How Many Calories A Day?

thelizabethare
thelizabethare Posts: 39 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone and thanks for reading this post!

Over the course of a few months I have lost about 11 pounds while exercising a little which was mainly just walking, and eating 1300 calories a day. I am now exercising 4-6 times a week and am burning around 350-400 calories each time.

My question of course is what should my new calorie goal be? I am currently taking in 1300 on days where I don't exercise and eating 1500 on days that I do but I haven't seen much progress.

I am 18
5'4"
Currently 141
Hoping to be 130
Other than exercise I do stuff everyday and try to stay busy but nothing extreme

Thanks,
Elizabeth

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Set your goal to .5 lb. per week for every 25 lbs. you're overweight.

    Have you read the Sexypants post? So much good "how to" information: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    What does MFP tell you to eat? How do you determine your exercise calories? Do you use a food scale so you actually know the amount of calories you're eating?
  • thelizabethare
    thelizabethare Posts: 39 Member
    I haven't really changed my MFP at all so I'm not sure but I don't trust it's calorie counting as I had trouble when beginning. I determine my exercise calories based on just the machine which I know can be inaccurate which is why I add in less than the machine says but I don't have the money to actually buy a heart rate monitor. I know the amount of calories I'm eating by using serving sizes and as of right now I don't have many reasons to need one because I haven't been eating that much meat. I also am not able to buy my own scale because of my current living situation.
  • defatify
    defatify Posts: 41 Member
    You don't necessarily need a fitness tracker, though they are handy. A food scale is really one of the most helpful things, though. You can get a basic one for just a few dollars in Walmart. Mfp uses your height/weight/age/activity level to estimate your average daily calorie burn, and then recommends a calorie amount for you to eat based on how much (.5- 2 lbs per week) you want to lose. Pay careful attention to your portions, making sure you aren't missing any sneaky calories when you're tracking. This is where your scale will really help. Good luck!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    thelizabethare wrote: »
    I haven't really changed my MFP at all so I'm not sure but I don't trust it's calorie counting as I had trouble when beginning. I determine my exercise calories based on just the machine which I know can be inaccurate which is why I add in less than the machine says but I don't have the money to actually buy a heart rate monitor. I know the amount of calories I'm eating by using serving sizes and as of right now I don't have many reasons to need one because I haven't been eating that much meat. I also am not able to buy my own scale because of my current living situation.

    15$ at Walmart and worth the investment. This is where the weight loss will come from, logging accurately.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    thelizabethare wrote: »
    I haven't really changed my MFP at all so I'm not sure but I don't trust it's calorie counting as I had trouble when beginning. I determine my exercise calories based on just the machine which I know can be inaccurate which is why I add in less than the machine says but I don't have the money to actually buy a heart rate monitor. I know the amount of calories I'm eating by using serving sizes and as of right now I don't have many reasons to need one because I haven't been eating that much meat. I also am not able to buy my own scale because of my current living situation.

    15$ at Walmart and worth the investment. This is where the weight loss will come from, logging accurately.

    Especially with 7 pounds to go. I'm there too. My maximum possible deficit is only about 468 calories without exercise, so tight logging is key or I could "plateau". I baked cookies tonight and there was almost a 20 gram difference between the two cups of flour I used. Get a scale!
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    edited July 2015
    thelizabethare wrote: »
    I know the amount of calories I'm eating by using serving sizes and as of right now I don't have many reasons to need one because I haven't been eating that much meat.

    The smaller you get, the smaller the margin of error. Guesstimating your food is no longer an option. Get a food scale and weigh everything you eat—including packaged food. Not just meat—everything.

    You're in for quite a shock.
  • thelizabethare
    thelizabethare Posts: 39 Member
    Thanks everyone for being helpful and not rude! Lol.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    I bought my scale at Bed Bath and Beyond for $5... It makes ALL the difference.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Also, I'm 12 years older than you... and I eat 1800 calories on days I don't workout and 2000 on the days I do workout and I'm still losing
  • MalachiRivette
    MalachiRivette Posts: 2 Member
    What you need to do is stay at your caloric deficit but look into intermittent fasting that will help you
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Asher_Ethan wrote: »
    Also, I'm 12 years older than you... and I eat 1800 calories on days I don't workout and 2000 on the days I do workout and I'm still losing

    ^This.

    Food is fuel, and we should all be looking for the maximum number of calories at which we lose weight—never the minimum.
  • thelizabethare
    thelizabethare Posts: 39 Member
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    Asher_Ethan wrote: »
    Also, I'm 12 years older than you... and I eat 1800 calories on days I don't workout and 2000 on the days I do workout and I'm still losing

    ^This.

    Food is fuel, and we should all be looking for the maximum number of calories at which we lose weight—never the minimum.


    For 2 months I ate 1400 calories a day and lost absolutely nothing and I was weighing and measuring at the time. Once I switched to 1300 I immediately started to lose weight but at a healthy pace! My body honestly does not like food.
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