How many calories should a housewife eat to lose weight?

eehoffman242
eehoffman242 Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello!

I'm using MFP now for the second time. I used it a few years back and lost the ten pounds I wanted to, but, as often happens, it snuck back onto my thighs. :)
When calculating how many calories I should consume, it lists 1200 for a sedentary lifestyle and 1340 for a lightly active person, but nowhere does it list a housewife as a gauge. There must be thousands of housewives using this program.

So I guess my question is this: How many calories are all of you housewives out there eating? I've been doing 1200, but I find that I'm angry all of the time and irritable and short with my kiddos (which I hate!) Also, I've been getting a lot of headaches. My guess is that 1200 is prob not enough. I try to walk for 30 mins a few times a week and stay pretty busy. I sew at home for an Etsy shop that I have and do the usual housework type stuff. I'm 35 and currently weigh 131 pounds.

Any suggestions? :)

Replies

  • Forty6and2
    Forty6and2 Posts: 2,492 Member
    It depends on your height, weight, and goal weight. If you could post those, I could help you more. Until then, read these

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

    If you're irritable on 1200 calories, it is likely too low for your body's needs.
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    If you're playing with kids, hauling them in and out of the car, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. you aren't sedentary. I'd go with light or even moderate activity. In fact, probably moderate. I don't remember sitting down much when my kids were little.
  • TXRanchGirl
    TXRanchGirl Posts: 303
    I always aire on the side of caution..while I am pretty sedentary at work, once home I am moderately active and weekends VERY active. I work out 6-7 days a week. I keep mine at sedentary and Im still in the 1460 range. I was in 1200 and it was getting difficult to do..in reality it was to low when I upped the intensity of my workout.

    I think you have to do whats right for YOUR body..but headaches and grumpiness are signs of not enough, IMO.
  • FireOpalCO
    FireOpalCO Posts: 641 Member
    Probably because "housewife" is a very loose job description. A person could be a "housewife" and have a maid come do all the cleaning, the husband does all the yard work, and the kids are now in school. Or a woman could be a "housewife" and absolutely adores growing vegetables and keeps chickens and is a pretty good amateur plumber and carpenter, composts, does her own canning and prefers to line dry her clothes, all with 3 kids under 5 in the house. Those are very different activity levels but still under the same title.

    You might want to get a pedometer to see how much you are moving around and how many duties are sitting down/standing still (paying bills, folding clothes, etc).
  • Sunbrooke
    Sunbrooke Posts: 632 Member
    I only have one child and he is 10. I don't do much running errands, so I consider myself lightly active. I net around 1100 calories daily, but I am very small. 4'11" 96 lbs. I log any exercise that is out of the ordinary, like if I go to the gym, play tennis, or spend the day at an amusement park. I've lost about 6 lbs since mid February.
  • eehoffman242
    eehoffman242 Posts: 15 Member
    That would probably help. :)
    I am 5 ft 7" and 131 pounds. I'm 35 years old. I'll check out your links as well. Thanks!
  • eehoffman242
    eehoffman242 Posts: 15 Member
    That's a Very good point! I have three kids, 13, 10 and 5. I don't enjoy gardening or anything, but I do enjoy a clean and organized house. I'm pretty squirmy. Its difficult for me to sit down unless I'm doing something with my hands. That might be why I love making clothing so much.
  • DrJenO
    DrJenO Posts: 404 Member
    At 5' 7" and 131, I would consider body recomp rather than weight loss.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Does sound like you're pretty low weight as it is, so I'd consider the 'recomp' route.

    Best way to work out what you need to lose weight is to keep track of what you eat and see how your weight changes.

    That'll be far more accurate than some random calculator on the internet :).
  • eehoffman242
    eehoffman242 Posts: 15 Member
    I'm sorry. You asked how much I was trying to lose. I'd like to lose 10 pounds.

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