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Calories

pluthera
pluthera Posts: 15 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
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.
This discussion has been closed.