How many calories per day do you eat?

sokkache

My calories are at 1390 a day, but it depends how active I am that day. If I'm playing a sport/working out, I usually have about 500 calories more or less burned, so then, I would eat around 1600-1700 calories a day. When I'm not working out, it's always a little bit under my goal, but unproductive days like today, I ate 1100 calories.

Btw, my starting weight was 155 pounds, current weight is 150 pounds and I'm 5'6''. My goal weight is 130 pounds.

Phrick

5'8", 35 years old, started MFP (again) on Feb. 21, 2013. Starting weight 254, current weight 246, and I eat roughly 1,900 calories a day (TDEE -25%). I'm on a few "weight gainer" drugs - lithium, abilify (for some it's a gainer for me it's been weight neutral) and a BCP and I'm still losing. I do not eat back exercise calories but this is because my exercise is already figured into my activity level for my TDEE number.

Mock_Turtle

5'11, 32 yrs old. I started at 236 lbs just over 17 weeks ago. Average calories eaten for the past 17 weeks is 1904.

Right now I burn on average ~ 450 ish cals per day, which is a combination of 10km run days, weight training days, and rest days.

tryclyn

Age 41, 5'5½" and 1900. I am fairly sedentary.

My sister did a reset(2800), for a month, over the holidays and is now losing faster(2400) than she was before. I'm with the above and wonder if you gave any plan long enough to show results. My diary is open.

Adrini

I'm told to eat about 1800 before workout but as I take care of myself I find myself eating less due to lack of appetite. I average about 1300-1600 a day all said and done. I'm still loosing weight so it seems to be okay.

meaningful99

You might try using a Fitbit to track your regular daily activity. I got one and realized that on non-workout days when I was at my office job all day, I was actually burning fewer calories than MFP gave me credit for at the sedentary level. Since observing that, I have taken every opportunity to add more steps in throughout the day to bring my base daily burn up. Workouts are important, but those extra random walks around the block or up and down a flight of stairs can make a difference.

postrockandcats

How long do you try each thing?

How much I eat depends on the day and how active I am. On days where I'm at the computer all day designing and I don't get out, around 1300-1400. I don't like doing that little, so thankfully those days don't happen often! I eat 1600-2100 on active days when I'm at the gym and/ or I'm at my part-time job. I eat 750 cals under my TDEE and have a macro ratio of 45/20/35 (carbs/ protein/ fat), run and lift heavy. I also use a Fitbit to track my activity; it's been the best thing I've bought myself!

This isn't an instant thing. I didn't start loosing for at least 3-4 weeks into my weight loss journey. Remember, it's not just how the scale moves, it's clothes fitting better, it's feeling better, and it's doing good things for yourself. If you can run or walk longer than you could a month ago, you're already ahead of the game.

volume77

5'6 and weight roughly 128lbs
I eat 1500cls and don't eat back my exercise but some days I go over

me toooooo were twins

kw85296

I'm in my 60's and have been at my weight loss journey since March of last year and joined MFP in September. I have lost over 70 pounds and am within a couple pounds of goal. I eat between 1200 and 1500 calories a day (occasionally a few more). I exercise almost everyday for around an hour or more. One of the things I am very careful about is getting a lot of in my diet is protein. I also take 2000 units of Vitamin D3 and Fish Oil.
This has been working for me, but one of my daughters friends joined a fitness challenge group and she too, was having difficulty losing weight. The trainer with that group told them that they should eat 11 times their body weight in calories if they were rather inactive that day, 12 times their body weight if they were moderately active and 13 times if very active. This is the first time she has had any success losing. It might be worth a try.

fresh_start59

sorry, duplicate post

fresh_start59

Age 53, post menopause, 5' 4", currently 230 pounds, approximately 50% body fat.

I have been eating about 1,550 to 1,600 calories a day (approx. TDEE - 20%) for four weeks. Last week, I ate at TDEE (about 1,960 cals) and this week I'm back to eating at a cut.

Note: My BMR is approx. 1,510 and, since I have a really high percentage of body fat, I could cut a bit more, but I don't want to take a chance of feeling deprived and falling off the wagon.

The plan is to continue 4 weeks at cut, 1 week at TDEE. I estimate that I can expect to lose about 3 pounds a month. Yes, it's slow going. I just keep plugging away at it.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to build up a little more strength and cardio endurance. Doing so will help me be healthier and allow me to eat more. :-)

Babeskeez

I am 131, 5' 1", 28 and eat 1600 on my workout days and 1400 on rest

cutie_patootie

I faced the same problem like you for a long time but since the time I have upped my protein and cut down on carbs, I'm seeing the scale going in direction i want it to. Perhaps that would work for you as well.

nxd10

I keep saying it's like Dory on Finding Nemo. Keep on swimming.

For me, the thing that makes or breaks weight loss v. not is accurate, accurate, accurate logging and measurement. Every stupid thing I put in my mouth. Even the ketchup.

Those little stupid things add up to hundreds of calories a day. And if you don't measure (or approximate) accurately, you are not going to lose.

---

5'10" 155 pounds just dropped to 1230 calories and I eat back my meager exercise

theologynerd

2,000 a day, minimum of 100g protein and try to keep my carbs around 100-150. Lifting heavy and doing martial arts for cardio.

Shadowknight137

I'm 5'5, 121lbs and eat 2200+ a day. Would lose on anything less than 2000.

aeg176

BUMP

lh1626

I wish I could quote sooo many of these! :laugh:


I did EM2WL last summer for 3 months and walked 4-5 days per week. I stayed the same. I tried eating at TDEE minus 20% for the next 2 months. I then dropped down again to what MFP gave me for losing a 1/2 pound per week. Duing Nov and Dec, I took a break but still logged dliigently every day...except the few times I had the flu. I wanted to take the frustrationg off my brain and let my body adjust as I just came off of 4 years of birth control. The doctor said that possibly could be a factor, but to wait and see.


January I started with what MFP gave me for 1 pound per week....and to no avail....I am still maintaining the same weight. I get 7-8 hours of good sleep every night too, but I still don't feel like I do!

My fitbit is on me from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed every single day religiously too. My mom suggested today to drop my calories down to 1200-1300, so I don't know if that is the answer or not. My weight has been a battle my whole life, but this is the first time I have not been able to lose. :sad:

corneredbycorn

I typically eat between 1200-1500 calories, depending on what my Fitbit tells me (my BMR is between 1200-1350, depending on which calculator I use). Some days I am literally just sitting around doing nothing and other days I am more active and need more calories.

I've gotten to the point where I probably don't need to track anymore because as long as I'm not drinking my calories (especially liquor, which often comes with unintentional snacking), I tend to naturally stay within range. I eat less if I haven't been active and more if I have. Since I measure out portion sizes, use small plates/bowls, and eat slowly, I rarely overeat.

kestrels

im 5ft1 age 59 ive always been an active person doing sports, rowing was my main sport, anyway now im light active always doing something cleaning gardening etc, my main prob is that ive been told ive put my body into starvation cause ive always ate less then 1300 calories, and my weight was 126lbs for a long time, but since xmas it has started to creep up, and was told to eat more, ive tried eating more but not to my BMR which I think is 1340. im currently weighing in at 132lbs, im wanting to get down to 129 or a bit less. im not doing anything different in activity except sundays where I work, 2hours walking and the other 5 hours sitting at checkouts, this is where I weigh more next day, is it cause my intake is low.I have notice my love handles a lot smaller, my clothes still fit ok its just the needle going up.

watfordjc

I'm 5' 6", (need calculator...) 28 years old, 215.75 lb +/- 5 lb, and eat between 1,400 and 4,000 calories a day depending on how active I am (I have a Ki Fit to know my calorie expenditure, seems pretty accurate).

ETA: Calorie intake vs exercise...

1,400 if I'm in bed most of the day.
2,300 if I have been to the town centre, post office, or walked about 5-6 miles.
2,500-3,000 if I have visited London and done about 5 miles of walking (including within the confines of the Underground network - platforms, back end of Overground train to front, steps, escalators, etc.)
3,500 if I have visited London and done a lot of walking (attractions, being dragged shopping, etc) or done about 12 miles walking.
4,000 if I have done about 15 miles walking or spent the whole day at a theme park and done 5 miles of walking before/after getting/leaving there.

However, since most of my long walks are done at night and fall on both sides of midnight, and my Ki Fit syncs with MFP putting the exercise calories before midnight on one day and after midnight on the next, some of my meals after the walk will be on logged on MFP for the previous day and some of the meals before the walk will be logged on MFP for the next day, just to balance out the numbers.

Nissi51

I wish I could quote sooo many of these! :laugh:


I did EM2WL last summer for 3 months and walked 4-5 days per week. I stayed the same. I tried eating at TDEE minus 20% for the next 2 months. I then dropped down again to what MFP gave me for losing a 1/2 pound per week. Duing Nov and Dec, I took a break but still logged dliigently every day...except the few times I had the flu. I wanted to take the frustrationg off my brain and let my body adjust as I just came off of 4 years of birth control. The doctor said that possibly could be a factor, but to wait and see.


January I started with what MFP gave me for 1 pound per week....and to no avail....I am still maintaining the same weight. I get 7-8 hours of good sleep every night too, but I still don't feel like I do!

My fitbit is on me from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed every single day religiously too. My mom suggested today to drop my calories down to 1200-1300, so I don't know if that is the answer or not. My weight has been a battle my whole life, but this is the first time I have not been able to lose. :sad:

Open your diary hon. This battle is 80% what you put in your mouth...unless there is a medical concern , some very wise people on here can look at your diary and give you a quick answer rather than you continue to struggle. It will be worth the vulnerability. Just saying.

krhn

About 1600-1800 kcal! I can get around 120-140g protein with some snacking :flowerforyou:

kmcosgrove115

1680 here - may need to adjust and recalculate my TDEE since I am now down 16 lbs in 66 days..............

DaniH826

Hi All~~~I know this topic has gone around before, but I am targeting a specific group. I am 5'5"....38 years old...weigh 207. I have NOT been able to take off pounds...inches...nothing.

I'm 45 and a woman. That's 2 strikes. It's easier for men to lose weight than it is for women, and it's easier for young people to lose fat than it is for us older folks. It just is.

You add in hormones (I came off 20 years of smoking cigarettes) and our bodies needing time to adjust, and that ups the ante also.

You have to devise a strategy that's realistic, and please for the love of God, do not compare yourself to other people because fat loss is highly individualized and depends on a lot of different criteria that all come into play together.

That means:
1. Be patient
2. Keep slogging at it for your health's sake!
3. Incorporate some sort of strength training, and focus on fat loss rather than weight loss. Give yourself a year or two to see significant changes.
4. Take a break once in a while, like not logging for 1 day a week or eating at maintenance calories every couple months for a couple weeks.

Fat loss is never linear, real life happens, and you have to adjust your expectations to reality, not try to cram reality into your expectations (that's usually a great recipe to make yourself crazy).

Oh and don't let the scale bully you around. Focus on health and strength gains and on how your body feels and your clothes fit. The scale is only one indicator of many, and not even the most important one!

My TDEE based on 3 days/week of barbell training is about 2500, and I aim for someplace around 2200 calories to lose some fat here and there. The weight is coming off, but sloooowly (about 5 pounds in 2 months), my body is tightening up and getting stronger, and I've lost about 3 inches in a couple places overall in the past 2 months.

Which is fine, because I already made up my mind that this is going to take however long it's going to take. I'm just going to continue to make the best decisions for me possible and trust my body to respond the way it's supposed to. I'm trying to find my happy place that I can stay with for the rest of my time on earth, and as long as I head in that general direction, I know I will be fine. And if bumps in the road happen along the way, then oh well, that's life.

Good luck!

trhops

I had a metabolic assessment done ant it was determined I have a resting metabolic rate of 907 calories, add on my desk job and I am at 1179 for the day. So I was put on 1100 cals a day + eating back my exercise calories.