5' ladies what's your daily caloric intake?

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Replies

  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member

    Please please don't listen to the people who eat under 1200 - I know at least one of them has an ED and should not be giving any advice based on her eating habits.

    QFT - she's also clearly done metabolic damage to herself, and is HANGRY.


    OP - I'm 5'2", 41 years old, 153 lbs, and I'm losing 1 lb per week by averaging 1600 calories per day (1300 plus my exercise calories).

    Don't jump down to 1200 right off the bat - most people never need to drop that low to lose, even us short, older gals. If you go that low at the start, you have very little wiggle room when you plateau later (and most people who start off that low, WILL plateau at some point)
  • StusPrincess08
    StusPrincess08 Posts: 36 Member
    Hello I am 5'2 and my cals are set to 1200 but I try to stay under that

    Why in the world are you eating less than 1200?!?!?

    That is with my calories burned included, It has been working for me?
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I'm 4ft 11 - lost the first 26lb eating 1600 calories per day.

    Then went back to work and am now sat at a desk all day, so more sedentary, and am now eating 1450 a day, which my Fitbit tells me is a 250 calorie defict.
  • kcallas88
    kcallas88 Posts: 192
    Was at 1200 calories a day and lost 16lbs. Felt miserable and was moody the entire time. Sadly most of the weight lost was muscle not fat...after losing 16lbs my body fat was 25%...at the beginning it was 26.5%. I failed there. I eat now anywhere between 1500 to 2000 calories a day and don't really count exercise calories. I use the TDEE method. I've been doing this for a while and generally feel better and have more energy for workouts and am able to push harder through them. I have lost 2% body fat in a month...although my weight hasn't changed I look and feel a lot better.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member




    Yes, some people lose at 1200 - but why do that if you don't have too :flowerforyou:
    Why should they lose according to *your* schedule? Some people do better when they see results.

    I'm sorry what? :huh:

    I didn't give a "schedule" I said some people lose on 1200 and are you implying I haven't seen any results?

    You gave your opinion and I gave mine - no need to attack me for it. :noway: I'm sure the op can make up her own mind.

    You implied there was something wrong with it. Obviously, it is some people's preference.
  • butlera8
    butlera8 Posts: 130 Member
    5'1 current weight is 139 with a goal of 125-130. I eat 1510 calories a day. I loss the first 20lbs or so on 1200 calories.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Eating more doesn't always work for everyone. I tried it and only ended up gaining so I'm going back down from 1600 to 1300. At 1300 is where I lost most of my weight. I'm 5'3"

    I am the same way. One thing some people don't understand is that the assumptions behind the calculators may not apply to you. The only way to get a reliable metabolic rate is to be tested in a lab.

    I don't have a problem with people trying to to use the guidelines, but after using them for several weeks without success they're often advised to eat MORE, which is nuts.

    I am the same. Tried it and gained. I mean if you think about it. I got overweight eating more than I should...why would it help me lose? Lol
  • fireant777
    fireant777 Posts: 15
    I dont think you guys are really reading what was said...

    You may feel like its whats working for you, but have you looked at how much fat and how much muscle you actually have? like one lady said, your body simply cannot GROW and build muscle OR burn fat on 1200 calories a day. and depending on if any of you wrkout, you could be eating as little as 500 calories after your burn..

    Its just insane!! if you ladies were to readjust your calories and slowly start adding until you find where you body is maintaining then you'll be good. Right now you may feel like you are maintaining, or you are trying to lose, but all your losing is muscle. Sorry to say it but its true. your body needs calories, and 1200 OR less is just not enough, for ANYONE!

    A 5 YEAR OLD KID NEEDS 1200 calories a day. our body's are a lot bigger, we have more muscle more dense bones, our bodies needs food!

    sorry if this sounds mean and angry LOL

    Just wish that more women would fuel there bodies and not be afraid to eat! your body is capable of handling a lot more than you think!
    Good luck ladies!
  • michelleokelly5
    michelleokelly5 Posts: 20 Member
    5'4"
    220 lbs
    1600-800 calories a day + at least half of my exercise calories
    I lose about 2 lbs a week.

    I had the same results eating only 1200 calories a day. Then I educated myself on why eating more would yield better results. Im so glad I can eat a ton and lose weight. It makes this losing weight thing sustainable for me. A true lifestyle that I can follow.
  • nvpixie
    nvpixie Posts: 483 Member
    I'm 4'11". My goal is 107, and I'm eating around 1400 a day. I don't have a regular exercise routine (not yet...gotta work on that), but I've been losing about a pound every 10 days. I bump up my calories (only healthy, minimally processed foods for the extra calories) when I'm more active or feeling extra hungry. Some days I don't meet the 1400 so I try to make up for it the next day. I don't like going lower than 1200.
  • jolenebaglow
    jolenebaglow Posts: 2
    I'm 5'2 and 206.2lbs and I am new to calorie counting. My calorie count is 1200 too. I had a hard job at first keeping to that but the last 2 weeks I have kept to my calorie goal and lost 3lb. I am exercising too. I spend 2 days a week for an hour at the gym and do sit ups every day to flatten my tummy and am finding it easier to exercise and my energy level has improved. I think a healthy balance of calories and exercising is the way forward :O)
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    HI

    I'm 5'2 (stood really really tall :laugh:)

    I'm eating around 1600 a day - sometimes a little more if I've had a very active day sometimes a little less if I've been a slug on the couch all day.

    I'm doing new rules of lifting for women to try and help keep my LBM. I'm not looking at the scales so much - but I am keeping measurements and taking photos :noway: :laugh:

    Please please don't listen to the people who eat under 1200 - I know at least one of them has an ED and should not be giving any advice based on her eating habits.

    I second reading http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    and also looking in this group http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

    Yes, some people lose at 1200 - but why do that if you don't have too :flowerforyou:

    ^This. And I am 5'1
    SW: 245
    CW: 178
    Goal: 19-21% body fat

    Currently I eat around 1500-1600+ exercise calories back.
  • chunkadoo
    chunkadoo Posts: 41 Member
    MFP gives me 1200, I normally eat 1600-2000+ (I eat exercise calories back!)
  • funhouse77
    funhouse77 Posts: 179 Member

    Please please don't listen to the people who eat under 1200 - I know at least one of them has an ED and should not be giving any advice based on her eating habits.

    QFT - she's also clearly done metabolic damage to herself, and is HANGRY.


    OP - I'm 5'2", 41 years old, 153 lbs, and I'm losing 1 lb per week by averaging 1600 calories per day (1300 plus my exercise calories).

    Don't jump down to 1200 right off the bat - most people never need to drop that low to lose, even us short, older gals. If you go that low at the start, you have very little wiggle room when you plateau later (and most people who start off that low, WILL plateau at some point)

    This ^^ is good advice, I'm upping from 1200 to 1300 today, (plus exercise calories), to give myself some 'wiggle' room further down the line, as I still have about 35-40lbs to go. :)
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    5'1"

    currently losing on 1850 cals/day
  • SlinkyAndHerAmazingBunsOfSteel
    SlinkyAndHerAmazingBunsOfSteel Posts: 434 Member
    5ft2
    SW:191
    CW:143.8
    GW:130
    My bmr is 1550 (I had it tested at the gym) , so I eat about that and burn off 400 (sometimes more, sometimes less) a day.
    I've lost 47.2lbs and it has taken me about 20 months. Slow, but at least this way I'll keep it off! :wink:
    EDIT* I forgot to mention that in the beginning, for the first 6 months, I tried to stay at 1200 cals a day. That worked for a while, but then I'd get so hungry I would eat everything in sight and RUIN my progress. I would probably be at my goal of 130lbs by now if I had just eaten a bit more at the start! :smile:
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    EDIT* I forgot to mention that in the beginning, for the first 6 months, I tried to stay at 1200 cals a day. That worked for a while, but then I'd get so hungry I would eat everything in sight and RUIN my progress. I would probably be at my goal of 130lbs by now if I had just eaten a bit more at the start! :smile:

    ^^^^ this.... so important, I wish more people would take heed of this.... the tortoise and hare story really applies when it comes to losing fat. Slow, steady, healthy and sustainable wins.
  • lellagella
    lellagella Posts: 41 Member
    I am 5"1 and I eat at 1610 net
  • enewsome2
    enewsome2 Posts: 355 Member
    5'1" HW 160 CW 131 GW 115

    I have been eating around 1700 in the past, without eating back exercise cals. Lowered to 1600 for a little while.

    Now I've lowered to 1350. Which is making me very, very moody. Will probably go back up.

    I lost most of my weight eating between 1500-1800 calories a day.
  • icmuse
    icmuse Posts: 263 Member
    5'0"
    37 y.o.

    HW 150
    CW 127'
    GW 120 or 20% BF

    My base calorie intake is set at 1350, and I add around 200-500 calories a day from exercise and EAT all of them back.

    So I end up eating between 1500-1800

    I try to net around 1350 / day

    Healthy deficit, never hungry, and still losing weight!
  • mamaomefo
    mamaomefo Posts: 418 Member
    Bump for later reading
  • jess6741
    jess6741 Posts: 107 Member
    I'm 5'1 and 106 pounds. I want to get down to 100ish. I normally eat about 1300-1500 calories. I log my exercise but I don't eat all of the exercise calories back. I normally net 1000 but I think mfp is way too generous with calories burned through exercise.
  • JcSans
    JcSans Posts: 18 Member
    SW: 180
    CW: 144.6
    Goal: 24% bodyfat

    I am 5'1" and eat about 1700-1800 kcal. I do stronglifts 3x week and some type of cardio for an hour 2x a week. I actually just broke through a plateau by eating at maintenance for a week or two then cutting again at 15%.
  • SadKitty27
    SadKitty27 Posts: 416 Member
    5'6
    sw: 218
    cw: 190
    gw: 125

    around 1200 calories a day (sometimes less, very seldom more.) I haven't been able to exercise normally in a while due to getting the flu, then having to prepare for an exam.
  • Shaylyn1986
    Shaylyn1986 Posts: 164 Member
    I'm 5'2 and MFP recommends 1200 a day so I am somewhere between 800-1200 though I usually try to cap it at about 1000.
  • duckiec
    duckiec Posts: 241 Member
    This was so helpful in making me feel it's really OK, even though I'm short, to get out of the 1200-cal is best mindset.

    4'11, starting 183, current 168, goal 120's, and I've been averaging eating 1300-1400/day over the past weeks, but with exercise, netting 1000-1100. The scale has been great to me lately, but I'm starting to feel like crap, mentally and physically. Going to bounce those up a bit, on average, and have a couple of holiday treat meals planned next week, too.

    Edited to add stats.
  • MzDfy
    MzDfy Posts: 14
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

    Hi There

    I recommend you try the tools on the page above. It will help you work out what you should weigh, and what is a heatlhy amount of calories to eat per day. I'm 5'4, and my BMR is 1439, so this has become my total daily intake as science suggests itn't not wise to eat below your BMR.

    Take care

    Marie

    I used that one (Fat2Fit) and then I went to the Scooby to figure out what I should actually be eating. So, when I first started out at 5' 6" at 1200 according to MFP calculations, I was ALWAYS hungry and grouchy. After using the Fat2Fit and the Scooby, I now eat 1831 calories and I do cardio 3x and week and lift 3x a week, sometimes both in the same day. Feed your body, it will reward you for it! In the last month I have lost 10% body fat and only 1 pound from the scale, but my body is changing and I'm losing my back fat baby! Joy, joy, joy! :drinker:
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I'm 5'2 and MFP recommends 1200 a day so I am somewhere between 800-1200 though I usually try to cap it at about 1000.

    For the love of god please eat more. 1200 a day minimum. :flowerforyou:
  • Shaylyn1986
    Shaylyn1986 Posts: 164 Member
    I'm 5'2 and MFP recommends 1200 a day so I am somewhere between 800-1200 though I usually try to cap it at about 1000.

    For the love of god please eat more. 1200 a day minimum. :flowerforyou:

    Haha sometimes I actually feel sick when I eat too much. This happens all the time when I go home and eat my amazing grandma's cooking but my body is just like ...no.

    I agree I need to add in a few hundred of vegetables. I feel better when I stay under the 1200 though ..could be a mental thing, who knows.
  • ShallaLovee1
    ShallaLovee1 Posts: 356 Member
    5'4 ranges from 1300-1700 and sometimes more. Eating up to 1700 has helped me it just depend on what I eat.

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