How many calories are you guys eating in a day?

I use the TDEE - 20% method and that gives me 1900 calories a day. And I eat every one of them.

The longest plateau I've been on lasted 2 months and happened when I dropped my calories to 1200-1400. I'm not going back to that.

I aim for 1600 calories a day. If I get some exercise, I might go up as high as 2000. I always try to stay below 2000. I don't believe in eating all the calories you burn like some people because I know it doesn't work for me.

I aim for 1900-2100 cals most days but when I'm under, I usually make up for it later in the week with a cheat meal.

usually its anywhere between 1000 and 1400.

i vary it depends on the day

1200-1600...depends how much exercise I get each day. I started to really lose weight and tone up when I started eating half (or more) of my exercise calories back. I started out at 137 pounds and am down to 120. I'm also 5'3". I would still like to lose 5 more pounds.

Well, I'm slightly anorexic... I mean... I don't eat much during the day. I try and MyFitnessPal has been helping me do that. I put inn my data, 325lbs-goal 110lbs- sedetary exercise- 5'3- 18 y\o- goal to loose 2 lbs a week, and it says I can eat 1780 calories, which is very surprising to me. I don't doubt that MyFitnessPal is incorrect, my anorexic mind just can't concieve how much that is! lol. Well, yesterday was my first offical day of using the app and I seriously tried to eat so much; I was SO full at the end of the day. I ended up eating a total of 777 calories - 184 exercise = 593 calories. And the app was STILL telling me that I wasn't eating enough! Oh well. Maybe I'll end up loosing more than I expected? Check out my food diary and give me some tips if I really am not eating enough, please!

If you really want to consume more calories (which is definitely recommended), but can't stomach more food at the moment, try eating more calorie-dense foods such as seeds, nuts, nut butters, oils (cook with or add to salads), avocados, cheese etc. Stop eating reduced calories and reduced fat food, switch to full fat dairy for example. You can also drink your calories in milk, nut milks, protein shakes, smoothies etc.

If you really think you have an eating disorder, my main "tip" would be to seek treatment for it now. :flowerforyou:

^^^ What she said. Even though you have lots to lose, you can still become malnourished and ill if you're not eating right. Yes, there are people, like those who've had weight loss surgery, who eat that low while they're losing, but it's temporary, medically supervised and they're meticulous about nutrition.

All of this was well said. It's hard to switch to eating fatty foods after feeling like you got nowhere being super careful. You may not have an ED though, it could also just be a mild orthorexia. Basically by that I mean that you are so careful about not eating anything even slightly high calorie or high fat that you find yourself full on a very low level of calories. I suggest adding some of the options given above. An avocado is anywhere between 250-400 cals depending on the size, peanut butter is 100 cals a tbsp. It's physically easy to eat a spoonful of peanut butter, you just have to accept that it won't negate your progress.

Many meats are relatively high in calories even if lean. That can be a little scary at first but getting your protein is very important. You should aim to meet or exceed your daily protein goal as set by MFP or increase it. Protein shakes help to do that by adding about 25g of protein to your day in only 130 calories. Just remember that they act as a supplement, not a replacement.

Finally, go read the Road Map thread! I eat (net) 2040 calories a day for maintenance at 150 lbs 5'9". I have my MFP set to maintenance so that any calories under is loss and any over is gain. That's what works for me. If you go and figure out your numbers, you can find a system that you are comfortable with. Feel free to add me if you would like to chat or see my food diary.

well I'm like dying at 1200 calories...
I set the thing for losing 1 1/2 lbs a week. I find these calories kind of light and it leaves me hungry midday and at night. I'm never really "FULL", only temporarily satisfied. I guess that's how it ought to be though.

NO! Don't speak such blasphemy!

Go here and calculate your numbers. If you are tired, lethargic, and hungry at 1200 calories than it is likely far from enough to sustain your daily activity, not to mention exercise. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

well I'm like dying at 1200 calories...
I set the thing for losing 1 1/2 lbs a week. I find these calories kind of light and it leaves me hungry midday and at night. I'm never really "FULL", only temporarily satisfied. I guess that's how it ought to be though.

How much do you have to lose? 1 1/2 per week is high. Try 1 lb instead, then you can eat more. If you are starving while you lose the weight, you won't be able to start eating normally when you are done. Either recalculate with MFP or try adding 100 calories per day until you aren't starving.

At least 1350 (which is my BMR) but usually about 1500. Occasionaly I eat 1600-2000 cals when I have a high calorie burn at the gym.

1600-1900 per day NET..I'm 5"6 196.

5'7" 160lbs medium frame, I lift mostly.
Main goal is to get fit, with bodyfat% reduction as a side effect of that.
Not attached to scale losses/gains.
Want the mirror and clothing and strength gains to be my measures as well as feeling awesome and having fantastic habits.

I eat 1800-2000cals per day.
Goal is to keep it under TDEE.

I eat for health, strength in workouts, and for enjoyment:)

1200-1600 has worked for me. It's not super fast weight loss but I've lost 23 lbs and it keeps me from totally giving up since I can still have my favorite foods.

Right now 1670 a day is what I'm given - I usually don't eat any of my "extra work out calories". I readjust it through settings every 10 pounds that I lose so that it can readjust my daily totals, that way it will adjust to the amount that I want to lose.

BTW - It took me a LOOOONNNNGGGGG time to realize that I had to keep adjusting the settings, I assumed it was going to do it on it's own! :blushing:

Hi,

Eat what makes you feel comfortable.

It varies, but I eat enough to fuel my workouts. I judge it based on energy levels, mood, and hunger, and cravings.

This ^^

Usually that lands me somewhere in the 2800-3500 category. But I train 4 times a week, have a physically demanding job, and walk everywhere. I tried doing all this on 2500 calories because I was uninformed and ended up doing a lot of damage to my body. Now I know to eat when I'm hungry and track my macros.