Women, losing weight eating 1700+ calories?

c2jvintage
c2jvintage Posts: 34 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Hi! I am 23, 5'4" and around 160 pounds. I work as a teacher. For exercise I do 30DS in the morning and Insanity after work. I am looking to weigh between 135-145. I have been doing the TDEE-20% (Exercise at 3-5 hours per week, which with 30DS and Insanity probably is correct/low). I figured my TDEE on Scooby's Calculator then subtracted 20%. That put my at around 1900 per day. I usually eat between 1700 and 1900 per day. This past week, I lost a pound or so, but am worried it could just be a fluke. I feel like 1900 calories are too much to lose weight. Have any women lost weight eating calories like this? Also, do you think the activity level is right? Thanks in advance! :)
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Replies

  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
    If you are exercising that much, you will probably lose weight IMO.
    I currently have my maintenance set at over 1800, and I eat back my exercise calories. I was losing at 1630 plus exercise calories, and at the moment I am at my goal and want to maintain. (I am down from above 170 to 135).
  • CupcakeCrusoe
    CupcakeCrusoe Posts: 1,440 Member
    We are almost identical, only I weigh 10-15 lbs more than you do. I've been wondering the same thing, as I can't even seem to reach 1700 calories most days. I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    you actually can eat more to lose weight, a lot of people think they have to do 1200 which is kind of low. what you are doing is right as far as calculating your tdee and then subtracting 20%. each person is different as far as weight loss, but as long as you are putting out more than you are taking in you should be fine :]
  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
    Just to clarify- 1630 plus exercise calories usually put me around 1900-2000, and I was not exercising as much as you are.:smile:
  • chelsifina
    chelsifina Posts: 346 Member
    This works best for me. In fact, when I eat fewer calories, like 1200 or 1300, I do not lose any weight at all and I plateau. Of course your next week will be different because weight loss is not linear. You will most definitely have your ups and downs, but what you are doing tends to work very well for active people over the long haul.
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    I eat ~2000 a day, I'm 5'8-9 but I don't work out every day, mostly walking every day then extras a couple of days a week. With heavy cardio in the morning and night that would greatly increase your tdee. If you're losing weight dont stress about it, just keep an eye on it week to week or what ever the frequency is. We don't want any stress hormones in the mix messing stuff up, enjoy the eating that exercise allows! :D
  • Klem4
    Klem4 Posts: 399 Member
    Yes, I've been eating 1700 since beginning of december and have lost almost 10lbs. Before that, my weight loss was stalled and not working. Probably going to up it to 1800 soon. I workout 6 days a week, 1-1.5hrs.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    I eat 1800 and ive lost 8 kg in 44 days
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I lost weight eating 2000-2200 calories a day. I'm quite a bit taller than you (5'9"), but I'm also a lot older (41). I went from 202 down to 136 pounds and have been maintaining that since last June. Maintenance calories are typically 2300-2500 for me.

    Losing weight on 1700 calories seems perfectly reasonable at your height/weight/activity level. :smile:
  • juliep1974
    juliep1974 Posts: 222 Member
    I'm 56" and 143 lbs and I lost .5 lbs this week eating 1750 plus exercise. I spin a couple days a week and do p90x 3 times a week so I eat between 2000-2200 a day. As you get closer to your goal you may need to deduct less than 20% but it works!
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I'm 5'4", 36, and 130. I average 2,000 and am still losing. I workout 60 minutes per day 6 days a week.
  • missmidge84
    missmidge84 Posts: 100 Member
    I'm quite a bit heavier than you, but I'm losing 1.5-2 pounds a week eating 1900 calories a day. I've been at this since early October and it's working well for me! I did the TDEE- 20% calculation.
  • c2jvintage
    c2jvintage Posts: 34 Member
    Thanks ladies! This gives me hope that I am diong something right and that my weight loss wasn't just accidental. I was happy to see even a pound gone because this week was TOM and I know with both 30DS and Insanity there is sometimes not alot of loss in the first week or two. I have tried the 1200 calorie thing, eating back exercise and not eating back exercise. I just haven't found something that works for me. My husband and I are taking a late honeymoon in June, so I need to be swimsuit ready by then. I really appreciate all the encouragement! Thanks!
  • diddyk
    diddyk Posts: 269 Member
    I would think that's not enough. I'm going Insanity and eating roughly 1900-2000 per day, I'm 25 and 5'10. Adding in 30DS and I think you should be eating closer to 1900-2000 per day.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    It worked for me. My TDEE with 15% cut was 1700-1800 and I lost. Current maintenance TDEE is 2000-2300. If you are young and highly active, you need to fuel your body and actually more fuel than those of us older folk. :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I'm a lot older than you, and lost my weight eating 1350-1600 plus exercise calories, or 1700-2000+.

    It works and it's amazing.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    I would think that's not enough. I'm going Insanity and eating roughly 1900-2000 per day, I'm 25 and 5'10. Adding in 30DS and I think you should be eating closer to 1900-2000 per day.

    You are also 6" taller than her therefore your calories would be higher.
  • diddyk
    diddyk Posts: 269 Member
    I would think that's not enough. I'm going Insanity and eating roughly 1900-2000 per day, I'm 25 and 5'10. Adding in 30DS and I think you should be eating closer to 1900-2000 per day.

    You are also 6" taller than her therefore your calories would be higher.

    Absolutely. But she's probably burning 200 more calories than me with 30DS.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    I would think that's not enough. I'm going Insanity and eating roughly 1900-2000 per day, I'm 25 and 5'10. Adding in 30DS and I think you should be eating closer to 1900-2000 per day.

    You are also 6" taller than her therefore your calories would be higher.

    Absolutely. But she's probably burning 200 more calories than me with 30DS.

    Gotcha! Thought you were both at the same activity. Grrr...
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I am 5'3", eat 1800 and am losing weight. I currently weight 159...weighed 168 at the begining of last month when I started with TDEE-20% (still on that right now). I am doing 30 minutes 6 days a week, alternating running and weight lifting (heavy) and I lose about a pound a week.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    I lost the last 10 lbs. working out 6 days a week (3x cardio/3x weights) and eating 1850, and I'm 5'3" and 47 yrs. old. You can do it at that many calories as long as you keep up the workouts. I've cut back my workouts and I'm eating over 2000 in maintenance.
  • lovelylittlegiggles
    lovelylittlegiggles Posts: 117 Member
    I lost weight consuming 1895-2000 calories per day. I also burned a ton of calories, too. If your activity level is high you need more calories. Sometimes I consumed more than that, but my activity was greater. I still lost 29 pounds. Do what works for you. :)
  • jillbly1
    jillbly1 Posts: 1
    What is TDEE, how do you figure this out?
  • lousoulbody
    lousoulbody Posts: 663 Member
    I switch TDEE almost 3 weeks ago now, my daily cal's include 3-5 hrs moderate exercise a week, so i do NOT eat my exercise cal's back. YOu should re-evaluate your TDEE every 5 lbs you lose and adjust your cal's accordingly, Scooby's calculator is excellent, he recommends you eat 20% less thats a good start. I haven't lost a pound since DEC22 and i was getting very frustrated, now after 3 weeks of TDEE i have lost 1 lb and i feel I'm over my 7 week plateau and hope to continue to loose these last 6 lbs. FYI I have boosted my protein intake with Whey Isolate Protien Powder, and set my marcos at 40/40/20…..im blasting away fat and gaining lean muscle back with circuit training, its a win win for me so far.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    What is TDEE, how do you figure this out?

    TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure.

    If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • rebelate
    rebelate Posts: 218 Member
    I eat anywhere from 1,700 - 2,000.

    I'm eating TDEE - 20% , and put it on "sedentary" since my work outs aren't consistent week by week. I eat back 1/2 of my exercise calories and I've been losing a little under a pound a week.
  • RobinV_Seattle
    RobinV_Seattle Posts: 191 Member
    Well, I was chatting with my personal trainer and he suggested I just start planning for around 1800 calories a day (assuming that I keep working out for an average of 5 days a week.) A, it's easier to just plan your day-to-day menu and B, basing my calories on 1200 + my exercise for *today* doesn't account for residual calorie burn from the last 24-72 hours - depending on what kind of effort I put in at the gym for the last day or two. I am sure I am not explaining this as well as he did, lol.

    To make a long story short - too late!! - I'm going to give it a try for a month. I haven't been losing weight over the last 6 weeks starting with a base of 1200 calories and he's the one with a double masters in exercise science and nutrition, after all.
  • c2jvintage
    c2jvintage Posts: 34 Member
    These are great responses! I think i will try eating close to that 1900 and see what happens over the next few weeks! My macros are 40/30/30... what are everyone elses? I eat a ton of protein every day from whey powder, tuna, and chicken...but it still isn't meeting my goal, I have a hard time without going over on sodium. Any good ideas there?
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    40/30/30 just like you.
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    I am 5'5 132lbs and I have *SLOWLY* lost 5lbs eat between 1500-2000 a day. I lift 3x weekly, do some cardio, and practice yoga.
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