Women - what's your calorie goal?

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Replies

  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I'm 5'1" and I lost 60 lbs by eating less. The smaller you are the less you need to eat. The calories are all relative to your size so a set number like 1200 for everyone is just plain silly. That is barley below my RMR. If you have excess fat and someone says eat more to lose weight, why that is just plain silliness, think about it?

    This is how eating less and not eating back my calories worked for me ---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/740340-i-lost-60-lbs-at-age-51-anyone-can-any-workout
    We’ve been trying to figure out an exact NUMBER of calories that everyone should be eating, without recognizing that everyone is slightly different. In truth, the calories aren’t the end game. Your body is. So the EXACT amount of Calories that are right for you is the EXACT amount that will allow you to maintain your ideal bodyweight no matter what some calculator or chart says.

    In other words, an online calculator might tell you that you need to eat 2,500 calories
    per day to maintain your ideal bodyweight. But the only way to know for sure if this is
    the right amount for you is to test it out. If you gain weight or can’t lose weight eating
    that much, then you know you need to eat less to lose weight no matter how many
    calculators and text books say otherwise.

    This doesn’t mean your metabolism is broken, it just means the estimate of your needs
    was just a bit off.

    -John Barban
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    CW: 200 lbs
    Height: 5'6
    Avg loss per week 1-3 lbs
    Calories 1700

    I don't exercise outside of my daily activity - I have a desk job and I walk for about 30min (to and from work) 5 days/week. I have been steady since I upped from the 1200 MFP decided to give me.
  • Radiskull
    Radiskull Posts: 70 Member
    I am 5'3, my calorie goal is 1500 and I have lost 7 pounds in about 20 days.
  • jensfitpal2012
    jensfitpal2012 Posts: 145 Member
    I am 5"9",my dialy calorie goal is 1470 before I exercise.The problem I am having is when I exercise,they add so many more calories for me to eat.I cannot come close to the goal,usually500-600 cal.off.I am good on my fats,only eat MUFAS,always over on my protein,but I heard that's good. My question is for all youwho have experienced wt.loss,am I harming myself by not eating the fuul amt.after I have exercised. I was eating healthy,but not eating enough,was not losing,despite exercise. My doctor said I slowed my metabolism down,eat more. I have been eating really healthy,trying to eat every 2-3 hrs,small snacks,meals.Just want to know how close to I have to be to the goal to lose wt.Thanks
  • Cindygutie
    Cindygutie Posts: 50 Member
    I am currently at 1750 and in maintenance mode. I exercise about 3-4x per week. for 30 minutes-60 minutes.

    I am 5'8"

    I use this website as a guideline for weight loss calories.
    http://thefitgirls.com/
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I'm 5'1" and I lost 60 lbs by eating less. The smaller you are the less you need to eat. The calories are all relative to your size so a set number like 1200 for everyone is just plain silly. That is barley below my RMR. If you have excess fat and someone says eat more to lose weight, why that is just plain silliness, think about it?

    This is how eating less and not eating back my calories worked for me ---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/740340-i-lost-60-lbs-at-age-51-anyone-can-any-workout
    We’ve been trying to figure out an exact NUMBER of calories that everyone should be eating, without recognizing that everyone is slightly different. In truth, the calories aren’t the end game. Your body is. So the EXACT amount of Calories that are right for you is the EXACT amount that will allow you to maintain your ideal bodyweight no matter what some calculator or chart says.

    In other words, an online calculator might tell you that you need to eat 2,500 calories
    per day to maintain your ideal bodyweight. But the only way to know for sure if this is
    the right amount for you is to test it out. If you gain weight or can’t lose weight eating
    that much, then you know you need to eat less to lose weight no matter how many
    calculators and text books say otherwise.

    This doesn’t mean your metabolism is broken, it just means the estimate of your needs
    was just a bit off.

    -John Barban

    Sorry, not buying it. 1200 being barely below your BMR is a moot point. You should be eating at a deficit according to your TDEE. BMR is essentially meaningless if you're compensating by increasing your activity level. Will it work? Yeah, maybe it will but I'll be damned if I live on what you eat. No offense. I would never advocate, support, or condone that sort of restriction.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I recently dropped it to 1300 before exercise. I will try to keep it around 1500 total. I am 5'5" and 51 yo.

    Before this week I was eating 1700 - 1900 (total) which according to MFP should have me losing 1/2 lb per week but I was maintaining. I was okay with that because it helped me gain a little muscle, but now I've decided to try and lose a few more lbs. of fat.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I'm 5'6" (and 47 y/o)
    My BMR is 1333
    I eat about 1600 a day, and I don't "eat back" my exercise calories.
    I'm not really in maintenance, and not really looking to lose...somewhere in between.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Hey girls,
    Whats your daily calorie goal?
    Are you having success?
    How tall are you ?
    :)

    5' 4" and CW 233

    I try to net under 1800/day, but sometimes if I am hungry after my workout, I will eat part of my exercise calories, bumping me to *maybe* 2000 calories. I've had twice since I started that I ate more than that. I normally eat between 1600-1800.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I'm 5'5, 40 years old 132.8# and aim for 2000 a day, but I'm going to have to increase it soon.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/709987-how-wrong-i-was-600-days-of-mfp-lotsa-pics
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I'm 5'2" at 134lbs, my goal is 1700. I don't get to exercise much, I have a moderately active job and college life. :)
    & After too long at 1200 and not losing, I get amazing results at 1700! (And more energy!)

    YAY! One more person who EATS!

    I'm 5', 201lb (154cm/91.2kg) and my goal is 1700. I EAT!!!

    I started off on 1200 and lost nearly 20lb but then weight loss stalled. I increased my workouts to twice a day, it made no change except to make me cranky at morning workouts. Ooops. So I increased my calories to 1700. I work out twice a day (cardio in the morning, weights in the afternoon), I eat like a pig and I'm still losing consistently.

    Best decision I've made since joining MFP was to increase my calories!

    :drinker:

    1800/day here! I would rather lose the right way than to starve myself and be frustrated!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I am 5"9",my dialy calorie goal is 1470 before I exercise.The problem I am having is when I exercise,they add so many more calories for me to eat.I cannot come close to the goal,usually500-600 cal.off.I am good on my fats,only eat MUFAS,always over on my protein,but I heard that's good. My question is for all youwho have experienced wt.loss,am I harming myself by not eating the fuul amt.after I have exercised. I was eating healthy,but not eating enough,was not losing,despite exercise. My doctor said I slowed my metabolism down,eat more. I have been eating really healthy,trying to eat every 2-3 hrs,small snacks,meals.Just want to know how close to I have to be to the goal to lose wt.Thanks

    If you are using the MFP default setting for protein (15%, I think) then eating a little over is likely not a problem if you are otherwise healthy. Generally the medical recommendation is 15 - 30% protein for healthy adults (it varies based on size, sex and age). If you exercise intensely, even more may be okay. Check with your doctor if you have any medical conditions.

    It's hard to say if you are hurting yourself by not eating all your exercise calories without knowing what you are eating and what the total calorie count on average is. If the deficit drops your net calories below 1470 that could be problematic at your height. If you need to add more calories without adding more bulk look at upping your fat content from healthy vegetable fat (olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, etc.)
  • juliebeannn
    juliebeannn Posts: 428 Member
    5'3", ~140lbs
    cal intake = 1850 weekly avg (between 1570-2100/day depending on exercise and what my body is telling me.)

    success? in the making. i like the slow and steady approach.
  • NiagaraCheryl
    NiagaraCheryl Posts: 56 Member
    I'm at 1510 and pretty much eat each and every calorie I can. I also eat back my exercise calories. I don't think I could get through a day otherwise.

    My starting weight was 212 lbs and I'm currently at 194 lbs. I'm 45 years old and 5' 5".

    Thankfully, it's been easy enough. I was on vacation for a week and even managed to maintain my weight. I had the attitude of "enjoy it but don't go overboard".
  • Toxictwist
    Toxictwist Posts: 274
    my daily intake is 1800 calories
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
    I'm between 5'4" and 5'5" and my net calorie goal is between 1500 and 1700. I have MFP set to 1500 but don't feel bad if I go over a bit since I'm not looking to lose any major pounds. I also only track on the week days but try and stay kind of on track on the weekends. Cutting out a few drinks would help with that. :drinker:
  • Farburnfred
    Farburnfred Posts: 333 Member
    1500, usually within and more often about 50/100 calls under it. I am 5'6. I am actually loosing about a kg a week on this. I eat back most of my exercise calories
  • anniebonnie
    anniebonnie Posts: 71 Member
    1700 net calories:) but so far these past few days have been more along the lines of 1300-1500 haha. I'll probably make up for it on the weekend though, since those are my maintenance days. I'm 5'5, no clue how much I'm losing on this
  • lbesaw
    lbesaw Posts: 267 Member
    1500 --I'm 5"3"
  • JessicaMurch5515
    JessicaMurch5515 Posts: 150 Member
    1500-1600. I lowered it to 1200 for about a month and absolutely nothing happened so I'm back up to what I know works for me.
  • blessed0910
    blessed0910 Posts: 32
    They say it is important to eat at least 1200 a day for women. When you only eat 300 in a day your body will think you are starving it and then it can hold onto calories and fat instead of burning it. I am set at 1400 a day without exercise and I have decided that I am going to eat back 50 to 75% of my exercise calories.
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
    I am 5'4, weight fluctuates between 115.5 and 117. I eat around 1900 calories / day
  • yecatsml
    yecatsml Posts: 180 Member
    5'4.5" and 1780 (TDEE -15%) 147 lbs
  • moonshine_betty
    moonshine_betty Posts: 169 Member
    My first post! I eat in the 2000-2300 calorie range to lose weight. I don't eat back exercise calories because my exercise is already factored into my maintenance calories (~2800). I'm 32, 5'8", ~28% bf and currently 173 lbs. I workout 5-6 times weekly for 60-75 mins (cardio 5x/wk, weights 3x). It's working for me; I'm down from 183 lbs in late June and this is how I lost 30 lbs two years ago. My weight loss would be faster but I've been eating out a lot lately and have trouble being consistent. When I am, I lose 1-1.4 lbs eating this way.
  • dexfatpants
    dexfatpants Posts: 55 Member
    I'm 31 years old, 5'7.5 & I weigh 182 lbs. My calories are set at 1200. I exercise 5-6 times a week, most of the time twice a day. I do yoga or Pilates in the morning & cardio at night. A few times a week I add in circuit training at night after the cardio. I don't eat my exercise calories back (most of the time anyway) & I have lost 10 lbs. I feel like I should have lost more , but I am losing inches & my jeans are much baggier :)
  • Suzrun4
    Suzrun4 Posts: 1
    I am at 1260 calories before exercise. I am burning between 300 and 500 calories per day by exercise. I am 5'-9" and have lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks. So I would say it is working for me. 70 more pounds to go though.....
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    2,000 calories
    5ft 3

    have been losing about 1.4 lbs per week for 4 weeks
  • LexRaven
    LexRaven Posts: 25 Member
    Calorie goal: 1300/day
    Height: 5'2''

    This is my calorie goal for losing 2lbs a week. Works well for me but takes alot of menu planning.
  • fattypattybinger
    fattypattybinger Posts: 337
    So I guess I need advice I have been eating more like 900-1000 so if you want to help me add me as a friend. I guess I am not thinking right. I should know better. I guess I could use more support. Thanks
  • Bighiker2
    Bighiker2 Posts: 100
    Hi, I have been on a 1200 daily calories diet since last 7/16 and have lost 12 lbs. so far. I am 5ft 2inches tall (fun size) LOL!!

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