Maintaining on a lot of calories ? Anyone?

sk1nnyb1tchm0dee
sk1nnyb1tchm0dee Posts: 23
edited November 12 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I'm not using MFP to lose weight but more or less to keep track of what I'm eating. I'm eating between 2500-3000 calories average. I exercise 3-5 times a week moderately. I'm 5'3 and just a bit overweight. Is this normal ? It's all healthy food. Is there any other females that aren't Athletes and are maintaining on this much ?????? Am I insane for feeling I physically need this much ? Ps I'm 22

Replies

  • orchidee1987
    orchidee1987 Posts: 97 Member
    How much do you weigh ?
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    To tell how many calories you maintain on you'd have to record your intake for at least a month really to be accurate, probably more (no idea how long you've been doing it). It doesn't matter that it's healthy food or not in terms of maintaining/losing/gaining weight, it's a numbers game for most people.

    I'm 24 and I maintain on about 2150-2200 a day if you were to spread out the calories I burn exercising in an average week out over all 7 days, and it'd be higher if I didn't have a job that requires a fair amount of time in meetings or at a computer, so I can see how you might have a maintenance range like you suspect that you do.
  • sk1nnyb1tchm0dee
    sk1nnyb1tchm0dee Posts: 23
    155 lbs
    orchidee1987 wrote: »
    How much do you weigh ?

  • orchidee1987
    orchidee1987 Posts: 97 Member
    I've put your stats on a calorie calculator website (although the best is just to track during a few weekks / months : if your weight is overall stable, nothing to feel insane about), and yeah your calorie requirements seem correct
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I'm the same height and weigh only a little less and my maintenance is more like 2200, but I have a very sedentary job. I work out at least 3 times a week, and do a bit of walking otherwise, but my job is at a computer. How active are you outside of your workouts? How active is your job? Your numbers seem a bit high to me, but if you have a very active job they might still be right.
  • steff274
    steff274 Posts: 227 Member
    I maintain on a large amount of calories too and I am only 5ft 2!! ;)
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    It's definitely possible... The maintenance estimates from any calculator is based on population averages. It's the tip of a bell curve, and you could be closer to the end of the curve where your metabolism is naturally a big higher.

    Or, you're just more active.

    But the only way to know if it's accurate is to track carefully for a period of time and observe weight fluctuations.
  • sk1nnyb1tchm0dee
    sk1nnyb1tchm0dee Posts: 23
    I'm always on my feet at work and school and I workout min 3 times a week for two hours
    SnuggleSmacks wrote: »
    I'm the same height and weigh only a little less and my maintenance is more like 2200, but I have a very sedentary job. I work out at least 3 times a week, and do a bit of walking otherwise, but my job is at a computer. How active are you outside of your workouts? How active is your job? Your numbers seem a bit high to me, but if you have a very active job they might still be right.

  • sk1nnyb1tchm0dee
    sk1nnyb1tchm0dee Posts: 23
    How many ???
    steff274 wrote: »
    I maintain on a large amount of calories too and I am only 5ft 2!! ;)

  • starcollapsing
    starcollapsing Posts: 57 Member
    if it's working for you then stick with it! I am 26 and 5'9", not overweight (but don't know my weight) and I eat 2200-2600 usually. But more if I am hungry.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    If you're maintaining your weight and have done for a while then you are eating at maintenance calories.
    I'm 5ft 2" and maintain eating between 2100-2300 calories. (I'm 45yrs old with a desk job but very active outside of work)
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    sk1nnyb1tchm0dee wrote: »
    How many ???
    steff274 wrote: »
    I maintain on a large amount of calories too and I am only 5ft 2!! ;)

    @Steff274 go on tell them how many calories you can eat and still manage to lose lol...as my MFP friend, she makes me jealous I tell ya :smiley:
  • sk1nnyb1tchm0dee
    sk1nnyb1tchm0dee Posts: 23
    Wow. Many of your numbers seem reasonable. I've been tracking for a year or less and my numbers are semi close so I may need to adjust a bit. Thank you everyone
  • goosebeartalk
    goosebeartalk Posts: 39 Member
    Well, I initially used MFP lose around 15 pounds. Now I'm trying to maintain my weight. I run 25-35 miles per week & I work a pretty physical job. I walk my dog about 2 miles everyday. (Not part of my runs.) I need to eat about 2500-3000 calories everyday except my "rest" days when I don't run or cross-train. I'm 5'5" & 115lbs. It seems like your calorie intake is pretty high if you're not exercising or active in some other way. If you're not gaining weight though, and you feel good, I say go with it. Everyone is different. If you have a chance to go for a physical or to get your BMR analyzed at a gym or by a dietician, you may get a better idea of what's appropriate for you & your body.
  • goosebeartalk
    goosebeartalk Posts: 39 Member
    I just reread your original post & saw the "aren't athletes" part & realized my answer probably didn't help much. Haha. Sorry for not reading it thoroughly before posting a reply.
  • LadyTalulah
    LadyTalulah Posts: 174 Member
    I'm 19, 5'5'', 120lbs very active and maintain at 2200 a day..
    It is a high number for your height/weight/activity level but as others have said, everyones metabolism is different. I'm sure you have super-skinny friends who can eat whatever they want and not gain a single pound. Then there are some who just have to look at a cake to gain! Anyways, if you found that you maintain at that weight then it doensn't matter what any online calulator has to say, you know your body better.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    Although I no longer log my food, I am 5'7" and maintaining on 2040 + calories a day. I have a very active job, do HIIT exercises 4 days a week and lift heavy weights 2 to 3 times a week.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Sigh...I wish mine were that high. I don't get it. I am 5'4" and when I was 155 I definitely could not have maintained at those calories. And I was in the gym 5 days a week :(
  • stephxo1
    stephxo1 Posts: 191 Member
    I'm currently on 2700 and trying to add some weight back on, was maintaining on 2500 so we'll see what happens over the next few weeks. I've a desk job but lift heavy 4-5 times per week.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Doesn't sound unreasonable to me, I'm 36 and I maintain on 2200 at 133 pounds.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I'm 53 and maintain on an average of 2000-2200 (sometimes more) a day, have a desk job, but I workout six days a week (weight lift 3, run 3, averaging about 6 hours a week), and am otherwise active.
  • dontjinxit
    dontjinxit Posts: 82 Member
    edited February 2015
    I've eaten like you most of my life. People call it a "high metabolism." I call it a sweet tooth. I generally eat healthy foods, but in somewhat large portions, and I'd usually go and top it off with cheesecake. I think it's just because I was always an active person. When I quit being active the pounds slowly crept on, but even then it was gradual - about 1/4 pound a month, so it took a few years to become a noticeable issue. The heaviest I've been in 132 and I'm 5'5". My average weight is around 125.

    I should also note that on a weekly basis I'm losing twice as much weight as the calculator claimed I would with my current calorie deficit, so maybe there really is a need for more calories.
  • dontjinxit
    dontjinxit Posts: 82 Member
    HappyCampr1 wrote: »
    dontjinxit wrote: »

    I should also note that on a weekly basis I'm losing twice as much weight as the calculator claimed I would with my current calorie deficit, so maybe there really is a need for more calories.
    I was also losing almost twice as much as I should have. It didn't bother me much during the weight loss phase, but as I got close to maintenance, I had to increase my activity level. Sounds like you have the wrong level picked too.

    I'm pretty much sedentary in life at the moment and I think I have the level set to normal. I guess I just burn calories like an athlete while slacking off and watching tv. I'm thinking that each week I'll add an extra 100 or 200 calories to the daily limit so I can find where I level off.


  • zaxx1953
    zaxx1953 Posts: 389 Member
    At around 280-290 I can probably maintain IF I WORKOUT REGULARLY AND WITH INTENSITY (I workout like an athlete when in shape) 3-4 times a week with like.....3100 Kcals or thereabouts. I set my macros for 2600 to lose slowly and add in some solid state cardio.....

    That does seem high for your weight. I am pretty friggun sedentary outside my workouts.
  • orchidee1987
    orchidee1987 Posts: 97 Member
    Female, 27, 126 lbs, 5'3, maintaining on 2300ish calories gross on average
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    I eat around 2300, I'm 65 years old and weigh around 165. No formal excersize, just normal housework and a slow stroll outside in the fresh air most days. I don't diet though.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    By the way, the math is all wrong on every diet site. Bmi, calories per day, the calories to subtract for weight loss etc. Non of it can be standardized. Everyones genetics, hormones, individual fat to muscle and bone density is individual and has genetic foundations. Look at your family and see what you are naturally, disregard those eho are anorexic or comtinutally dieting and rebounding and you will be able to estimate your happy 'normal'. I think you are good now as long as you eat around 2500 or more if you get hungry if you are female under 5'8, over 25 years old, and not 'formally' excersizing.
  • dontjinxit
    dontjinxit Posts: 82 Member
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    By the way, the math is all wrong on every diet site. Bmi, calories per day, the calories to subtract for weight loss etc. Non of it can be standardized. Everyones genetics, hormones, individual fat to muscle and bone density is individual and has genetic foundations. Look at your family and see what you are naturally, disregard those eho are anorexic or comtinutally dieting and rebounding and you will be able to estimate your happy 'normal'. I think you are good now as long as you eat around 2500 or more if you get hungry if you are female under 5'8, over 25 years old, and not 'formally' excersizing.

    I agree with this. It's all averages.
    According to charts, I'd be healthy at a BMI of 19, but from my own experiences I very well know that's underweight for me.
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