How Many Calories should I be eating? 135lbs "5.2"

Mborroto25 · November 2013

Hi everyone,

So I keep calculating my TDEE, BMR, reducing 20-25% blah, blah, blah but am not really sure how much I should be eating.

I am going to spinning classes 2 times a week and run 3 days a week. Each for about an hour long. Meaning I work out between 4-5 days a week and my Polar HRM says I burn between 350-450 calories in an hour.

I have a desk job otherwise. So how many calories do you think I should be consuming? I am thinking less than 1400. I've been counting calories and working out for about 2 months and the progress is SLOW. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! I would love to lose 10-15 lbs.

Oh btw, I try to be as accurate as possible by weighing a lot of my snacks and some meals.

endoftheside · November 2013

I am about the same height/weight as you with about 16 left to lose and I am netting 1550 right now. Not saying that I recommend that because it's been pretty slow going recently but I prefer to stay away from the excessive hunger/potential binging I get when going lower consistently.

If you are going for less than 1400, I would eat back at least a portion of your exercise calories to avoid having too big a deficit. Add me if you want, it's nice having MFPals with similar goals.

JumpingDog · November 2013

I'm 5'0" and 117 lbs

I walk between college classes and garden for an hour or so once a week. I run for 30 min. once a month maybe and don't exercise other than that.

I eat ~1600 almost every day and I'm maintaining/losing a little. 1400 sounds too low, imo.

Escape_Artist · November 2013

I don't have your age but you look around 25 so according to the IIFYM calculator :

TDEE 1919
TDEE -20% 1535
TDEE -15% 1631

@5'2 - 135lbs you shouldn't have much to lose so you have to expect weight loss to be slower at that point

I'm 5'2 @120 and cutting right now @ 1680 calories lifting with occasional yoga and I am still droping

I would eat around 1550 for a couple of weeks, take measurements and see how that goes. Why I say a couple of weeks is to let your body adapt. If you eat 1550 this is calculated with your TDEE and therefore you shoundn't eat exercise calories back

jayladey · November 2013

no way less than 1400. i would say more like 1600. although you have a desk job you are active so...if i were you id even eat 1800. im at 1600 but thats because im lazier and smaller.(shorter)

psuLemon · November 2013

Hi everyone,

So I keep calculating my TDEE, BMR, reducing 20-25% blah, blah, blah but am not really sure how much I should be eating.

I am going to spinning classes 2 times a week and run 3 days a week. Each for about an hour long. Meaning I work out between 4-5 days a week and my Polar HRM says I burn between 350-450 calories in an hour.

I have a desk job otherwise. So how many calories do you think I should be consuming? I am thinking less than 1400. I've been counting calories and working out for about 2 months and the progress is SLOW. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! I would love to lose 10-15 lbs.

Oh btw, I try to be as accurate as possible by weighing a lot of my snacks and some meals.

With that little to lose, 1/2 -1 lb max is ideal. Also, why so much cardio? I woudl drop either the 3 running or 2 cycling to add in weight training. You will see more composition changes. Remember, it's about fat loss, not weight loss.

Second, do you weigh and measure your food (with a food scale)? If not, it's time to get one. It's very easy to undercount calories which will impeded weight loss.

Most women I know are eating 1700-2100 calories.

stealthq · November 2013

I'm the same height as you, looks like I'm older than you by 5-10 yrs. I've got a desk job, but do lift heavy once a week. At the weight you're at now, I was losing 1 lb/wk on 1450 Cals/day. In fact, I'm losing now on ~1500 Cals/day at 120 lbs. It's just slower ( 1lb / mo. ).

No way should you be eating less than I am.

Mborroto25 · November 2013

Hi everyone,

So I keep calculating my TDEE, BMR, reducing 20-25% blah, blah, blah but am not really sure how much I should be eating.

I am going to spinning classes 2 times a week and run 3 days a week. Each for about an hour long. Meaning I work out between 4-5 days a week and my Polar HRM says I burn between 350-450 calories in an hour.

I have a desk job otherwise. So how many calories do you think I should be consuming? I am thinking less than 1400. I've been counting calories and working out for about 2 months and the progress is SLOW. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! I would love to lose 10-15 lbs.

Oh btw, I try to be as accurate as possible by weighing a lot of my snacks and some meals.

With that little to lose, 1/2 -1 lb max is ideal. Also, why so much cardio? I woudl drop either the 3 running or 2 cycling to add in weight training. You will see more composition changes. Remember, it's about fat loss, not weight loss.

Second, do you weigh and measure your food (with a food scale)? If not, it's time to get one. It's very easy to undercount calories which will impeded weight loss.

Most women I know are eating 1700-2100 calories.

Yep, I got myself a scale, weight and label all of my snacks and breakfast. I cook a lot so unless I want to use that Recipe calculator thing on MFP, its hard to tell how many calories my lunch and dinner are. I usually try to overestimate those just in case. Thanks for the suggestions! I've been wanting to start lifting but really don't know where to begin.

Mborroto25 · November 2013

Thanks Everyone! Keep the suggestions coming!

Francl27 · November 2013

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Put yourself at moderately active.

psuLemon · November 2013

Hi everyone,

So I keep calculating my TDEE, BMR, reducing 20-25% blah, blah, blah but am not really sure how much I should be eating.

I am going to spinning classes 2 times a week and run 3 days a week. Each for about an hour long. Meaning I work out between 4-5 days a week and my Polar HRM says I burn between 350-450 calories in an hour.

I have a desk job otherwise. So how many calories do you think I should be consuming? I am thinking less than 1400. I've been counting calories and working out for about 2 months and the progress is SLOW. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! I would love to lose 10-15 lbs.

Oh btw, I try to be as accurate as possible by weighing a lot of my snacks and some meals.

With that little to lose, 1/2 -1 lb max is ideal. Also, why so much cardio? I woudl drop either the 3 running or 2 cycling to add in weight training. You will see more composition changes. Remember, it's about fat loss, not weight loss.

Second, do you weigh and measure your food (with a food scale)? If not, it's time to get one. It's very easy to undercount calories which will impeded weight loss.

Most women I know are eating 1700-2100 calories.

Yep, I got myself a scale, weight and label all of my snacks and breakfast. I cook a lot so unless I want to use that Recipe calculator thing on MFP, its hard to tell how many calories my lunch and dinner are. I usually try to overestimate those just in case. Thanks for the suggestions! I've been wanting to start lifting but really don't know where to begin.

Accuracy with calories is most important for fat loss. Adequate protein and weight training will maintain muscle and give you the lean look.

Weight training programs: strong lift 5x5, beginner lift 5x5, new rules of lifting for women, or look on youtube or bodybuilding.com. Generally, you can look for 3 full body workouts if you want to do 4 days, you can do upper lower splits. It may be advisable to look in the gaining weight section as there is some good information on lifting for good reason. Really, there is NO difference in training programs for gaining weight vs losing weight.

How Many Calories should I be eating? 135lbs "5.2"

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