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MyFitnessPal Community

I need advice! what's your daily calorie intake?

slowandsteady13

Hello my fellow fun-sizers!

I'm rachel and i'm about 5'1, according to MFP my daily caloric intake should be 1200. i'm a little concerned though because people keep telling me that is way too low, that i should be aiming for 1500. am i putting my body in starvation mode with 1200 calories?

what are you guy's daily caloric intake?

Replies

juliebeannn

5'3" 137lbs - i try to hit a weekly average of 1700-1800. some days as little as 1400 other days, as much as 2000. all depends on how my body feels and how much i'm working out.

Sjenny5891

MFP set it at 1200 in order for you to lose weight. I think it is rather low. I'm running between 1800 and 1900 a day but I'm breastfeeding right now. ( that puts it between 1300 and 1400 after calories burned) I would have problems trying to cut down the calories after I stop.

PaulaPalooza

I'm at 1200... but I just try to pack it with as much nutrients as possible. And hey, if I'm still hungry- I'll eat more. Just not junk

Just got back on the bandwagon! WOOO!

inside_lap

I think MFP puts sets that minimum to ensure that they don't get sued for people going way under and having health issues. 1200 calories is an arbitrary number set by the American College of Sports Medicine to ensure that people obtain enough food in order to have the required nutrition (ie vitamins and minerals) your body needs to function. There is actually no research behind the number. The concept of minimum calories, just like the concept of starvation mode, is grossly misunderstood by many people. According to research, in order to put your body into starvation mode, you have to drop to about 50% below your body's required caloric intake. That being said, unless your very petite, sedantary, or slight 1200 is likely a low number for most people. Unlikely to put you into starvation mode unless you need 2400 calories or more a day but for the average person pretty darn low. Now if your smaller then the norm, which is most of us in this group, then that is a different matter. If in doubt, consult a physician

. Physicians have been known to sometimes put people on EXTREMELY low calorie diets (ie, 350-500 calories a day) but only under medical supervision.

FYI, if I followed MFP's 1200 calories recommendation, according to their own chart, I would only lose only about .2 lbs a week. Yeah, I'm a super shorty. So I've lowered my number to 1050 which puts me to close to losing .7 pounds a week. I consider losing less then one pound a week perfectly healthy. My opinion. Of course, there is something to be said about slow and steady. I'm very concious of what I'm eating/exercising as it relates to my personal plans. And I've made sure that I've read up on my scientific research before starting my journey

. I can only recommend that you do your research, be in tune to your body, and seek professional opinions if you have questions/concerns or need a guide on your journey! Best of luck!

SMOOCH89

Mine is also set at 1200, I love food but have always had a problem consistently eating enough for my body to not drop into starvation mode. 1200 is definately a challenge for me (I'm nowhere near small, I am a plump woman and i had a child within the past 2 years and I breastfed) It literally takes me all day to get to 1200 somedays.But as my metabolism speeds up and I increase my activity level I will definately increase my caloric intake to somewhere between 1400-1700 a day.

jlburns2005

I'm on 1200 calorie also. I don't think i am starving myself at all. Im not suffering from hunger either. I eat 3 meals a day and a snack or 2.

birdiecs

1600 minimum my body deserves nourishment and I have lost just fine eating well above 1200

mrsieve

I'm supposed to be hitting around 1200 calories, too, according to MFP. I think that is if you literally sit on your *kitten* all day without doing anything. Obviously, any kind of walking, etc is going to allow for more calories.

jiz35

I'm on 1200 calorie also. I don't think i am starving myself at all. Im not suffering from hunger either. I eat 3 meals a day and a snack or 2.
[/quote

Agree with this post,
MFP for me is set at 1200 but I aim for between 1200 - 1400. If I go over by a hundred or 2 I don't beat myself up about it.
Jane

eschang99

5'1" here, I basically aim for around 1200, and always eat back my exercise calories.

WickedPineapple

I'm 5'1" as well, 142 lbs. When I was trying to lose 1 lb/week, MFP put me at 1200 calories. This worked for me at the time. I lost weight, but at the time I was mostly sedentary. I would go for walks and eat back those calories. My problem came when I had to be more active. My job requires me to go in the field sometimes, and those days are highly active (think being on your feet 10+ hours hauling around heavy things). With a baseline of 1200 calories, I would get lightheaded/fatigued on those days, despite eating more on those days. I upped my calories to 1400-1500 and felt much better. You'll probably have to play around with it, see what works best for you.

amyrrich96

I'm 5'2 at about 147 lbs, just for insight.

MFP has me at 1280 calories a day. I don't have much trouble with it at all. I eat a meal/snack when I'm hungry and I don't feel as if I'm starving myself at all. I also exercise very often (I love running) and I try eat back most of those calories but sometimes I'm just not hungry enough to eat them all back

I've been losing 1-2 lbs weekly.

Feel free to add me, my diary's always open:)

steph8679

I'm 5'1" and was doing the 1200 calories/day for months and lost 10 lbs. I continued to do this for all of February and didn't lose a pound! I was really frustrated and decided to alter something. I increased my calories to 1300 on the days I don't go to the gym and to eat back at least half my calories on the 4 days I do go to the gym. In a weeks time I finally lost a pound and feel so much better. I think my body was going into starvation mode and that's why I couldn't lose anything. I hope this helps! Good luck!

eustaciavye

1200 takes a lot of focus and preparation. At 5 ' - 150 lbs I am aiming for that number, but aware it is on the low side and that there will be some off days because it's real life.

snoricakes

I'm 5'3" and ~170lbs. In order to lose 2lbs/week, I'm at 1200 calories/day. It never feels like enough, but I'm a student and work nights so I think I just don't know what to do with myself when I can't snack.

Mauigirl62

I am only 5 feet tall and weighed 172 when I started MFP on January 4 I think it was. I have lost 3 lbs. so far. My 1200 calorie goal is very do-able as long as I don't drink alcohol. That is what usually puts me over - that and carbs if I overdo. I am aiming for 135 lbs., which is still over what they say my weight should be for my height (very frustrating; as I always say, it's not that I'm too fat, it's that I'm too short!). But at 61 I really don't think going much lower than that would be that healthy and besides it would be unsustainable in the long term. If I get down to that I will be much healthier and have more energy and that is my goal. I think if I ate much more than 1200 calories I would not lose. But I don't exercise. (I did go back to yoga this week and hope to gradually include more exercise).

nsoss

5 feet-0. Started at 178 lbs and now at 175.2 exactly two weeks later. That averages 1.4 lbs a week which is optimal for me. Calorie goal is 1400 a day and hitting that most days . Carb goal is 35 g of carbs max but I'm OK with anything under 60. Limiting carbs seems to be the key to weight loss, more than limiting calories. Try more protein and fat and far fewer carbs. You will be less hungry at same calorie level.

onlymugwump

At 4'11" the MFP suggested 1200 but my GP said nothing lower than 1400 as you are likely to send your body into starvation mode then pack on the fat rather than muscle. Saying that I seem to lose very little weight despite sticking to 1400 and exercising regularly - must be doing something wrong $:\$

Mauigirl62

I think at our short heights we can do well on 1200 calories a day. I am not hungry at all and easily stay at 1200 if I cut back on the carbs and don't drink alcohol. The key is to snack between meals so that your body doesn't go into that starvation mode. I love those little mandarin oranges or clementines for a snack, or a handful of whole cashews. If you really feel like feeling full, go for unbuttered popcorn - lots of fiber and filling without many calories. Just stay away from bananas, high in carbs and sugar. If I have any I only have a half banana.

DawnPodojil

5'2" here and also at 1200/day. But, that is set for a weekly weight loss. And I go to Jazzercise every morning (at 545am!) so I get calories back to eat. I still aim for 1200, but if I go over I know I have those exercise calories to fall back on. I also eat a whole food plant based diet so I save a lot of calories by just eating fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Nothing processed (at least I try).

peppermintcaroline

5'0" and eating 1200/day. But I have an active job. I tend to think MFP recommended calories is a little high, but maybe that is just me.

sweetteadrinker2

Im at 1392. I also low carb, and find myself usually around 1100-1200.

64mustangsue

I am 50 yrs old, 5' 1/2" 102 lbs MFP has me at 1230 for maintenance. If I eat that much every day I gain. I stay between 1000 & 1100. Been staying the same weight for 3 yrs that way.

melissaw78

5'1" and at 165lbs. MFP sets me at 1200 to lose 1 lb per week, but anything under 1650 is a win.

KaleyKales

I am 5'1" and 127lbs and was given 1200 calories. I always find myself starving the day after a hard workout so I usually eat back the extra calories then.

GabinkaP

I go by what I did in my first diet. When I decided then to do a diet, I first read an article on How Things Work or something like that. It said you would burn 12 times your weight every day if you laid in bed and didn't move. But of course, we get up and move. And it takes 3500 calories burned to lose a pound. So I set my goal at 12 x my target weight. At the time that was 110 so 1320. This time around my goal is 125 so my calorie budget is 1500/day.

Since my present weight is 145, laying in bed all day would get me 1740 calories burned. So I start with that, subtract what I did eat, and that's my calorie intake deficit. So, say I do eat just 1500 calories, I'm still burning at least 240 calories even when I'm just sitting at my desk. But of course, I do more than that, so I count those calories burned as well. I do this all in a spreadsheet. I add my intake deficit and my calories burned and if say the total is 1750, then I can expect to lose .5 pounds. But of course, I know that hormones can cause fluctuations so reality is not going to be as exact as that spreadsheet. But I was surprised that last time (lost 30 pounds in 7 months this way), how often the spreadsheet was so close to right.

I'm somewhat OC so using my OC tendencies as tools helps me in this endeavor.

So long story short, depending on how much you want to lose, set a target and multiply it by 12. If you're wanting to lose a LOT, I would recommend stepping down with subgoals.

Gabinka

Dinah2

Hi I am 5'1' and I try to stay at around 1200 calories a day except on weekends when I usually go over. But I brisk walk on the dreadmill 5 days a week, and the total gym 3 days a week. I take weekends off of exercise but try to get golf in. I worked on putting in a garden last week and earned a lot of extra calories. I have lost 13 pounds so far in 7 weeks so I guess this is working out for me. I am on the WW program and they give you extra points for exercise and extra weekly points that has helped me with the old all or nothing approach I used to be on.

toniangu

5'1" and started at 155. Down to 149 after 40 days. During the weekdays, 1200 is doable for me and I'm totally okay eating the same meals pretty much everyday during the week (less thinking, fewer groceries to manage). Greek yogurt and sweet potato for breakfast, baby kale and chicken or fish salad for lunch, and chicken or fish + some sort of veggie for dinner. If I feel the need to snack, I'll have some fruit usually. I also drink a lot of coffee during the week which I think helps keep the grumblies away. Weekends, I'll change it up and eat whatever, but I usually do one big 6-8mile hike.

angelaraedesigns

very interesting read. Thanks everyone for sharing their info. looks like a range of 1000 to 1800 between y'all.

My two cents: I have found that when I'm on 1200, the weight loss is too slow and very intermittent with some gains in there to really piss me off. I'm 5'-2.5". I hit my all time high weight in June (170.4) which puts my BMI at 30. which means I was obese! crap. So a reached out to my doctor/endocrinologist to help me (i'm hypothyroid) and I'm now on a doctor monitored VLCD (very low calorie diet). I'm getting all my vit/minerals/macros from shakes. Yes the very controversial total meal replacement diet. It's not for everyone that's for sure. But from my humble experience...it's the only way that has worked for me since becoming hypothyroid.
My daily calorie intake ranges from 500 - 700. and my weight loss per week is 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.
my body is not in starvation mode, it is in Ketosis. which rocks. I'm not hungry and I have energy for the first time in 3 years! Everything my thyroid has ruined for me, is coming back. My moods are better, I'm sleeping better, my skin is glowing, my hair is staying ON my head! and pounds are finally coming off.

Again I want to say, that I know a LOT of people are dead set against losing weight fast, or going on VLCD, and I respect your opinions, but from my personal experience, this has been the BEST treatment for me as of yet.