How much are YOU eating?

DO IT!!!!!!!!!
Seriously I read something along the lines, did a different calculator thing that suggested I up to 1700 and I did. Since I haven't been able to keep with my workout regimine the past couple of weeks I was worried I would get back to the gym next week and find I've gained. Instead this morning I wanted to wear Khaki's for a change and came to the conclusion another trip to Goodwill for clothes is in fact needed.... I undergrew my pants again... be it changes in my body from not working out or loss or both I won't know until I get back on the scale at the gym next week, but I know I would be better off going in naked than wearing my khaki's, my brown slacks, or my blue slacks... Naked I don't spend time wasting pulling my britches on

This is a popular topic on MFP!

I am short, 5'2", and have a small frame. I started at 1200 calories a day and it was awful. The scales hardly moved, I think the main reason was I was so lethargic I didn't do much incidental exercise. If I wasn't out specifically exercising (eg walking, swimming) I sat on my butt starving. I was also a grumpy cow to be around.

I upped my calories to 1400 which doesn't sound like a big difference but it was amazing. I was happier, had more energy and moved more. I started to lose weight - and fast! Part of this was because I was able to do fairly intense exercise for an hour or so a day.

I'm at my goal weight now and still exercising quite a bit (cardio and strength) so I can eat up to around 1800-2000 which feels decadent!

i eat 2700 cals/day to maintain current weight

DO IT!!!!!!!!!
Seriously I read something along the lines, did a different calculator thing that suggested I up to 1700 and I did. Since I haven't been able to keep with my workout regimine the past couple of weeks I was worried I would get back to the gym next week and find I've gained. Instead this morning I wanted to wear Khaki's for a change and came to the conclusion another trip to Goodwill for clothes is in fat needed.... I undergrew my pants again... be it changes in my body from not working out or loss or both I won't know until I get back on the scale at the gym next week, but I know I would be better off going in naked... it would be just as effective

Thanks! I might do it lol I'm scared to gain, but I'm hungry haha

Just make sure your choices are still whole, healthy choices and you will be good. I still find it hard to meet my caloric intake but I don't worry about indulging in a few extra almonds anymore...

3100 to gain about a pound every 2 weeks? maybe a week...

I lose on 2000 calories per day. I maintain on about 2300-2400. I'm 37 yrs old, 156 lbs, 5'7" and about 25% body fat. I run, lift, rest, repeat.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, and I'm a SAHM... for me that equates to the third level of activity in MFP... not sedentary or even mildly active... the next one up (is it Moderately active?). I burn about 2200 calories/day on a rest day.

OK, with the numbers you gave, using 1-3 hours a week of "light" exercise (I like to underestimate my exercise but you'll have to twear this on your own) here are the numbers:

BMR: 1929
TDEE: 2653

20% Calorie Deficit: 2122

SO, there is your starting point. Try to eat at least your BMR, but get as close to the 2122 as you can. Reevaluate your numbers after 5 pound loss. Your numbers will come down as you get closer to your goal weight. But at 1200 calories no wonder you are hungry!

If you use the road map to find out your BMR and TDEE (using the correct activity level) and you set your calorie goal to TDEE minus a deficit of up to 20%, (ensuring that result is above your BMR figure) then logically, so long as you are being honest and logging everything that passes your lips, there is no way that won't lose weight. Your body may take a while to settle down and in some cases has increased a couple of pounds, but once settled you WILL lose weight.

This is simply because the calories going in are less than the calories going out.

What I would do is test the waters out so to speak but just increasing your calories by 100 more a day and stay that way for at least 2 weeks and then if you want you can increase them again the same way as long as your still happy with your progress. Once I reached my goal I did this and I kept losing lol so I had to have cheat days to gain back so hopefully you will find what calorie level works best for you

Lauren I am 5'6" and I lost weight eating 1650 net REALLY fast at the beginning, but I lost weight at a wide range of net calories, anywhere from 1420 as high as 2100. I lost exactly a pound a week at 1420 and at 2100 both, you can lose weight eating high calorie, or low. The only difference is eating low calorie is hard and I hear a lot of people saying they stall out! They hit a plateau!

I eat 2600 net to maintain my weight of 135 pounds. I keep saying net because I still eat back my exercise calories. I have been experimenting since July with maintenance and have been eating net 2600 since October.

I am 42 years old, 5'7'' and am currently 226 pounds. I am eating 1800 calories a day. I was eating less until a few weeks ago. Then I hit a GIANT plateau, and did some reading. I found the In Place of a Road Map thing and decided to up my calories. I stayed at the same weight until this morning, when I dropped 2 pounds. So I think that eating more may work for me.

Wow! You have lost a lot! Wtg and thankyou for your response

Thank you. I lost most of it pretty quickly, and then stalled. I am hoping I am back on the road now.

You need to find a TDEE calculator, here is a link to one: http://thefitgirls.com/tdee-calculator.aspx. Figure out what your TDEE 9the amount of calories you burn evry day) and then figure out what 80%of that is, and eat that. That is what I am doing. I figured it did not hurt to try. What I am eating now is not enough calories for me to gain weight. So if I try if for a while and am not losing, I can readjust. I do know that it allows me to eat a LOT of food, and I feel great.

Age 30, 5' tall, very active, paperweight! Maintenance is about 2000-2400 (depending on the day).

I'm eating around 1800 more or less if wanting to lose.