1050 or 1200? Before or after Exercise?

Everyone's number is different depending on their age, size, etc. Use an online calculator to find your BMR (basal metabolic rate - the calories your body needs to survive) and TDEE (total daily energy expenditure - the calories your body burns in a day with all activity factored in). Net between these numbers, and you'll lose weight. Here's one calculator:

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

Make sure you are eating at least your BMR or 1200 calories, whichever is HIGHER. I'd recommend that you eat a bit more and exercise a lot more to arrive at the same number. If your goal is 1200, eat 1500-1700 and burn 300-500 calories a day from a workout to arrive at that 1200 number. You'll feel a lot better - less hungry, more energized, etc.

Be careful, though... MFP says you have XXX calories remaining, and it will add your exercise calories to that number. Don't go crazy and eat all your exercise calories back. Put as much of that toward weight-loss as you can (as long as you're over your BMR/1200 calories and you feel good).

Good luck!

I think 1050 is probably too low to be sustainable. You will be less likely to stick with a plan if you're hungry or feeling deprived all the time and 1050 is very few calories..

I am 5'0, so 10 whole inches shorter than you. I eat 1270 per day and eat back most of my exercise calories.

BMR = Basal Metabolic Rate (the amount of calories you need to survive at whatever weight if you were in a coma)

I used this calculator - http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html and plugged in 24 hours of rest to find my BMR.

I calculated for my current weight and for my ideal weight. I set MFP to the calories for my ideal weight BMR and I eat back most of my exercise calories. It's more of an "eating for the person I want to be" thing. This is working well so far. As I get closer and closer to goal, I know the weight loss will slow down, and I may adjust my calories down or increase exercise to create a bigger deficit.

You don't HAVE to do cardio 5 days per week. Any exercise is better than no exercise, but as long as you are eating at a deficit, you will lose. Finding exercise you enjoy is most important. Look around on the threads. Lots of ladies have AMAZING results with strength training. Some people swear by walking. Others use exercise videos. Just find something that you won't get burned out on quickly and get going! I am doing FocusT25 right now, but when I finish, I definitely want to move on to strength training because the results are seriously that good! There are groups on here for just about everything. Get in with some people who are like-minded and you will generally find good people with similar goals. You get to share in their victories and motivate them when they need it. They will do the same for you.

Anyway, best of luck to you and feel free to add me if you'd like!

I would suggest setting your goal on MFP (this site) to lose 1.5lbs/week and eat back what you burn from exercise. Let the program do all the calculating for you. Once you get a hang of it you may want to look into changing macro's or using TDEE, but i would start simple.

I am 5"3.5, 45 years old and 119 pounds trying to get back down to where I was this summer (I went to India and gained weight doing the whole Eat Pray Love thing)

I am eating 1500 per day plus my exercise cals back and am losing. So, chances are good that you will lose too eating way more than 1200.

Okay being 5'10" and currently 210, let me assure you that 1050 is way too little.

I started at 250 and I have lost 40+ in 4 months eating 1400+ a day plus eating back part (or all) of my exercise calories. I am currently set at 1450 and I exercise 30 minutes- 60 minutes a day. This is mostly because I have a sedendary job so I need to exercise to get a reasonable amount of movement during the day.

If you are more active you might need to eat more calories than I do. I started with the numbers MFP recommended and it has worked well for me. I would suggest this as a good starting point (your height, weight and amount per week to lose) and see how it goes. Eating too little can ruin your metabolism so I suggest starting with the recommended guidelines for a few weeks and see how it goes. You can always tweek it after you understand better how your body works.

I used WebMD and they told me to eat at least 1200 calories and burn off x amount to get to the number you mentioned.
So eating 1400 calories and burning 470

I have been reading articles on weight loss and keep finding that none of them are on agreement about calorie intake. I am new at this, learning how to eat healthy and gym memberships thing. I was hoping that someone may be able to help me out a little.

I am 5'10 and weigh 225 lbs, I am trying to loose between 50-75 pounds. I found on WebMD that if I wanted to lose 1-2 pounds a week I should eat 1050 calories/ day and do at least one hour of cardio 5 times a week. After reading other posts most people are warning others of eating so few calories. Is it safe?

Also, is the total calorie intake of 1050 or 1200 not including calories burned? If I eat 1050 calories and burn 500 then do I need to eat 500 more calories?

Please no mean responses, I am new at this I am really needing some support as I learn how to be healthy.

Thank you

I just put my info in for 2#/week loss and got an extremely low number-1064cal/day- as well....however the print below that number states:

•Limit your calories from FOOD to 1314 calories per day. Burn an additional 250 calories per day or 1750 calories per week through FITNESS. Note: The amount of calories you eat (1314) minus the calories you burn through fitness (250) equals your daily calorie goal (1064). Things like doing laundry, grocery shopping, and walking all count as fitness, so be sure to note these as well.

So they are not saying to only eat 1064 calories, but that by the end of the day your food calories minus your exercise calories burned should equal 1064. Food calorie goal is 1314.

Find your numbers via myfitnesspal - and go a little under. That's what I have done for the entirety of my weight loss. I was a big guy at one time so i started out at 2200 calorie suggestion. I ate 1800-2000 based on if I was able to exercise or not. As my weight dropped, I also drop calories. MFP now suggests me to eat about 1500 calories a day to lose weight. I eat 1700 and workout daily.

Just eat based on the number the website gives you and stay active. Be patient and stay positive. The biggest part of losing weight is staying committed.Commitment is the one thing that will guarantee success.

Good luck! Add me if you'd like some support!