Can you help me figure something?

KMcBandit · June 2011

Ok so I'm curious about other people's caloric intake that have similar bodies to myself. I am currently 195.8 pounds and 5'7 tall I am eating only 1200 calories and then roughly half of what i earn back with my work outs. Is this to low? If you have the same body type as me and work out about 3-5 times per week burning roughly 400 calories each workout what do you eat? More less or the same. Thanks in advance OH ps. I used http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm and then started wondering if this is correct.

cjwolfjen · June 2011

Everyone is different. But I think you need more than 1200 for now. Usually women who are shorter and thinner than you eat 1200 each day. Everything from gender to age to height and weight play a factor in how many calories you should eat.

psuLemon · June 2011

you are low on your calories. By my rough calculations, your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is 1700 calories. This is what your body will burn if you sleep for 24 hours. If you add the 400 calories for workout that you burn, that is 2100 calories. If you back out your deficit of 500 calories, you should probably be eating 1600

1700 + 400 -500 = 1600

If I had your body fat %, i could get you a better calculation, but this is pretty fair. Also consider changing your ratio's to reduce carbs. For some reason, carbs seem high with with MFP suggest. But i fyou reduce your carb ratio to 60%, your protein to 20% and fat to 20% you should be good.

Below are my stats

Male
28
Calories: 2800
Workout: p90x
Current Body FatL 12%
Weight: 190

Overall, I have lost 6% body fat (well since I started tracking) and 20 lbs.

psuLemon · June 2011

double post.

Samiwhereareyou · June 2011

ooo you are about where I was when I started. I am 5'6'' and was 200lbs when I started I have heavy bones built more like Dorthy from the wizard of oz and not like scarlet from gone with the wind. I carried my weight well not super saggy fat but a bit of a muffin and back and arm fat. I was eating 1400 cals a day and working out monday-friday for an hour 30 day shred was a win and yoga. eating back less then half of my work out calories or using them when I wanted to drink. Now I am platuing at 174.5. good luck to you.

KMcBandit · June 2011

Thank you all so much! I don't know how to figure my body fat %?? I could tell you if I knew how for sure but yes I figured out my (BMR) at 1789 so pretty darn close to what you have psulemon. I think what I will do is up my calories to 1500 because the way I look at it is I get very light headed lately and shaky so it's obvious my body needs something this weight loss stuff is so hard

Sami your previous picture is about the same as mine was when i started I started last april on this weight loss thing and went from 214 to 184 then at christmas went through some really difficult family things and went back up to 204 now I'm hanging at 195 and have been there for 2 weeks it's driving me nuts! I lost all that though doing weight watchers but man counting points is crappy. So do you think I should go up at weigh in on sunday or just do it now?

TracieJ65 · June 2011

I am 5'7" and now weigh 193.8. I work out 7 days a week and burn 500-600 calories three of those days and 900-1100 four of those days. I never eat all of my calories back and the ONLY reason for that is because I am just not hungry! I never eat less than 1500 calories but it is usually 1500-2000 calories with closer to 2000 calories being those four days that I burn close to or over 1000 calories! I really don't think you are feeding your body enough BUT to each their own! I will not preach to people about their weightloss and eating habits! You have to figure out what works for you but I can honestly tell you that I WOULD NOT lose weight if I was eating only around 1200 calories!

psuLemon · June 2011

Thank you all so much! I don't know how to figure my body fat %?? I could tell you if I knew how for sure but yes I figured out my (BMR) at 1789 so pretty darn close to what you have psulemon. I think what I will do is up my calories to 1500 because the way I look at it is I get very light headed lately and shaky so it's obvious my body needs something this weight loss stuff is so hard Sami your previous picture is about the same as mine was when i started I started last april on this weight loss thing and went from 214 to 184 then at christmas went through some really difficult family things and went back up to 204 now I'm hanging at 195 and have been there for 2 weeks it's driving me nuts! I lost all that though doing weight watchers but man counting points is crappy. So do you think I should go up at weigh in on sunday or just do it now?

When you feel sluggish or light headed, it's a definite sign of not eating enough. Remember, your body needs fuel, food is that fuel. The way I put it, you wouldn't start a 300 mile drive whiel you are on E would you? Also, I don't know what your workout schedule is, and feel free to expand on it, but make sure you are incorporating weight training and cardio. It is integral to have both. Also, if you plateau at any point, increase the weights. Don't worry you won't bulk up. There is only one thing that will bulk a woman and that is fat....

Tracie, if you are burning 1000 calories, you might want to be eating 2200 to make sure you body doesn't become malnurished. Any net under 1200 is extremely bad for the body and that kind of exercise extremely depleats your nutrients. Just something to put some thought to.

TracieJ65 · June 2011

Tracie, if you are burning 1000 calories, you might want to be eating 2200 to make sure you body doesn't become malnurished. Any net under 1200 is extremely bad for the body and that kind of exercise extremely depleats your nutrients. Just something to put some thought to.

You know, believe it or not, after 15 months here I still am confused about the "net" calories! I just plug away, workout, eat within my amount of calories BUT never understood the actual "net." I can tell you, though, like the OP for a couple of weeks now if I bend over I get very lightheaded when I stand up and this has never happened before and has had confused! I also have weird hunger days! Two days ago I almost ate my arm I was so hungry all day long but now the las two days I haven't had tha much of an appetite!

christine24t · June 2011

I'm 5'8, and I started losing weight at 210 pounds. I try to eat around 1900 calories a day. I have no opinion on eating your calories back - sometimes I do and sometimes I don't, but I'm now 179 so something's working.

psuLemon · June 2011

Tracie, if you are burning 1000 calories, you might want to be eating 2200 to make sure you body doesn't become malnurished. Any net under 1200 is extremely bad for the body and that kind of exercise extremely depleats your nutrients. Just something to put some thought to.

You know, believe it or not, after 15 months here I still am confused about the "net" calories! I just plug away, workout, eat within my amount of calories BUT never understood the actual "net." I can tell you, though, like the OP for a couple of weeks now if I bend over I get very lightheaded when I stand up and this has never happened before and has had confused! I also have weird hunger days! Two days ago I almost ate my arm I was so hungry all day long but now the las two days I haven't had tha much of an appetite!

Think of it like your paycheck. Your gross calories is all the food you intake. Your net caloires is all the food you burn.

Calories you eat = 2000
Exercise-1000

2000-1000 = 1000

Your net calorie is below the minimal threshold for malnutrition. You should try to eat a little more on days you are doing those insane cardio tdays.

Can you help me figure something?

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