Calorie limit suggestions?

allyouneedisabby
allyouneedisabby Posts: 32 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
So I know no one will be able to tell me exactly what's right for my body, but I'm having sort of an issue with my calorie intake. I believe my diary is open so please ignore the lack of logging the past few days, had some stuff going on and was too busy lol.

I'm 21, female, 5'5", and I weight about 205-210.

My calorie goal says 1200 and some days I am entirely able to follow that goal and other days I'm just so hungry I end up almost binging. I don't know if I should increase my calorie limit or what? Is it just because I choose pretty, pardon my language, but crappy foods to eat? Anyone else struggle with this?

It is why I gave up last time, and I just truly don't want to give up again.

I welcome any suggestions <3 thanks for your time!

Replies

  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    edited February 2016
    The 1200 calories is that for a 2 lb week loss?
  • Equus5374
    Equus5374 Posts: 462 Member
    edited February 2016
    What did you put in for your intended weight loss per week? If you put in 2 lbs./week, that may be too aggressive a goal (a big problem for many here). Try backing down to 0.5 or 1 lb. per week, get used to that, and THEN go up to 2 lbs. if you are feeling confident and seeing results. Don't forget to weigh everything on a food scale. What keeps me full is choosing meals/snacks with high protein and fiber content.
  • allyouneedisabby
    allyouneedisabby Posts: 32 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    The 1200 calories is that for a 2 lb week loss?

    Ah most likely... I created this account a few years ago so I don't remember what the settings were... I could look. lol
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    2 lb liss per week is very drastic to start off with. Try changing it as ppl said.
  • Marilyn0924
    Marilyn0924 Posts: 797 Member
    I will assume you have your goal set to 2 pound per week loss? It may just be a bit too aggressive for you to start with. Change your loss goal to 1 pound per week, MFP will increase your daily calorie intake and you won't feel like you're starving and feel the need to binge. I took a quick look at your diary. You need to get into the habit of logging everything, be sure to weigh all solids/measure all liquids (digital food scale is your friend!!) and remember to LOG EVERYTHING!!
  • Hunter2224
    Hunter2224 Posts: 71 Member
    I am about 5'5 and a little bit stockier built. My calorie limit is set at 1550, my daily activity is light, and my Weekly Exercise is set at 5 times a week and 45 minutes a day. Feel free to add me as a friend
  • allyouneedisabby
    allyouneedisabby Posts: 32 Member
    Marilyn0924 wrote: »
    I will assume you have your goal set to 2 pound per week loss? It may just be a bit too aggressive for you to start with. Change your loss goal to 1 pound per week, MFP will increase your daily calorie intake and you won't feel like you're starving and feel the need to binge. I took a quick look at your diary. You need to get into the habit of logging everything, be sure to weigh all solids/measure all liquids (digital food scale is your friend!!) and remember to LOG EVERYTHING!!

    Alright I'm going to decrease it to 1lb a week for now and see if that helps. I know that I need get better at food decisions and weighing my foods. I do have a food scale now so that should help me see where I'm at. Thanks for your suggestions!!
  • allyouneedisabby
    allyouneedisabby Posts: 32 Member
    So since I've increased the calorie goal by decreasing weight loss per week, should I still eat back part of the exercise calories? I use a heart rate tracker to track the relative amount of calories that I've burned during a workout but now that my base calorie limit is higher, I feel like eating back some of those calories may be too much?
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    edited February 2016
    Strictly my opinion, but your caloric deficit isn't healthy or sustainable. Shoot for something in the 1,500-1,800 range and see where that gets you.
  • Equus5374
    Equus5374 Posts: 462 Member
    allyouneedisabby wrote: »
    So since I've increased the calorie goal by decreasing weight loss per week, should I still eat back part of the exercise calories? I use a heart rate tracker to track the relative amount of calories that I've burned during a workout but now that my base calorie limit is higher, I feel like eating back some of those calories may be too much?

    Eat back 25 - 50% of the exercise calories in order to make up for any overestimation of exercise calories. While you should make *some* decent food choices (no need for deprivation), what's more important is weighing and measuring anything you do choose to eat. It's all about getting as accurate with calories as you can.
  • allyouneedisabby
    allyouneedisabby Posts: 32 Member
    Equus5374 wrote: »
    allyouneedisabby wrote: »
    So since I've increased the calorie goal by decreasing weight loss per week, should I still eat back part of the exercise calories? I use a heart rate tracker to track the relative amount of calories that I've burned during a workout but now that my base calorie limit is higher, I feel like eating back some of those calories may be too much?

    Eat back 25 - 50% of the exercise calories in order to make up for any overestimation of exercise calories. While you should make *some* decent food choices (no need for deprivation), what's more important is weighing and measuring anything you do choose to eat. It's all about getting as accurate with calories as you can.

    Alright! I'll try that then, with the exercise calories. And I'll definitely try weight stuff out more and see if I can get into the habit of doing so. :) thanks so much for your suggestions and help!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories