Calories

pluthera
pluthera Posts: 15 Member
How many calories are you eating to lose weight? And how much exercise do you do?

I'm currently on 1200 because I'm not exercising more than twice a week. Is this too low? I'm 5'8 and 172 pounds. Female.

Thanks

Replies

  • vczK2t
    vczK2t Posts: 309 Member
    what did MFP say that your daily calorie range is supposed to be. i'm lightly active, about 1 foot shorter than you, slightly higher on the weight and MFP says i need to eat more like 1,500 per day
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    @pluthera, I'm a 41-year-old female, 5'9", 177 pounds and I lift weights 3X a week and cardio once a week. I lose slowly but steadily on 1930 calories a day.

    If I tried to stick to 1200 calories a day, I would freak out and binge. If that is a possible problem you foresee, I would definitely up calories, maybe to about 1500.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    1200 is a default minimum on MFP. So, yeah I think it's too low for a 5'8" woman. Are you elderly? Because elderly women require fewer calories too.

    My guess is you chose an aggressive weekly weight loss goal.

    Pound per week goals
    75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    pluthera wrote: »
    How many calories are you eating to lose weight? And how much exercise do you do?

    I'm currently on 1200 because I'm not exercising more than twice a week. Is this too low? I'm 5'8 and 172 pounds. Female.

    Thanks

    how much do you have to lose?
  • nickynotts
    nickynotts Posts: 3 Member
    should i be having more calories? im a 42yr old female 5'3 and 210 pounds, i go to the gym 5 times a week and workout for an hour each session, this is mixed with cardio and weights, im currently having 1200/1300 cals a day
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Exercise isn't included in MFP's goals for you, so that doesn't matter. But yes, 1200 is too low for your size.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    nickynotts wrote: »
    should i be having more calories? im a 42yr old female 5'3 and 210 pounds, i go to the gym 5 times a week and workout for an hour each session, this is mixed with cardio and weights, im currently having 1200/1300 cals a day

    If you used MFP number you should be eating at least 1200/1300 + exercise calories. However, exercise calorie burns are tough to estimate. So many MFP users eat back a % of exercise calories & adjust the % up or down depending upon actual results. Start by eating back 50-75%.

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    pluthera wrote: »
    How many calories are you eating to lose weight? And how much exercise do you do?

    I'm currently on 1200 because I'm not exercising more than twice a week. Is this too low? I'm 5'8 and 172 pounds. Female.

    Thanks

    You and I have similar stats. Just to give you a point of reference, I lose a pound a week consistently if I stick to 1700-1800 calories with very minimal exercise.
  • nickynotts
    nickynotts Posts: 3 Member
    ive not been eating the exercise calories, currently loosing aound 1.5 a week x
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited June 2016
    nickynotts wrote: »
    ive not been eating the exercise calories, currently loosing aound 1.5 a week x

    Are you weighing solids & using a measuring cup for liquids? You may actually be eating more than 1200/1300 calories.