1500 Calorie or Less Recommended Daily Caloric Intake

WeightJourney77
WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
edited December 18 in Social Groups
I myself, a 4'10'' female, 20 years old - is recommended to live on 1000-1500 depending on physical activity.

It's hard eating that few calories in a 2000 calorie based world.

I find it helps to always log what you eat, even all the junk food. Helps put your actions and impulses in perspective.


What are your struggles in being a short petite eater? How do you overcome them?
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Replies

  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    27, 5'0", here.

    I overcome them by working out more and lifting heavy. More muscles=more calories you can eat. I lift, because I love chocolate! (And for how lifting makes my @ss look:laugh: )
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    27, 5'0", here.

    I overcome them by working out more and lifting heavy. More muscles=more calories you can eat. I lift, because I love chocolate! (And for how lifting makes my @ss look:laugh: )

    I love chocolate too. ♥

    I ride a stationary bike usually myself, been picking it up more.
  • 4ft 11
  • astartig
    astartig Posts: 549 Member
    5' 2.5 here, the calculators have me at 1500 for maintenance once I am at goal weight. I think I am going to have to log for life. Pretty sure the 2000 calorie a day world is the reason I need to lose now.
  • miaz143
    miaz143 Posts: 48 Member
    Hi I'm 5'2" and 24. I'd like to blame the 2,000 for my 100lbs over weight, but I think it's mainly cause I love food. :)

    I'm at 1,200 calories a day while losing.
  • I'm 5'1...it's a hard knock life for us, but we can do this!
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    I'm 5'1...it's a hard knock life for us, but we can do this!

    :laugh: haha love that!

    We can do it together! :love:
  • Cinloykko
    Cinloykko Posts: 117 Member
    23 years old and 5'2"

    Mfp had me at 1200 at first but that was way too hard for me. I always felt like I was hungry and starving. So I changed to tdee-20 instead.

    I def think that this 2000 calories plus my lack of self control made me gain so much weight :-(
  • Blanche43girls4
    Blanche43girls4 Posts: 23 Member
    I am 43, 5ft 3" and my caloric intake is 1300 per day. I find this a bit challenging as well. I also dislike how my 100+ lbs looks on my small frame. Some people are overweight but "carry" it better and don't look as bad. I've never been like that...I look exactly like I am, a short woman carrying 100+ extra pounds!! :sad: Glad to have found this group...maybe we can encourage each other in our challenges!!
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I'm 5'2" and a lot older than 20. Today, I'm 100.5 and 21% bf per my scale (probably underestimates a bit). I've never been overweight, but my weight has crept up from the low 90s in my 20s. I'm also certain that my body fat percentage has increased, at the very least, the way my body distributes fat has changed and as it's a result of hormonal changes in the body there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it.

    I don't count calories every day, instead, I have a general idea. I assume I eat between 1200 and 1500 many days, much more when I overindulge. But if I want to lose weight, I have to be at 1150 or less. Because it's so easy to overstep, I like to go on an extreme diet for week (often less) once or twice a year. I have also found Intermittent Fasting helpful. I did Fast Five earlier in the year. While I lost five pounds in a month, which was remarkable, I lacked energy on it, so I need to find a different form, but keep putting it off.

    I get so frustrated with other people in the forum who spout off about "starvation mode" on 1200 calories when I, unlike them, have actually never been overweight so give me some credit. :smile: I get equally annoyed when people act as if everyone responds to exercise in the same way and has the same goals. I mean, look around you, or look at athletes, they obviously are shaped very differently and train in a manner appropriate to their sport.

    Thanks for calling the group "Short, Petite Women." What's up with females over 18 regularly referring to themselves as "girls"?
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Some people are overweight but "carry" it better and don't look as bad.

    I don't carry weight well either, even thought I'm normal weight. I'm pear-shaped. If I'm wearing flattering clothing that fits I look good, but the usual rules for pear or triangle shapes hold true for me: A line shapes, Empire lines, etc.
  • mommy3457
    mommy3457 Posts: 361 Member
    Hi everyone! I'm 5'1". My calorie goal has been 1300 calories, but honestly I've been eating more, and I haven't gained any weight back. I need to get back to this goal though so I can start losing more weight. I am a mommy as my screen name states. I have a ten month old baby boy. Right now, I'm a stay at home mom mostly, but I hope to be working full-time shortly. I walk a lot and sometimes jog or do workout videos. I have lost all my pregnancy weight, except the c-section pouch.
  • Scampydoo2
    Scampydoo2 Posts: 12 Member
    Hi everyone! I'm new to the group and to this site. I'm 5'2" and have always been slight until menopause. I started in weighing 140 and my goal is 112. Glad to find a group of like minded women!
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    Hi everyone! I'm new to the group and to this site. I'm 5'2" and have always been slight until menopause. I started in weighing 140 and my goal is 112. Glad to find a group of like minded women!

    Glad to see so many people joining my group! =D

    Didn't feel like other groups fit 'me' cause everyone always bashed my low cal diet and thought I was starving myself. haha

    Nice to see people with similar situations.


    Feel free to message me separately (anyone) if you want someone to chat with. =) I log on daily. :flowerforyou:
  • Hello everyone, I'm 5ft3in. And I weigh 165lbs. I remember the days of size 6jeans now I try to find pants with elastic. Such a bummer. I also have been trying to stay around 1200 calories. It's pretty hard as I am 41 and have the appetite if a 15 yr old boy. I have lost a couple pounds but I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've been eating better and munching less or not at all and exercising at least 4 or 5 times a week. And in a month I have only lost 3 lbs. I really need a lot of help to stay on track. I really hate what I see in the mirror and I hate that my husband of 2 years has to see it.
  • AbbsyBabbsy
    AbbsyBabbsy Posts: 184 Member
    I'm 5'1.5. I could eat 2000 calories and lose weight, but only because of my high starting weight. I'd rather get used to my maintenance of 1400-1600 healthy calories a day and let my weight figure itself out. It's hard because my husband needs about 3k calories a day, and it's easy to lose perspective of just what a reasonable portion size is.

    I'm so glad there's a place for us short women! So tired of hearing how 1000 calories is a "snack" and people with low calorie needs are treated as less than.
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    I'm 5'1.5. I could eat 2000 calories and lose weight, but only because of my high starting weight. I'd rather get used to my maintenance of 1400-1600 healthy calories a day and let my weight figure itself out. It's hard because my husband needs about 3k calories a day, and it's easy to lose perspective of just what a reasonable portion size is.

    I'm so glad there's a place for us short women! So tired of hearing how 1000 calories is a "snack" and people with low calorie needs are treated as less than.

    Exactly, people keep saying 800 calories per meal is normal. And all I can think of... is yeah sure it is. For one meal a day. = / If I ate three of 'there' meals I'd get so fat. haha!
  • mewilmes
    mewilmes Posts: 44 Member
    I'm 5'2" and have just re-vamped my rate of weight loss to .5 per week. I am back to above my original starting weight, but since I can fit into a size below what I was wearing, I'm not too bummed out, but I am perplexed. I am hoping a higher calorie per day goal will help me. My diary is open if anyone cares to comment. I go for pretty nutrient dense foods and try to even out my daily calorie intake. I think that's a good plan for me for the long run.

    I am 55 and have had two foot surgeries in the last several years. I can't do impact exercise at all and am still in PT. I can't really walk for exercise because my ankle is braced and when I walk it puts stress on my hips and lower back. I exercise mainly on my exercise bike. I am on my feet most of the day at work.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Hello everyone, I'm 5ft3in. And I weigh 165lbs. I remember the days of size 6jeans now I try to find pants with elastic. Such a bummer. I also have been trying to stay around 1200 calories. It's pretty hard as I am 41 and have the appetite if a 15 yr old boy. I have lost a couple pounds but I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've been eating better and munching less or not at all and exercising at least 4 or 5 times a week. And in a month I have only lost 3 lbs. I really need a lot of help to stay on track. I really hate what I see in the mirror and I hate that my husband of 2 years has to see it.

    Are you tracking everything, and weighing everything you eat? If I do that and stick to my goal I lose weight. Exercise is good for you, but it's not that critical in weight loss. You also might want to try something like Intermittent Fasting. Look up the 5:2 plan.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I'm 5'2" and have just re-vamped my rate of weight loss to .5 per week. I am back to above my original starting weight, but since I can fit into a size below what I was wearing, I'm not too bummed out, but I am perplexed. I am hoping a higher calorie per day goal will help me. My diary is open if anyone cares to comment. I go for pretty nutrient dense foods and try to even out my daily calorie intake. I think that's a good plan for me for the long run.

    I am 55 and have had two foot surgeries in the last several years. I can't do impact exercise at all and am still in PT. I can't really walk for exercise because my ankle is braced and when I walk it puts stress on my hips and lower back. I exercise mainly on my exercise bike. I am on my feet most of the day at work.

    If I had physical challenges and were not losing weight I would not eat more. I joined this board initially because I had an ankle injury and couldn't exercise. I wanted to monitor my weight. I did it my mainly staying around 1200 or a little under.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I'm 5'1.5. I could eat 2000 calories and lose weight, but only because of my high starting weight. I'd rather get used to my maintenance of 1400-1600 healthy calories a day and let my weight figure itself out. It's hard because my husband needs about 3k calories a day, and it's easy to lose perspective of just what a reasonable portion size is.

    I'm so glad there's a place for us short women! So tired of hearing how 1000 calories is a "snack" and people with low calorie needs are treated as less than.

    Exactly, people keep saying 800 calories per meal is normal. And all I can think of... is yeah sure it is. For one meal a day. = / If I ate three of 'there' meals I'd get so fat. haha!

    I don't mind that they can do it, it's very nice for them, but I hate it when they're in-my-face about it, acting as if there's something wrong with me. Besides, I get bonus points for not having gotten overweight in the first place.

    They're braggarts who aren't interested in helping other people.
  • mewilmes
    mewilmes Posts: 44 Member
    I know it doesn't make sense. But I'm actually gaining on the 1200 and I don't want to go below that number. I guess I could try another month at 1200. As I said, I'm perplexed.

    I weigh everything and when I exercise I use my bike's calorie counter which is way lower than MFP's.
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    I know it doesn't make sense. But I'm actually gaining on the 1200 and I don't want to go below that number. I guess I could try another month at 1200. As I said, I'm perplexed.

    I weigh everything and when I exercise I use my bike's calorie counter which is way lower than MFP's.

    Yeah it's confusing. Not sure which machine to trust O.o

    I always pick the lower one honestly. But that's just me.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I know it doesn't make sense. But I'm actually gaining on the 1200 and I don't want to go below that number. I guess I could try another month at 1200. As I said, I'm perplexed.

    I weigh everything and when I exercise I use my bike's calorie counter which is way lower than MFP's.

    Yeah it's confusing. Not sure which machine to trust O.o

    I always pick the lower one honestly. But that's just me.

    I would pick the lower one, but even better, I'd ignore it, while trying to work out hard as much as I could. I would focus on what I was eating, making sure that I was weighing and recording everything. I'd remember that calorie information itself is an estimate and can be underestimated.
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    I know it doesn't make sense. But I'm actually gaining on the 1200 and I don't want to go below that number. I guess I could try another month at 1200. As I said, I'm perplexed.

    I weigh everything and when I exercise I use my bike's calorie counter which is way lower than MFP's.

    Yeah it's confusing. Not sure which machine to trust O.o

    I always pick the lower one honestly. But that's just me.

    I would pick the lower one, but even better, I'd ignore it, while trying to work out hard as much as I could. I would focus on what I was eating, making sure that I was weighing and recording everything. I'd remember that calorie information itself is an estimate and can be underestimated.

    Yeah I know what you mean about calories being underestimated. And that worries me sometimes honestly. Cause when 1000-1300 calories is your restriction... a few calories off can equal easy overdose of calories! That is a big no-no for me so I try to leave a 100-200 gap for the wrongly proportioned foods I eat.
  • JulySadowski
    JulySadowski Posts: 8 Member
    hi- i'm 4'10" and weigh 145ish. i have a three month old girl, so my cal intake is different since i'm exclusively breast feeding. my weight is holding and i'm 5# over my pre-pregnancy weight. i'd like to loose 20# but not at the expense of feeding my girl.

    i increased the 1300 cal mfp gave me to 1800 and some days when i work i have a hard time hitting even the 1800. i wait tables and have a hard time eating regularly. some shifts are so busy i can't even eat the snacks i pack with me.
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    hi- i'm 4'10" and weigh 145ish. i have a three month old girl, so my cal intake is different since i'm exclusively breast feeding. my weight is holding and i'm 5# over my pre-pregnancy weight. i'd like to loose 20# but not at the expense of feeding my girl.

    i increased the 1300 cal mfp gave me to 1800 and some days when i work i have a hard time hitting even the 1800. i wait tables and have a hard time eating regularly. some shifts are so busy i can't even eat the snacks i pack with me.

    Maybe you should talk to your boss about your concerns for your child, that you need an extra 5 minute break at work so you can get the calories in, and if he refused - maybe try to get a doctors note of approval?
  • JulySadowski
    JulySadowski Posts: 8 Member
    hi- i'm 4'10" and weigh 145ish. i have a three month old girl, so my cal intake is different since i'm exclusively breast feeding. my weight is holding and i'm 5# over my pre-pregnancy weight. i'd like to loose 20# but not at the expense of feeding my girl.

    i increased the 1300 cal mfp gave me to 1800 and some days when i work i have a hard time hitting even the 1800. i wait tables and have a hard time eating regularly. some shifts are so busy i can't even eat the snacks i pack with me.

    Maybe you should talk to your boss about your concerns for your child, that you need an extra 5 minute break at work so you can get the calories in, and if he refused - maybe try to get a doctors note of approval?


    i wish it were that easy. my boss isn't the issue. she has no problems with me having food during my shift if i bring in my own snacks. it is the way a restaurant works. guests at tables aren't as forgiving if a server is to be absent for even 5 minutes for a quick snack- and that would be times 3 tables where i'm at. it isn't a work environment where breaks are easy to come by. i make do. what is harder is drinking enough water throughout the shift. water equals milk and pee and there isn't time to pee, so i don't drink water. that can kill my milk amounts (as it did this weekend). i try to make up for both after work and when i'm not working.
  • WeightJourney77
    WeightJourney77 Posts: 32 Member
    hi- i'm 4'10" and weigh 145ish. i have a three month old girl, so my cal intake is different since i'm exclusively breast feeding. my weight is holding and i'm 5# over my pre-pregnancy weight. i'd like to loose 20# but not at the expense of feeding my girl.

    i increased the 1300 cal mfp gave me to 1800 and some days when i work i have a hard time hitting even the 1800. i wait tables and have a hard time eating regularly. some shifts are so busy i can't even eat the snacks i pack with me.

    Maybe you should talk to your boss about your concerns for your child, that you need an extra 5 minute break at work so you can get the calories in, and if he refused - maybe try to get a doctors note of approval?


    i wish it were that easy. my boss isn't the issue. she has no problems with me having food during my shift if i bring in my own snacks. it is the way a restaurant works. guests at tables aren't as forgiving if a server is to be absent for even 5 minutes for a quick snack- and that would be times 3 tables where i'm at. it isn't a work environment where breaks are easy to come by. i make do. what is harder is drinking enough water throughout the shift. water equals milk and pee and there isn't time to pee, so i don't drink water. that can kill my milk amounts (as it did this weekend). i try to make up for both after work and when i'm not working.

    Not sure what to tell you there. = / Maybe talk to your doctor about good options / habits to do off work to make up for the loss of calories spent at work?

    Idk =(
  • ILoveGingerNut
    ILoveGingerNut Posts: 367 Member
    Same here.... 157 cm, should have 1200 Kcal/day, I actually have 1500-1700 when I try to diet and I'm hungry!!!!
    37 y/o is so much more diffcult than when you are 20 :(
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