We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

What's your daily calorie budget?

JeremiahStone
JeremiahStone Posts: 682 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Iv set my calorie budget at about 1600 calories a day, but I make sure I never reach it. What's your daily calorie budget?
«13

Replies

  • CoolMoonGoddess
    CoolMoonGoddess Posts: 26
    Mine is at 1200... which is easy to reach on most days!
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    I think the recommended minimum is 1200, and that's what a LOT of women are on.

    Personally, mine is 1035, but that was after consultation with a doctor and a nutritionalist.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    2200-2500 NET calories. Depends on what I do that particular day:

    If I work, but don't workout - I stay close to 2200.

    If I don't work, but I workout - I stay around 2350.

    If I work AND I workout - I aim for 2500.

    I ALWAYS eat back my exercise calories too.
  • MFPfriend
    MFPfriend Posts: 1,121 Member
    1330 NET (so I eat my exercise calories). With some planning, I can usually hit within 20 calories on either side. :)

    Edited to add that it's my NET.
  • claire_xox
    claire_xox Posts: 282 Member
    Mine is 950, I try not to make it though. However yesterday I only got to 127calories. So I've implemented a minimum too which is now 500 :)
  • Getting_Fit_4_Life
    Getting_Fit_4_Life Posts: 401 Member
    Mine used to be 1200, but I just changed it to 1350. I plan to meet with a dietician soon to talk to him/her about what would be good for ME. Everyone dietary need can be different. What works for me might not work for others. Good luck on your weight loss journey.
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    1200 but I only eat about 800-1000 calories a day. After talking with my doctor and nutritionist, I do not eat back my exercise calories.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    1250
  • bry_all01
    bry_all01 Posts: 3,100 Member
    around 2000 calories with a workout for me, but mine is more protein based than calorie based, too.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    2500 + exercise currently
  • elmobabie84
    elmobabie84 Posts: 112
    MFP set my calorie goal at 1540 but i try to have a net of 1200.
  • Izable2011
    Izable2011 Posts: 755 Member
    1460 and if I exercise I might eat those calories too!
  • melibea
    melibea Posts: 228
    Mine is 1200 net calories, and I eat back most of my exercise calories :)
  • babyblake11
    babyblake11 Posts: 1,107 Member
    your more likely to put on weight eating that little. i was on 1200 or under but found that it was less effective at losing body fat then when i ate up to 1500. your body is going to absorb all food as fat. you might lose muscle therefore lose 'weight' but it will be replaced by bodyfat.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    I'm at 1700, I just changed it to 1/2 lb a week, I was struggling at 1lb a week and seem to be doing much better with my new calorie goal :-)
  • steffaleffa
    steffaleffa Posts: 5
    Agreed when saying eating too little is not effective to keep the weight off. I used to restrict like crazy and eat around 400-1000 calories a day and I did lose the weight rather quickly but put it all back on in less than a year.
    So not worth it folks, do it the healthy way!
    My calorie goal is somewhere between 1200-1400 now.
  • LisaKyle11
    LisaKyle11 Posts: 662 Member
    Mine is 950, I try not to make it though. However yesterday I only got to 127calories. So I've implemented a minimum too which is now 500 :)

    wow, girl your body needs you to eat!
  • skinnyhopes
    skinnyhopes Posts: 402 Member
    Mine was set to 1200, but I upped it to 1600 and I am still losing (:
  • skinnyminimoni
    skinnyminimoni Posts: 201
    Mine's 1350, and I tend to stay in a 50-calorie range of that (on either side).
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    1530 + exercise calories, so anywhere between 1500-2800 day.
  • m1zk0
    m1zk0 Posts: 9
    It's supposed to be 1200, and if I don't workout then I usually go over. I always eat back my exercise calories, which makes me WANT to exercise so I can eat more haha!
  • sauerkrautpolka
    sauerkrautpolka Posts: 266 Member
    I try not to go over 1500... but am very rarely over 1200. I am trying my best to up my calories.. have started snacking on pepitas and almonds throughout the day.
  • Nikkiairforcewife
    Nikkiairforcewife Posts: 164 Member
    1760. And I'm nursing exclusively, so that adds 500. I eat within 200 calories of that 2260. Although tempting as it is to drop my calories by several hundred to boost weight-loss, I'm not going to do it because I want to lose fat, not my muscle. And losing more than 1% a week usually means it's muscle loss. No thanks. Slow and steady wins the race. For me this is a lifestyle change.
  • Nikkiairforcewife
    Nikkiairforcewife Posts: 164 Member
    Mine was set to 1200, but I upped it to 1600 and I am still losing (:

    Good for you! You've got it right.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    Mine *was* 1600 (for 1lb a week) but I'm down to 1500 calories (Yay.... I guess?) - that's before exercise. I generally do not eat back my exercise calories unless I'm hungry or if I'm sore (muscles) I try to make sure I'm getting enough protein and phosphorous which so far as not resulted in me going over but it COULD - although skim milk is great for those things and its low cal too.

    I figure since I'm set to 1lb a week if I go under then no big deal, I'm just eating the 1.5lb/week amount or whatever (actually I tried setting it to 1.5lb/week and it wanted me to eat 1250 - NOOOO THANK YOU).

    So far I basically eat all the same stuff I did before, with some minor swap outs to try and a) keep my calories low and b) to incorporate more veggies. Like today I went to a seafood place, and right before I started dieting I ordered the paella there (ooohhh my god so good) but that has a fair bit of oil involved and chorizo and the next two times I ate there (after I started MFP) I got the salmon with spinach and broccoli (all still good but healthier choices - before I might have gotten the spinach and mashed potatoes) and today I had this amazing chopped shrimp salad with quinoa and corn.

    Then for dinner we used to get a lot of takeout - we still do but when we get chipotle I always get a bowl (I usually did anyway) and I don't get cheese-sour cream-guac -- I just pick one of those 3 things and have it.

    I feel good about my calorie budget, its letting me eat more or less normally (with small reductions - if I order something less healthy I cut it in quarters and eat half or 3/4 of it, whichever gets me to happy). The only things I basically gave up were the snacks - I used to get a boba tea or a cookie after lunch every so often (say 2x a week?) and get a beer or cocktail if I went out to dinner. Also I'm much more likely to pick a seafood or chicken option if there is one that sounds good (but if there isnt' I don't force myself, I just eat less).
  • mikonei
    mikonei Posts: 291 Member
    Mine is at 1720. On days that I exercise I usually need to add 800. A little difficult to reach on those days, but I'm working on it.
  • SaddyPants
    SaddyPants Posts: 152 Member
    Mine is set to 1460 but I'm usually below that because I get really scared of going over.
  • nsimportant
    nsimportant Posts: 170 Member
    I am trying to eat 1300 in a day and I doing p90x with some Insanity cardio. Gonna try 3 days 1300 1 day 1900 for a month and then up it up to around 1600 cal.
    I have been on ~1300 last 3 months and lost 12kg and still keep dropping but just decided to do some kind of a change.
    But I eat a lot of protein.
  • maggiedcs
    maggiedcs Posts: 22 Member
    Mine is 1400 net, I'm always over and am not losing weight. Too many sweets...
    :ohwell:
  • aims78
    aims78 Posts: 75 Member
    Hi! I am set @ 1750 a day but I try to stay between 1200 to 1500 without exercise but with it I usually go up to 1800. I don't like to eat back most of my calories is burned from exercise. Good luck!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories