What is NORMAL? Calories..etc..

karissastephens
karissastephens Posts: 324 Member
edited September 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I would love to see how many calories people eat a day and how much you guys work out. im curious if im doing this right.


Maybe include the following..

- weight/height
- calories you eat a day not counting exercise
- how many calories you burn at the gym or exercising in general

thanks!
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Replies

  • TheMotherAwesome
    TheMotherAwesome Posts: 174 Member
    5'5", 151 pounds
    1240 calories per day
    I usually burn around 1,300 calories per week.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    I'm 5'5.5" (5'6"), 195.4 lbs, and eat 1200-1800 cals a day, depending on exercise. I exercise 6 days a week. I run & cross train MWF, just run on Tue & Sat, and go for a walk on my "rest" days. I typically burn 500 cals an hour on a cross training day, and about 300 on run days.
  • sjcply
    sjcply Posts: 817 Member
    I am 5'8 and I currently weigh 159. I eat around 1500 calories and day and burn around 500-800 per day 6 days a wk doing p90x and I have lost 17 lbs in 3 months/ my goal wt is 155, but will most likely go to 150 for wiggle room.

    What about you?
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,260 Member
    :flowerforyou: When I started on MFP about 14 months ago I weighed 183, ate 1200-1400 calories a day and burned about 300 calories a day exercising.........since then I have lost 71 pounds, gradually increased the amount of exercise I do, and have maintained my goal weight for about three months. Right now at 5' 3" and 112 pounds I consume 1500 calories a day plus about 2/3 of the 600-800 calories I burn through exercise.
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    5'5, 167lb, large frame
    get 2030 cal/day (not including exercise)
    I exercise sporadically, but generally earn about 100cal/10 minutes in each of my chosen workouts

    My goals are set to a slow loss/maintain. I'm happy with my general size, just want to lose some/tone up the belly which is 4 sizes bigger than the rest of my lower half.
  • themethod
    themethod Posts: 257
    6'0", currently 167

    I eat around 1600 calories a day, and 50 - 100% of my exercise calories on most days

    A light day I burn 250/300 calories, a heavy day can be around 900 calories burned

    I work out 6 - 7 days a week
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    I'm 5'6, 140. My goal is 135, dunno if I'll ever get there! I have my thing set for 1400 cals, and I'll eat my exercise cals if I want...sometimes I don't eat all of them but generally eat at least some. I burn about 1300 cals a week from running. When it was cold and gross outside I would go to the gym and do 45 mins of elliptical or maybe run around the track for the same time. I also like to lift some weights every now and then!
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    I'm 5'1, 133 lbs (trying to get to the 125 range). I eat around 1800 calories per day.

    I don't really count my exercise calories though I'm doing P90X so I'm probably burning around 500 calories 6 days a week. I'll allow myself to go down to 1600 on a rest day but I think I've only done that once in the past 7 weeks.
  • karissastephens
    karissastephens Posts: 324 Member
    How in the world do you manage to burn that many cals. exercising?! thats so good! I go to the gym everyday and can only manage to burn 300-400 calories with out wanting to pass out from being tired :(

    Tips??
  • AllisonMS
    AllisonMS Posts: 104
    5'10" currently 170. Down from 188 in late January.
    1200 calories/day (never feels like enough.....days I don't exercise are really hard and therefore rare)
    30-Day Shred or Run every day (so I can eat more!)
    Eat back nearly all of my exercise calories each day.

    The Method...I'm going to copy you! We're about the same size and you are a force! Totally inspiring to me. I know we're already "friends" here, but so great to see what you do all in one place. Thanks for the boost, lady!
  • jlewis2896
    jlewis2896 Posts: 763 Member
    How in the world do you manage to burn that many cals. exercising?! thats so good! I go to the gym everyday and can only manage to burn 300-400 calories with out wanting to pass out from being tired :(

    Tips??

    Healthy carbs!!!!!
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    5'3"
    161 lbs.
    Set at 1200 and never eat any less than this
    Burn usually close to 2,500 per week if not more

    PS - My diary is public :happy:
  • I've been thinking about getting that.. Only worry I have is that I will end up buy a lot of stuff to keep around my small one bedroom apartment.. So how do you like it?

    Sandy
  • 5'5.5", started at 120, currently at 166. I eat 1200 calories a day w/ out exercise, but do only burn about 150 calories on the 5-6 days a week I exercise. I'm also curious on ways to burn 300-400 calories a day without running or biking. (If it's possible)
  • somigliana
    somigliana Posts: 314 Member
    I'm 5'6.5" and 156lbs, aiming for around 150lbs.
    I eat a base of 1500cals a day.
    Exercise is usually between 250-500cals six days a week. (My high calorie exercise days are from 1hr Zumba class).
    And I eat all of my exercise cals :)
  • Junisahn
    Junisahn Posts: 166 Member
    I'm 5'1, currently 117 lbs with a goal of 112 lbs. I eat 1800 calories a day at a minimum because I'm breastfeeding. I earn (with breastfeeding) an average of 600-800 extra calories a day so I can reach that 1800 calorie consumption minimum to keep my supply up. MFP gives me a measly 1200, and only "lets" me lose .6 lbs a week. I've lost an average of 1 lb a week.
  • I am 5'7", weigh 158lbs. rarely exercise. I am on 1200 cals per day. I have lost 27lbs within 3 months.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    On my cross training days, I run for 1/2 hour (burn 300+ cals), eat a snack, then hit the stationary bike for another 200+ burn. The snack keeps me from "bonking" (hit the wall/pass out, whatever you want to call it). Lately the snack has been 1/2 a Larabar.
  • Mande_G
    Mande_G Posts: 599 Member
    5'1", medium frame, currently 173 lbs, hoping to get down to around 125 lbs.

    MFP is set at 1360 calories per day for a weight loss of 1 lb per week (slow and steady -- I range between 0.8 - 1.8 lbs lost most weeks). I burn about 200-250 most days (doing Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred), up to 750 on a weekend day (combo of 30 day shred and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism). I usually have one rest day per week, either on Saturday or Sunday -- whichever day I feel like cleaning house and getting laundry done for the coming week.

    Edit: Also, I usually only eat 1/2 of my exercise calories. I like to have a bit of a cushion in case I miscalculate a portion size, or don't know the exact calories of something. This has worked well for me so far. I eat pretty well (lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, veggie protein, lean dairy) and never really feel deprived as long as I eat often enough. I also drink at LEAST 2 liters a day, but I aim for 3+ liters -- especially if I've gone over my sodium.
  • tkrall
    tkrall Posts: 109
    I'm 5'2 149lbs trying to get down to 120. I "allowed" 1200 calories a day. I usually exercise 5 days a week burning around 150-200 calories a day, and do not eat my exercise calories back, unless the day was low on calories. I too am curious about the 500 calories? HOW?
  • kellykat
    kellykat Posts: 180 Member
    I'm 5'11" 195lbs my food/exercise journal is open if you want to take a look.
  • I am 6'0", started at 260. I am 254 now, and trying to get to at least 165 (would love it get to 155). I eat about 1200-1500 calories a day. I haven't found a specific time to exercise, around chasing children, work, etc. I do go up the stairs to work (about 3 flights), and walk every day roughly 2mph at least 2-3 hours a day. So far this has helped I have gone from 260 to 254 in 3 days. I do not eat my exercise calories back. I drink 2-3 liters of water a day (no coke or tea...nothing but water(no flavorings)).
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    5'3, I aim for 1400 calories, which I have figured would be about 1/2 lb/week loss for me alone. I don't have a HRM at the moment and I don't know how much to trust the estimates on this site, so I aim to burn about 200-250 more calories, putting me at a 1lb/week goal. If I burn a lot more because I double up on workouts, I will probably eat about 200 more calories. I've been losing right under a pound a week since the end of February.
  • themethod
    themethod Posts: 257
    How in the world do you manage to burn that many cals. exercising?! thats so good! I go to the gym everyday and can only manage to burn 300-400 calories with out wanting to pass out from being tired :(

    Tips??

    Healthy carbs!!!!!

    Yes, I definitely eat carbs (fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc.). I also try to get around 100g of protein a day and I take it all in the form of whole foods - no protein shakes. My ratios are set at 45% carbs, 30% protein, 25% fats, if I remember correctly. I eat a ridiculous amount of food, all throughout the day. And I try to drink at least half my body weight in oz of water a day. There is never a moment, even at work where I don't have either water, food, or both at my desk.

    Also, I rarely go to the gym. I do my exercising at home or outside. I have a gym in my building and it has three cardio machines (treadmill, bike, elliptical). I cycle through the machines whenever I go so I'm not using the same one two visits in a row. I love the Shred, at my weight and the intensity that I push myself I burn between 250 and 300 calories doing that workout. I also think C25K is a fantastic program. And I add in yoga anywhere I can.

    On a heavy day I'll do between 5 and 6 miles walking as fast as I can (shorter distance and on an incline if I use a treadmill) in the morning, The Shred or a modified CrossFit routine or any other kind of combination resistance training or circuit training in the afternoon, and up to an hour and a half of focused yoga in the evening. Of course I only have time for that on weekends and holidays. :)

    If you're getting lightheaded at the gym you need to look at the foods you're eating before you exercise and at your water intake. The systems in your body are starved of energy and/or hydration. Also, since you don't have that much to lose, the same exercise that you and another person do is most likely going to burn more calories for the heavier person, so be careful in comparing yourself to others.

    PERSONAL OPINION, 1200 calorie a day diets shouldn't be used for more than a few weeks at a time as they are difficult to maintain and keep your body operating at a bare minimum. This is especially true if you are not eating your exercise calories back.

    Try going up to the "reports" tab on the top of the page and running a "nutrition" report of your "net calories." In MY experience, when my net calories are below 1200 I maintain or gain weight and when I am anywhere from 1200 - 1800, I lose.
  • sassydot
    sassydot Posts: 141
    5'5.5", started at 120, currently at 166. I eat 1200 calories a day w/ out exercise, but do only burn about 150 calories on the 5-6 days a week I exercise. I'm also curious on ways to burn 300-400 calories a day without running or biking. (If it's possible)

    jumping rope is a good one, I estimate at 127 cal/10 minutes for moderate rope-jumping
    and around 100/10 minutes for vigorous calisthenics

    I break rope-jumping into 2 or 3 10 minute blocks. cos it's much more do-able than 30 minutes in one hit! (If I tried to do 30 in one go I'd give up after about 13-14 minutes, but I can do 10 minutes 3 times a day OK
  • 5'2" started at 246
    now 235. :)
    calories intake 1250
    calories burn in a daily week should be 1800 :)


    i think i gave you the right info :)
  • agrasty2002
    agrasty2002 Posts: 33 Member
    Hello,

    I'm 5' 2.5" and 223lbs, I usually burn between 500-800 calories per day (I will have more accurate calorie numbers once my bodybugg comes in)....I currently eat anywhere between 1500-1900 calories per day depending on the exercise that I do and I am consistently losing about 2-3lbs per week. :) I've lost close to 30lbs so far :) Normal is different for everyone and is relative to your age, gender, body composition, type of exercise you do, weight loss goal (1lb/wk or 2lbs/wk etc), and lifestyle (sedentary, lightly active, moderately active, active, very active, etc.). There are so many factors to consider. :) Hope this helps. Although I haven't completely reached my goals yet, I've learned a lot a long the way through reading up on all this stuff. :)
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    How in the world do you manage to burn that many cals. exercising?! thats so good! I go to the gym everyday and can only manage to burn 300-400 calories with out wanting to pass out from being tired :(

    Tips??

    P90X is mostly heavy weight lifting ... chest and back (pushups and pullups), shoulders and arms (free weights), back and biceps (pullups with weights), etc. Our major cardio workout is plyometrics (jump training).

    Insanity burns a lot more calories. It's max interval training (3 minutes of anaerobic followed by 30 seconds of rest or aerobic activity). A 45 minute workout can burn just under 700 calories and the more advanced ones 1000+ (but I've only tried the workouts from the first phase so far).

    Look them up on youtube ... you might get some ideas on stuff you can do at the gym or whatever.
  • themethod
    themethod Posts: 257
    5'10" currently 170. Down from 188 in late January.
    1200 calories/day (never feels like enough.....days I don't exercise are really hard and therefore rare)
    30-Day Shred or Run every day (so I can eat more!)
    Eat back nearly all of my exercise calories each day.

    The Method...I'm going to copy you! We're about the same size and you are a force! Totally inspiring to me. I know we're already "friends" here, but so great to see what you do all in one place. Thanks for the boost, lady!

    You got it, girlie! I am a huge advocate of increasing calories as you begin to lose more weight. If you get your food right, and you're getting your exercise in, the right fuel can only maximize your performance. :bigsmile:
  • Tami22
    Tami22 Posts: 56
    BUMP
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