5'2" or 5'3" ladies! what calorie targets worked for you?

twostepsforward
twostepsforward Posts: 113 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I can't decide how many calories to aim for, go low, go high, nobody ever agrees and at a smaller height it gets trickier. I am 174 and wanting to get down to around 125 ultimately. My exercising is erratic, as is my motivation! But I am at the beginning of Rachel groves female body breakthrough though I have a sore knee I pulled so a bit of a delay... What numbers have worked best for you?
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Replies

  • trophywife24
    trophywife24 Posts: 1,472 Member
    Between 1200-1500 calories. 1200 did the trick at first and then I had to up it a little bit when I got closer to my goal. I'm 5'2, started at 170 and am 130-ish now and maintaining.
  • twostepsforward
    twostepsforward Posts: 113 Member
    Between 1200-1500 calories. 1200 did the trick at first and then I had to up it a little bit when I got closer to my goal. I'm 5'2, started at 170 and am 130-ish now and maintaining.
    Well done! How long did that take and how active are you? I have two little ones too
    , 5 & 3 and they keep me busy, but obviously not busy enough!
  • juicy011
    juicy011 Posts: 200 Member
    When I logged it was 1650 cals for maintenance.......& about 1200-1300 if I wanted to lose weight.
  • tressatnt
    tressatnt Posts: 77
    I'm 5'2" and 134, I started at about 136 and 1200 calories, didn't work. Upped it to 1400, still isn't working so now I'm trying 1500. And I've been at this for over 3 months now.
  • Erykah3584
    Erykah3584 Posts: 324 Member
    Im 5'2.5 and started at 152 and 1200 calories. When I reached about 137 I hit a plateau and had to up my cals to 1500. Right now Im at 131 and have it set to 1575 plus I eat back my exercise calories. I always did. I do cardio 3 days a week and strength train 2-3 days also. :smile:
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I'm 5'2, 145lbs and I'm on 1500 (normally going over tbh) and I'm losing 1lb a week steadily :bigsmile:
  • RunnerBlonde808
    RunnerBlonde808 Posts: 257 Member
    I started at just over 200 pounds when I started my journey. I currently fluctuate between 132 and 136 depending on the day. I eat around 1600 a day and still lose. I run and strength train. I couldn't eat just 1200 a day and lose. I felt hungry all the time. And just could not get the protein in that I needed.

    Add me as a friend if you want. I try to motivate as much as possible.
  • lindsy721
    lindsy721 Posts: 350 Member
    When I'm losing fat and slimming down, I eat around 1700-1800 cals per day. I lift weights and jog about 40 mins per day. :-) I'm able to lose about 5 pounds of fat in 4 weeks on that plan.
  • rowyourboat
    rowyourboat Posts: 125 Member
    I'm 5'2.5" technically. When I do the program, 1200 works with me, with eating back my exercise calories. Hey I earned them! Unfortunately I've had a pretty bad year and keep falling off the wagon. I'm back on this week and really hope to get to my goal weight (120) by the end of the month!
  • Momma2Beauties405
    Momma2Beauties405 Posts: 32 Member
    You sound identical to me! I'm 5'2" and started at 176. I initially went for 1200 net cal/day but was not losing anything. When I went to my doctor for my annual wellness exam, she recommended going to 1500 net cal/day for a goal of losing 1/2 pound a week. That was 6 weeks ago and I have steadily been losing. My motto has become "Slow and steady wins the race" because even if it takes longer, a gradual change in lifestyle is more likely to "Stick" for me :-)

    Good luck!!!
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    I eat between 1500 to 1750 calories and try to work out at least 3 to 4 times a week. I'm 5'3 and have lost about 20 pounds so far and only have another 10 to go before I reach my goal weight. It is a slower weight loss, but it is steady and I haven't regained or stalled since I upped my calories to this.
  • jconnolly528
    jconnolly528 Posts: 55
    I am 5'2.5". I have had my target set at 1200 and have been losing weight steadily. I just upped it to 1368, based on this post. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • Presleyforpresident
    Presleyforpresident Posts: 172
    5'3 and 167 lbs.... i started off at 185 and 1,200 seems to be working fine for me:)
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    I'm 5'2.5 and started out at 170lbs. I'm now 118lbs.

    The calorie target that has worked best for me has been NO LESS than 1600 calories. Right now I'm set for 2000 and aim to eat 10-15% if I want to lose.

    I lost ZERO pounds eating 1200 calories. It was insanely counterproductive for me.
  • kbelle45
    kbelle45 Posts: 17 Member
    I guess if I could stay at 1200 I would lose. How do you stay at 1200 in a day- what is a typical day for you?
  • ambate2
    ambate2 Posts: 61
    I'm 5'2", currently 161, but started on MFP at 200. I've always followed the recommended calories that MFP says for losing 1lb/wk. I have my activity set at sedentary and work out 4x/wk for 30min. I try not to eat my exercise calories, but as I get closer and closer to only have 1200, I find that I typically eat a few of them so I end up eating in the 1300s but my net is always in the green. For exercise, I've started the couch to 5k program at the end of June, so now I "run" for 40-45 min with 20 min walking 3-4x/wk and DH and I try to go for a walk (45-60min) every day after dinner.
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    I guess if I could stay at 1200 I would lose. How do you stay at 1200 in a day- what is a typical day for you?

    Why couldn't you lose at a higher calorie level? Are you very tiny?

    I'm not a big person 5'2ish and 118lbs and I lose fine eating 1700 cal a day. It's a myth that ALL small women have to do VLC in order to lose.
  • PapaverSomniferum
    PapaverSomniferum Posts: 2,670 Member
    I'm 5'2" and a year ago a personal trainer put me on 1500 calories (I wasn't counting at that point and was trying to get into shape). I put on 45lb in 3 months. Still haven't been able to lose it.

    I'm maintaining at 1270, which was the number MFP gave me to lose 1/2 lb a week. It's taken me a year to lose 25 of the 45 extra I put on so rapidly.

    Now I'm trying to figure out how to get back to my pre-personal-trainer-fiasco weight in a healthy way :frown:
  • mrsyee313
    mrsyee313 Posts: 8 Member
    I'm 5'3 1/2" and I aim for 1200 net a day... U I usually burn 300-600 additional calories a day and eat them all back.

    As far as I can tell, I am hungry if I eat fewer than 1700 calories a day., but when I burn more calories I don't get extra hungry. On days I don't work out and try to eat 1200 I either eat way more or I'm starving
  • flamencobarbie
    flamencobarbie Posts: 53 Member
    I am 5'2", and I weigh 203. I have lost 15 pounds in one month. .. I started at 219 and my goal is 130 -135. I just want to be strong and healthy... I have been eating about 1000 calories per day, and exercising about 4 times a week... After reading everyones thread, I am thinking I should add anouther meal... and make it 1150. Or does anyone have suggestions for me too??? The 1000 seems to be working for me... Angelica ....
  • Erykah3584
    Erykah3584 Posts: 324 Member
    I'm 5'2.5 and started out at 170lbs. I'm now 118lbs.

    The calorie target that has worked best for me has been NO LESS than 1600 calories. Right now I'm set for 2000 and aim to eat 10-15% if I want to lose.

    I lost ZERO pounds eating 1200 calories. It was insanely counterproductive for me.

    What types of exercise do you do if you dont mind me asking.
  • Grognit
    Grognit Posts: 50
    I am 5'3", 42 and started at 157.6 lbs. Started on 1200 and was starving ALL the time. I hardly exercise right now, mostly walking - Determined my BMR and TDEE, made some adjustments and am now eating 1450. I weigh once a week and after not losing anything, I dropped 4 lbs this week. Sitting now at 153.6 and my goal is 130-135 lbs.
  • Erykah3584
    Erykah3584 Posts: 324 Member
    I am 5'2", and I weigh 203. I have lost 15 pounds in one month. .. I started at 219 and my goal is 130 -135. I just want to be strong and healthy... I have been eating about 1000 calories per day, and exercising about 4 times a week... After reading everyones thread, I am thinking I should add anouther meal... and make it 1150. Or does anyone have suggestions for me too??? The 1000 seems to be working for me... Angelica ....

    How do you do that?! I would be so starving all day and would be the biggest you know what! lol I turn into the hulk when Im starving.
  • Casshileman
    Casshileman Posts: 12
    How do you do that?! I would be so starving all day and would be the biggest you know what! lol I turn into the hulk when Im starving.

    I am the same way! :laugh:

    I'm 5'-2. I started 2 weeks ago and have been doing around 1500 calories. I do C25K three times a week and at least 30 minutes of walking twice a week. As of this morning I have lost 5 pounds! Even the 1500 is a little rough some times. The munchies are the worst!!
  • tressatnt
    tressatnt Posts: 77
    Are you all eating your exercise calories back?
  • tressatnt
    tressatnt Posts: 77
    I'm 5'2.5 and started out at 170lbs. I'm now 118lbs.

    The calorie target that has worked best for me has been NO LESS than 1600 calories. Right now I'm set for 2000 and aim to eat 10-15% if I want to lose.

    I lost ZERO pounds eating 1200 calories. It was insanely counterproductive for me.

    Congratulations, that is very awesome. I'm the exact height as you and want to get to 115 or just where you're at now. Do you eat back exercise calories and netting 1600 calories? I am struggling to find the right number for me. Right now I am trying to net 1500 and eat back my calories.
  • Prettylittlelotus
    Prettylittlelotus Posts: 239 Member
    I'm 5'3 and I work out at least 5 times a week for 30 minutes.

    Daily Calories: 1650
    ~I eat back almost all of my exercise calories, so I average around 1900-2000 a day

    My Macros are 65% carbs, 20% Fat and 15% protein.
    On work out days, I do occasionally go over on protein depending on what I did, and how hard I worked it.

    Good Luck!
  • RedHeadDevotchka
    RedHeadDevotchka Posts: 1,394 Member
    You gotta figure that out by yourself. I am 5'3.5 and eat 2400 calories a day. My first suggestion is to get a schedule or get your working out in order because if you can't be consistent it's going to be all that more challenging. You can start by eating your BMR, and you can see how that works for you. Google BMR and there are tons of sites with BMR calculators available.
    I wouldn't go really low right away because that's a hard thing to stay commited to if you are already eratic with your schedule.
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    I'm 5' 3" I started out at 172 pounds. I've lost 18 pounds in three months. Most days I eat around 1,800.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    When I'm losing fat and slimming down, I eat around 1700-1800 cals per day. I lift weights and jog about 40 mins per day. :-) I'm able to lose about 5 pounds of fat in 4 weeks on that plan.

    I follow a similar plan--lose slower but I'm 4'11.

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