardio type exercise. I usually lift weights for 30 to 45 mins 4-5 times a week, as well as some cardio. Wonder if I am going to be able to increase my muscle mass if i'm always feeling hungry! Hmm...

What are your calorie and weight loss goals? Does anyone have experience with lifting weights - are more calories required to reach fitness goals?

Replies

  • jillybeansalad
    jillybeansalad Posts: 239 Member
    1200 is a really low number, for just about anyone to be honest. You don't want much, if any, of a deficit when it comes to building muscle.

    There's tons of information in one place on how to calculate what you need. I would copy and paste, but I don't want take credit for this (obviously a lot of work went into it):
    forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121703921

    Gaining muscle is really difficult when you're also trying to lose weight with a deficit. It will only work for so long before your body sacrifices the muscle as well.
  • WhataBroad
    WhataBroad Posts: 1,091 Member
    read this, hope it helps you answer some of your questions :smile:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
  • chels0722
    chels0722 Posts: 465 Member
    You should definitely be eating more. I'm 5'7" 140lbs (so considering our inch difference, basically the same body type) and I eat AT LEAST 2050 calories every day. I lift and/or cardio 5 times a week. You are not going to get the results you want on that little.

    here is a good site to find what you should be eating:

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    hope that helps :)
  • mka06002
    mka06002 Posts: 6
    Thanks for the info everyone...i thought it was too little! I'm assuming I need to choose higher quality foods to eat more without gaining fat, but i'd rather do that than starve. Trying to get educated!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It looks like you have 11ish Lbs you want to lose...to preserve lean body mass (muscle) you will want to be at no more than a 1/2 lb per week deficit. 1,200 isn't nearly enough calories and all you're going to do is lose muscle at that goal, even with the weight lifting.
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