How many calories a day do most women on MFP consume

Naomi_84
Naomi_84 Posts: 197 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been following MFP religiously now for 5 weeks but the weight loss seems so slow. On previous attempts to lose weight at Weight Watchers I saw huge losses of 2 and 3lbs a week but I've been lucky to lose a half a pound a week recently. I know it's best to lose weight slowly as fat lost quickly returns just as quick as it left but I sometimes find it hard to keep that motivation there when I'm not seeing quick results.

I'm wondering if I'm not eating enough and my metabolisms slowing as a result. I eat 1200 cals a day and when I exercise (spinning and toning classes 3-4 days a week) I eat back half of my calories.

How many calories do you eat a day and are you happy with the rate your weight is coming off? I have 35 pounds left to lose and although I know this isn't a lot at all I feel like it's going to take forever!

Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance :)
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Replies

  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I eat 1200 calories, I exercise everyday which allows me to eat 1400 to 1500 calories a day. I have dropped 8 lbs in 3 weeks so far.
  • beach_chelle
    beach_chelle Posts: 221
    I consume about 1800 calories a day of food, but depending how much I have worked out that day it might be as high as 2000. Have you tried doing your waist and hip measurements. I've seen more success with that then actually with my weight.
  • poledancing_ninja
    poledancing_ninja Posts: 271
    I eat on average 1300 and I kickbox twice a week, go swimming once and to the gym 2-3 times. I have gone from 10st 10 to 9st 3 in the past two years with a lot of random binge eating in between.
  • Fattack
    Fattack Posts: 666 Member
    As I work out most days, 1600 to 2100 (I'm on a 1200 NET).
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    Losing half a pound per week is phenomenal!!! Don't let your head tell you any differently. Just keep doing what you are doing and in a few months you will look back and see how far you have come!
  • Brittney24
    Brittney24 Posts: 105
    I eat 1200 calories a day, then eat back half to all of my exercise calories. Usually my HRM will tell me a number and I'll half that and that's what I'll attempt to eat back. I also work all day on my feet at work, and I track about 15-20 minutes of slow 2.0mph walking to account for the walking I do since I do walk around quite a bit.

    I've lost about 1-2 pounds most weeks, I've lost close to 26 pounds in total from January to now, and since starting here at the end of March I've lost about 21 of those pounds in those 3 and a bit months.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    I eat between 1200 and 1500 calories a day, depending on exercise and calorie burn (I use a FitBit to measure my burn). Also, every 3 months, I eat at maintenance for 1 week, to reset my Leptin levels and help me keep my sanity. It has been 23 weeks since Jan 1, and I've lost 22 pounds since Jan 1. So it's working just fine.

    Note: I burn between 1750 and 2200, depending on my exercise.

    ETA: My burn has definately slowed down since I've been eating at a deficit, but it's still enough for me to lose weight. I only have 15-20 more pounds to go. Will be done by Christmas, I hope!!
  • Angela4Health
    Angela4Health Posts: 1,319 Member
    You need to eat ALL your exercise calories back, not just half. If you can't eat them all back, then don't burn too many calories because consuming 1200 total and consuming 1200 net calories are not the same thing. Your goal is to net 1200, meaning eating every last one of those calories back. If you eat things like nuts (I like almonds) or add some peanut butter to a piece of fruit, add avocado to your sandwich, etc, you will be able to get all your calories in and I'll bet it will help. That's a start. For many people 1200 is way too low and I found this was the case for me. Once I increased my calories to 1350 (and continued eating back my exercise calories) I started dropping the weight much faster. Good luck to you.
  • sla0814
    sla0814 Posts: 240
    Watch your sodium intake, watch how much diet soda you're drinking...both of those can make you retain water. Are you eating enough clean foods? Veggies, fruits, healthy protein, healthy fats (almonds, avocado,) etc? Sometimes we're eating within our allotted caloric range however we're not eating the right types of foods...I find that when I lean towards more processed foods, the less I lose that week.

    Also, don't be discouraged by a .5 lb loss, that's great! The longer we stay on this weight loss journey, the slower our weight loss rate will be. As you know the slower the weight comes off, the longer it'll stay off!

    Stay positive and keep up the great work!:)

    God bless
  • Nomomush
    Nomomush Posts: 582 Member
    I eat 1200-1500 calories daily but I track my carbs, protein and fat more than the calories. I also don;t eat back my exercise calories (per my trainer's instructions).
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    When I first joined MFP, it had me on 1200 net, so I did that pretty regularly. I soon hit a plateau, though, and didn't lose anything for a month. I tried increasing my calories, to more like 1350-1400 net, and started losing again within days. I recommend increasing calories for a week or so, particularly if you're at 1200. Good luck!
  • bzmom
    bzmom Posts: 1,332 Member
    1300-1700 a day. This includes my excersice calories (for the most part) already in there so some days I may go a little over but for the most part I tend to stay in between.
  • SheilaSisco
    SheilaSisco Posts: 722 Member
    I eat between 1200 and 1300 NET calories a day... usually around 1500-1700 total calories depending on the day. I have been steadily losing a pound or more a week. The trick is to make sure your NET is over 1200... below that is where starvation mode kicks in and your body starts storing fat and burning muscle which is something you really don't want. If you're on a 1200 calorie diet, I suggest manually upping you calorie goal to 1300 so you can go to or just over 1200 without being 'over', It helped me immensely and I've been losing better since I did it.
  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    I eat 1500 cals a day PLUS my exercise cals.. sometimes I'm eating 1700 or 1800 cals a day or more total.
  • thisismynewmindset
    thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
    I am set to eat 1200 calories a day and if I work out then I usually eat all of my exercise calories back.

    I started on June 1st and have lost 6.6 lbs so far.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I eat between 1800-2000 calories a day and have been losing 1.5-2 lbs a week.
  • sclosson
    sclosson Posts: 120
    MFP has me eating 1290 a day. I only exercise 2x a week and I usually eat all my exercise calories back. I have lost 31 pounds since February 1st.
  • jenseye
    jenseye Posts: 166 Member
    I workout (walk/aerobics) 5x a week and I eat about 1500 - 1600 calories on days I work out. I don't burn a ton exercising.
    If I don't work out it's around 1350.
    So far it seems to be working I've lost 6 lbs in 5 weeks (my goal is a 1/2 lb week), so I am surpassing that for now ; )
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    I eat around 1700 calories and burn 700-ish calories through exercise, making my net around 1000 (often lower). So far I've been successful, but as I lose more weight, I may have to up my net calories as to not make it too taxing on the body.
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    weight- 158
    eat- 1300-1800 depending on exercise
    exercise 4-6 days a week
    burn- 250-500 calories per work out

    weight loss--lots! OVER 8 MONTHS
  • JennieLeeAustin
    JennieLeeAustin Posts: 19 Member
    Naomi, Thank you! I'm in exactly the same positon. I too started with Weight Watchers. Lost 48 pounds in 8 months. Then they changed the system here to the new "Points Plus" I forgot what it's called in England. I gradually put back on 17 of the pounds I lost over a period of 7 months. Like you, I lost 2 to 3 pounds a week on the original program. The weight gain was slow coming back so I really didn't notice it until it was too late. You know what I mean, no weight gain one week then, .02 the next week, then .03, then nothing etc. Since I've left WW and started MFP, I've had a weight loss of .02 per week and that's it! I also keep it to 1200 calories a day and work out at least 50 minutes 6 times a week. I don't know what is causing the slow loss. A friend thought I might not be getting enough calories but that just doesn't seem right some how. Don't feel alone, despite how it might appear, I think we are not the only two dealing with really slow losses on here. Keep you chin up girl.
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    I eat between 1200 and 1300 NET calories a day... usually around 1500-1700 total calories depending on the day. I have been steadily losing a pound or more a week. The trick is to make sure your NET is over 1200... below that is where starvation mode kicks in and your body starts storing fat and burning muscle which is something you really don't want. If you're on a 1200 calorie diet, I suggest manually upping you calorie goal to 1300 so you can go to or just over 1200 without being 'over', It helped me immensely and I've been losing better since I did it.

    This. I just upped my calories for the same reason; it's really hard to net > 1200 when your daily goal is 1250. :)
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    When I was with WW, I did the momentum plan and it worked really well for me so about a month after I joined MFP and didn't lose as quickly as I was used to, I tweaked my set-up a bit. Went from 1 pound/week goal to 1.5/week goal which brought my daily calories down by about 300/day. This has given me enough of a deficit so that if I go over a couple hundred calories here and there and/or have a cheat day where I go over several hundred calories, I can still lose.

    However, since you're already at 1200/day, you can't go any lower than that. You may just need to eat a bit more or try staggering your daily calories to see if that helps. Definitely watch the sodium and make sure you're getting all your water in.
  • kimmerroze
    kimmerroze Posts: 1,330 Member
    I eat 1450 Calories a day plus my work out calories of about 300 calories so I eat about 1750 calories a day..

    When I started on MFP I only had about 10-15 pounds left to lose, so it set me at 1200 calories. for the first 3 months I didn't lose any weight I just lost inches, I figured that i wasn't eating enough so I upped my calories and changed my goal to .5 pound per week, and I have lost consistantly since. I only have about 5 pounds left to go.

    Its super slow, but totally worth it, I gave up my scale because I wanted to focus on actually SEEING my results which is something I have always had a problem with. Its amazing what there is to focus on when you aren't focusing on your stupid scale. Ugh I hate the scale lol.

    Don't get discouraged. And do bump up your calories... lots of people have had a an easier time losing 1-2 pounds per week after they have set thier goal at .5 pounds per week... some bodies just need more food. In my case, I needed more food to fuel all the weight lifting and working out I was doing, I also needed LOTS OF PROTEIN. that has helped TONS!
  • Fochizzy
    Fochizzy Posts: 505 Member
    I also found 1200 way too little for me. 1200 was what it wanted for me to lose 2lbs a week, my fiance deemed me impossible to live with on that diet. I looked up 1lb a week and it was 1600 and if I exercise 2100 this makes it nice and easy. Its all about manageable goals. For the first time ever I have been sticking to it better and it is because I am accepting that 2lbs while sounding better is not better for me.
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    It has been 23 weeks since Jan 1, and I've lost 22 pounds since Jan 1.

    thank you for posting this sentence!! I never thought of it that way (I have lost 22 pounds since Jan 1 as well), but, all but 3 pounds of it was lost in Jan - April. I am in a plateau right now, and I am really starting to get discouraged!

    I eat 1220 a day + some of my exercise calories, which usually totals around 1400 for the day. I *have* lost 22 pounds this year, which I am pretty happy about, but, I have 18 still to go, I have changed my fiber / protein ratios to see if that will kick the plateau, and if it doesn't do great things in the next week or 2, I will up my calories for a bit (either by dropping goal to .5 a week, or maintenance) to kick start my metabolism again...
  • marber
    marber Posts: 118 Member
    My base is 1,770 - 1/2lb a week. I changed from 1lb to 1/2lb a few weeks ago because I have been stuck so thought I would see how I get on upping the calories. I also burn 500 - 800 calories 5 days a week and eat most of them back.

    I have 20lb to go but my progress has always been slow but I have noticed I am finding it harder to over eat and eat certain foods as I feel full quicker and if I eat too much I feel sick.
  • pittielover23
    pittielover23 Posts: 268
    My intake is set at 1500, but with exercise I just make sure I at least net 1200. So, somewhere between 1200 and 1500 :)

    I too lost quicker on WW, but I find that MFP is more doable for me. I am not as hungry and less likely to binge. I would rather lose a bit slower and keep it off!
  • Micheller1210
    Micheller1210 Posts: 460 Member
    1360-1460
  • SuzieR
    SuzieR Posts: 127
    MFP gave me a limit of 1360 cals a day (to lose 1.5lb a week). I burn around 350 calories a day through exercise (more at weekends) and I try to keep my net calories as close 1200 as I can get. I've lost 12lb in 7 weeks, though the first two weeks I was not on MFP and just cutting out crap like chocolate and crisps.
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