Any other shortys out there?

TasiaTa
TasiaTa Posts: 21 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I am 5 foot nothing and a 43 year old active woman. How many calories do you eat a day to lose between 1-2 pounds a week? I have been told with my age and size that i should eat 900 calories a day. I realize that exercise becomes a necessity to lose any weight. So just curious.....how many calories do you eat a day and still lose?

Replies

  • TasiaTa
    TasiaTa Posts: 21 Member
    I don't try to keep my calories that low... I would wallow in misery if I did. lol
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    I can lose very easily on 1200-1500 with exercise. Who told you 900?
  • Kalici
    Kalici Posts: 685 Member
    Without added exercise every calculator tells me that I'm between 840 and 1020 calories per day to lose 2 lbs per week (I have a lot to lose). I've had a couple of weeks where I wasn't able to exercise and my weight loss immediately stopped.
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    Give it 6 weeks on 1200 and see what happens, you can always adjust.
  • TasiaTa
    TasiaTa Posts: 21 Member
    As Kalici said it was weight loss calculators. I was also warned by them that dropping that low is not good for you. I know that I need more calories to function properly. A large problem I also have is consistency. I lack it. I will go 3 weeks tracking food and working out then POOF! I don't care. They damage I do to my self in that week is devastating. Can't seem to break this cycle.
  • TasiaTa
    TasiaTa Posts: 21 Member
    refuseresist wrote: »
    Give it 6 weeks on 1200 and see what happens, you can always adjust.

    I will. Just need to power through that dreaded week of ambivalence. Thanks! :)
  • PixieMidoriKitten
    PixieMidoriKitten Posts: 21 Member
    I go for just shy of the 1200 that MFP allocates me and at 4'10" I am steadily losing. Need to exercise though, even just taking stairs instead of lift (elevator), squats whilst brushing teeth, random 50 start jumps (jumping jacks) before I sit on the sofa (couch) each time.

    I am 28 though, and I don't understand this increased age = less calories thing, because I'm not a medical professional...

    I find it hard to eat less than 1000cal though, even stocking up on the veggies, I need at least 1000cals each day
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    Exercise is the key for me, if that's not going right, then nothing else does.
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    TasiaTa wrote: »
    As Kalici said it was weight loss calculators. I was also warned by them that dropping that low is not good for you. I know that I need more calories to function properly. A large problem I also have is consistency. I lack it. I will go 3 weeks tracking food and working out then POOF! I don't care. They damage I do to my self in that week is devastating. Can't seem to break this cycle.

    That is exactly what I do!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    refuseresist wrote: »
    Give it 6 weeks on 1200 and see what happens, you can always adjust.

    ^This, plus you get to earn extra with exercise.
  • Kalici
    Kalici Posts: 685 Member
    TasiaTa wrote: »
    As Kalici said it was weight loss calculators. I was also warned by them that dropping that low is not good for you. I know that I need more calories to function properly. A large problem I also have is consistency. I lack it. I will go 3 weeks tracking food and working out then POOF! I don't care. They damage I do to my self in that week is devastating. Can't seem to break this cycle.

    It takes 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound. Unfortunately, when you're short you don't get that many calories to start with.

    I think the first thing is just to get yourself recording everything you eat. Even when you don't care if you gain. Even if you know it is going to blow your calories away. Make it something you do every day no matter what. Like brushing your teeth. Then at least it'll be habit and you can make choices with the complete knowledge of what you're doing. No surprises.
  • katiehunter921
    katiehunter921 Posts: 25 Member
    I'm 5'4 and try to keep it around 1300.
  • StraubreyR
    StraubreyR Posts: 631 Member
    I'm 5' 2", and 48 years old. My BMR is 1388. I lose on 1800 per day including exercise calories. When I first started, I tried the 1200 calorie routine, it didn't last long. I use the TDEE -20% method, and am very happy with it. Yes, the loss is fairly slow, but I don't mind, since I can eat like this indefinitely without feeling deprived.
  • Asheea
    Asheea Posts: 211 Member
    I'm 5 foot even and eating between 1440-1720 a day and still losing with exercise.
    So far I've lost 82 lbs. It's workin' so far. :smile:
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    I'm 5'1" and target about 1300 net calories, more if I earn more with exercise. Anything below 1200 is generally not advised unless you're really teeny-tiny, because you need to get enough nutrients through your diet.

    I think the pitfall of those calculators is the 1-2 pound per week pace that you're targeting for weight loss. Since we're shorter, 1 pound is a greater percentage of our target body weight than it would be for a taller person. Aim for a 15-20% calorie deficit vs. your maintenance instead of an absolute deficit of 3500 calories/week. For some of us that will mean slower weight loss. But it should also be more sustainable in the long term, avoiding that 3-4 week log and then crash cycle you talked about.
  • SWEETMAY84
    SWEETMAY84 Posts: 66 Member
    5'4 and at 1200 a day running 5 x per week =)
  • agbmom556
    agbmom556 Posts: 694 Member
    I just started. In my 40's 5.2". eating between 1500-1600 calories a day. I have 50 pounds to loose.
  • TasiaTa
    TasiaTa Posts: 21 Member
    ok...so if I hang between 1200 and 1500, what should the macros look like?
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    TasiaTa wrote: »
    ok...so if I hang between 1200 and 1500, what should the macros look like?

    I've been experimenting with these values, too. Most calculators will tell me to up the protein and fat, and lower the carbs. I've never really been able to successfully pull that off, because I like carbs too much! My current macro targets are 50% carbs / 20% protein / 30% fat, and even with that, I'm constantly high on carbs and low on protein (and sometimes fats). So for now, I'm just targeting the calorie goal and letting my body dictate what to eat, and not stressing too much about macros, as long as I'm getting enough nutrients.

    Eventually as I look to change body composition and not just lose pounds, I may attempt to cut back on the carbs and increase protein consumption. But for now, I'm just concentrating on feeling full within my total calorie goal.
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    I have changed mine to pro 35, fat 25, carb 40 i feel ok and less hungry when i do this but its tricky to get the protein in.
  • consideritdonemi
    consideritdonemi Posts: 88 Member
    5' 2 " and 40 y / o here. Started MFP at 143 lbs. and am at 130.5 within ~9 weeks so far. Am set to 1220 calories a day on MFP, but go over on most days...sometimes by A LOT. Lol. I only do cardio so far, but could definitely use some weight training to tone things up a bit. I just revised my goal weight to 120 lbs. from 125 lbs. My current weight is still a bit much for my frame, but progress is a wonderful thing!

    I log, keep my diary open, and interact daily. Any shorties can feel free to add me!
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    refuseresist wrote: »
    I have changed mine to pro 35, fat 25, carb 40 i feel ok and less hungry when i do this but its tricky to get the protein in.

    Agreed. I find it *very* difficult, especially since I don't eat much meat. Usually my main protein meal comes at dinnertime, when I'll have something like chicken or fish or beans or legumes. I don't eat red meat, pork, shellfish or any other meats, and I really hate things like canned tuna salad that many people eat at lunch. I also dislike eggs on their own for breakfast (though I'm happy to have them cooked into pancakes, french toast, other unhealthy choices), so I tend to have things like oatmeal or cereal and fresh fruit instead.

    I think it's easier and more realistic to change habits a few at a time. Maybe my current mix isn't ideal, but it's better than how I was eating before. The Atkins / low carb diets have never worked for me because I simply don't have the willpower to stick to them when all my favourite foods are carb-heavy.

    Not saying that would necessarily work for you. But I'm seeing results so far.

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