How many calories do YOU guys think I should be eating?

katiev111
katiev111 Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Every estimation I get is just so fluctuated. Sometimes I get 2000, other times I get 1200. I'm 19, female, 167 pounds. As far as activity level I suppose I'm technically maybe "lightly active" (according to MFP's scale)..because I'm in college so I'm in class all day but I am walking around too. I take Pilates 2 times a week plus I work out 6 days a week, which I think is where my problem was. I always considered myself "active"....so I was consuming more calories,about 1500 a day, whereas now It's telling my I should be taking in only 1200. What do you guys think. Thanks!

Replies

  • protein321
    protein321 Posts: 16 Member
    1400-1500 sounds right. If you exercise then you can an extra 100-200. Make sure you weigh your food, it's easy to under/over-estimate.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    MFP's calorie model excludes exercise calories. So if you're following MFP's model, how much you eat each day depends on how much you exercise.

    Some people use their TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) as a basis for planning how much to eat.

    As this link points out, you can use either method, as long as you're consistent:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I prefer MFP's method because my exercise varies a lot from day to day and week to week, but I don't mind being a couple hundred over one day and a couple hundred under another, as long as it balances out over the course of a week.

    This calculator is a useful tool for estimating your basal metabolic rate and your TDEE depending on how active you are, but like MFP's calculator, it's only an estimate:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    Whichever approach you use, after a few weeks you should compare your results with your goals and modify your intake accordingly. For someone your age and weight, 1500 calories a day (PLUS exercise calories) should be reasonable if you want to lose about 1-1.25 pounds a week, but that's a starting point.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    MFP's calorie model excludes exercise calories. So if you're following MFP's model, how much you eat each day depends on how much you exercise.

    Some people use their TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) as a basis for planning how much to eat.

    As this link points out, you can use either method, as long as you're consistent:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I prefer MFP's method because my exercise varies a lot from day to day and week to week, but I don't mind being a couple hundred over one day and a couple hundred under another, as long as it balances out over the course of a week.

    This calculator is a useful tool for estimating your basal metabolic rate and your TDEE depending on how active you are, but like MFP's calculator, it's only an estimate:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    Whichever approach you use, after a few weeks you should compare your results with your goals and modify your intake accordingly. For someone your age and weight, 1500 calories a day (PLUS exercise calories) should be reasonable if you want to lose about 1-1.25 pounds a week, but that's a starting point.
    ^This.

    I doubt any website or calculator (any half decent one anyway) would recommend you eat 1200 calories a day while working out 6 days a week. Anything recommending you 1200 calories a day will be on the expectation of you eating back exercise calories, which will bring you closer to the higher goals you are getting from other calculators.

    Also - how much did you tell MFP that you want ot lose a week? That makes a difference too. 2 lbs a week is likely to be too aggressive unless you're obese.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    Even if I put my goals at half a pound a week, MFP still tries to stick me on 1,200 a day. I use Scooby's and go from there. http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Even if I put my goals at half a pound a week, MFP still tries to stick me on 1,200 a day. I use Scooby's and go from there. http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    I use scooby too. Then there's no need to worry about eating back exercise calories, it's included.
  • katiev111
    katiev111 Posts: 19 Member
    They had a really in depth evaluation. Thanks guys!!!

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