Losing weight on 1400-1500 calories?
silversequin7
Posts: 6 Member
I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
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Replies
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CICO If you burn more calories than you eat you will lose weight. Trust MFP. If you enter your stats, mfp will tell you how many calories you should eat and if you follow it you will lose weight. It works. I am at 1500 calories right now, that's what's right for my size and activity level, it will change as I lose. And I am losing weight.1
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Me! And I'm 5'5" and 148pounds, I also don't work out that much and have a desk job. When I do work out more I eat more. I lose about 1-0.5 pounds a week on average. When I was losing weight for my wedding a couple of years ago I lost at the same rate on 1600 cals a day average but I was working out more. Its a healthy rate to lose at it doesn't make you miserable and you don't pile it straight back on after you crash and burn
BTW is the 1400-1500 net or total, because you could probably comfortably eat more on exercise days considering your height and still shift 1 - 0.5 pounds a week. Long story short you should definitely lose though. 2 -
My calories are set at 1550. I'm 5'4" and 213lbs and I have lost about .5 pound a week, but I also exercise 5-6 days a week and eat most of my exercise calories.5
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Thanks for all the great replies! I have only been implementing my current diet and exercise routine as of a about a week and a half now. I have lost about a pound but sometimes it feels not like much and I second guess if what I am doing is correct.0
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Yes! I'm female, 5'6", eating 1500 calories per day plus exercise calories. I lose about a lb per week if I stick to it! Even if I go over some, I still lose weight.0
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silversequin7 wrote: »I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
I don't consider 1000 - 1100 to be unhealthy, but I am an outlier so clearly what works for me does not work for all. 1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at the weight I am currently at, so I have to drop below that to lose. So for me, no 1400 - 1500 would definitely not work. I am 5'7" and 154 right now (heading back to 140), but I am 61, so age is a factor I am sure.1 -
I am 5'8 but weigh more than you lol I eat about 1850+ per day to fuel strength training so depending on what you are doing for exercise (if any) should determine how you eat 2
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Six weeks into my journey I had a look at what the MFP figures suggest i should have lost and what i actually lost. (looking at the net calorie reports and not the "in five weeks") In the six weeks I lost 15lb and MFP figures suggest I should have lost 13lb That is close enough for me to trust the figures, my logging could easily account for the small difference. Trust the figures and go with it. They work5
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So here's a question to this group - would you say that one should decrease one's calories depending on age? Or should I stick with the guided MFP plan? I also work out - more now than ever - but I'm not consistent with my weight dropping. I've lost about 8 lbs. - but it has taken me FOREVER - LOL - I'm at 1450 cals now1
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Metabolism drops with age because muscle mass and activity tends to decline with age. If you're doing exercise and strength training, you'll burn calories more like someone younger. If you're not, you won't and you need to eat less. If you're losing, I would just hold the course and focus on maintaining muscle mass.
I've lost 10 lb since New Year's. My calorie target base is 1310, but I generally eat 1500-ish because of daily exercise.2 -
I'm 5'8", 178 (the last I checked. I don't weigh often) and have my calories set at 1850. I work out 5-6 days a week, heavy lifting, and I don't eat back my exercise calories.1
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Thanks @annacole94 I do weights as well - I am struggling though with losing!0
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silversequin7 wrote: »I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
Yes. When I was active, I lost weight very quickly at that calorie level.
How much you'll lose at a certain calorie level depends on how much of a deficit that is for you. Do you have a rough idea of how many calories you're consuming to create your weight at your current activity level?
See, for me, I was probably eating an average of 1800 calories a day back when I lost weight on cals in the 1400s. So that's a 400 cal/daily deficit from diet alone. So about 3.5 pounds a month weight loss, on paper.
If you're currently eating 2000 calories a day, then you're going to lose even more by dropping to the 1400s (so long as you don't decrease your activity level from your starting point).
If you're currently eating 1500 a day and switch to 1400, then you're going to lose bc you'll still be creating a deficit, but you'll lose very slowly. In a month, you'll have created a 3000 calorie deficit, so still not enough to lose a pound.
Most likely, given your stats you're eating closer to 2000 than 1500, so will lose well on 1400 calories.
One way to estimate how many calories you're currently eating is to look up TDEE charts. Enter in your info. The calorie level it gives to create your current weight with your stats and activity level isan estimate of how many calories you're likely eating. This is an imperfect method because it's just an estimate, so you may be a few hundred higher or lower than the estimated number. But it can be a helpful starting point to begin analyzing and specifying your own TDEE.0 -
fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »silversequin7 wrote: »I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
I don't consider 1000 - 1100 to be unhealthy, but I am an outlier so clearly what works for me does not work for all. 1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at the weight I am currently at, so I have to drop below that to lose. So for me, no 1400 - 1500 would definitely not work. I am 5'7" and 154 right now (heading back to 140), but I am 61, so age is a factor I am sure.
can I ask how 1200-1300 is maintenance for you? Im curious because thats an awfully low number for maintenance for your height/weight.I dont really think age is a big factor as lot of women/men here have lost weight and quite a few are older.1 -
I'm at 1400 calories right now and it's working for me - 5'6 and started at 231, now 221. I eat more on exercise days, but try to only eat back about half my exercise cals. I average about a pound per week, 1.5 when I stick to the 1400 without overages or cheat days... those bring my average down.1
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Wickglamgirl wrote: »So here's a question to this group - would you say that one should decrease one's calories depending on age? Or should I stick with the guided MFP plan? I also work out - more now than ever - but I'm not consistent with my weight dropping. I've lost about 8 lbs. - but it has taken me FOREVER - LOL - I'm at 1450 cals now
Since you tell MFP your age, it is factoring that in.3 -
fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »silversequin7 wrote: »I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
I don't consider 1000 - 1100 to be unhealthy, but I am an outlier so clearly what works for me does not work for all. 1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at the weight I am currently at, so I have to drop below that to lose. So for me, no 1400 - 1500 would definitely not work. I am 5'7" and 154 right now (heading back to 140), but I am 61, so age is a factor I am sure.
How are you measuring your Calories In?2 -
silversequin7 wrote: »I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
Just FYI if you just switched to weight lifting you might have some temporary water weight gain - my own scale went up 7 pounds when I started lifting again.
Are you talking 1400-1500 calories gross or net?
Gross calories include the calories you ate back from earning more calories from exercise.
Depending on my exercise level, I can lose weight eating 2,000 gross calories or more.0 -
I'm 5'2" and started at 161, I've lost 5 lbs in 4 weeks and I eat 1200 cal/day and haven't added exercise in until next week ... I needed to get my eating under control.1
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I was eating about 1500-1550 and strength training 4-5 times a week and cardio around 3-4 times a week (mostly HIIT cardio, jump training, stair intervals and volleyball) and I did not lose any weight for a month (I did lose about 3 lbs the first month). So now I have been eating 1350 or under most days and went down a pound in the past 2 weeks.
Like you said everyone is different and I do sit at a desk all day. I don't do a lot of walking or activities outside of my workouts or volleyball tournaments on the weekends. I also allow myself 1 "splurge" meal a week (1 meal-not the whole day).
I'm sure it's possible but this is my current situation.2 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »can I ask how 1200-1300 is maintenance for you? Im curious because thats an awfully low number for maintenance for your height/weight.I dont really think age is a big factor as lot of women/men here have lost weight and quite a few are older.
How? Because I don't lose or gain at that level. I don't know how else to explain it. As I said, I am an outlier (always have been all my life) so I am at that low end of the scale. It's worth noting that all those calculators use averages of a larger range, to come with their numbers. I just fall at the low end, and always have. I have several others (older females) that follow that same profile, so who knows maybe it is a genetic thing. 
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kshama2001 wrote: »How are you measuring your Calories In?
Hmmm. How do you measure them? I use a food scale for everything. I've been tracking calories for many years, so I know the routine I assure you.
Every morsel, every m&m. Really. I also have a desk job, always have. So most of my day is spend off my feet, even though I exercise at night regularly.
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Wickglamgirl wrote: »So here's a question to this group - would you say that one should decrease one's calories depending on age? Or should I stick with the guided MFP plan? I also work out - more now than ever - but I'm not consistent with my weight dropping. I've lost about 8 lbs. - but it has taken me FOREVER - LOL - I'm at 1450 cals now
I would not do it just because of age. Sure metabolism drops but I think the calculators take that into account. If what you are doing is working, then stick with it. If not, then make a change.0 -
fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »can I ask how 1200-1300 is maintenance for you? Im curious because thats an awfully low number for maintenance for your height/weight.I dont really think age is a big factor as lot of women/men here have lost weight and quite a few are older.
How? Because I don't lose or gain at that level. I don't know how else to explain it. As I said, I am an outlier (always have been all my life) so I am at that low end of the scale. It's worth noting that all those calculators use averages of a larger range, to come with their numbers. I just fall at the low end, and always have. I have several others (older females) that follow that same profile, so who knows maybe it is a genetic thing.
I dont think its a genetic thing unless the other females you are mentioning are family,you say they follow the same profile??? In the past I had no issues losing weight,heck in 2003 I lost it without even trying.fast forward to now, and I find out I have a metabolic disorder(had it all my life just had no idea),and weight loss is soooo very slow for me.0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »I dont think its a genetic thing unless the other females you are mentioning are family,you say they follow the same profile??? In the past I had no issues losing weight,heck in 2003 I lost it without even trying.fast forward to now, and I find out I have a metabolic disorder(had it all my life just had no idea),and weight loss is soooo very slow for me.
Yes I meant to say that those women were family members. Typed too fast! I have never had my metabolism checked, but have had my thyroid checked (I have a complete physical every year) and it is normal. Many years ago, when I was around 21, I had a couple of fainting spells, and I was told I had low blood pressure - dr told me I needed to incorporate an exercise program into my day to "get the blood flowing". It took a while but I did start running at 27, have been a runner all my life until a knee issue this past year, and I've been a regular gym-goer for as many years. My health is excellent and my dr. attributes it so exercise and good diet. And I do still have good BP too - my resting heart rate is high 40's, probably due to so many years of running. 2 -
kshama2001 wrote: »silversequin7 wrote: »I wanted to know if anyone (specifically women) have had success losing weight on a 1400-1500 calorie diet.
I would like to lose 20-30 pounds--I am currently 165 lbs / 5'8". I have lost weight in the past, but through unhealthy measures i.e. 1000-1100 calorie diets. I would like to go about losing weight now using healthier measures. I have shifted from mostly cardio to mostly weights and I want to be able to eat moderately low calories, not ultra low.
I know that what works for one person and what works for another can vary widely, but I was just curious if there were people losing weight eating 1400-1500 calories.
Just FYI if you just switched to weight lifting you might have some temporary water weight gain - my own scale went up 7 pounds when I started lifting again.
Are you talking 1400-1500 calories gross or net?
Gross calories include the calories you ate back from earning more calories from exercise.
Depending on my exercise level, I can lose weight eating 2,000 gross calories or more.
Yeah I do think that weight lifting may have cause me to gain some water weight, especially after leg workouts. How long did it take you to shed?
I don't log exercise into MFP so I only consider gross calories.0 -
Wickglamgirl wrote: »So here's a question to this group - would you say that one should decrease one's calories depending on age? Or should I stick with the guided MFP plan? I also work out - more now than ever - but I'm not consistent with my weight dropping. I've lost about 8 lbs. - but it has taken me FOREVER - LOL - I'm at 1450 cals now
MFP takes your age into consideration when you set up your goals. Just follow what it says.
OP - I'm 5-7 and 149#, I lose one pound a week at 1800 cals when I stick to it. I lift, run or do Pilates every day.0 -
fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »I dont think its a genetic thing unless the other females you are mentioning are family,you say they follow the same profile??? In the past I had no issues losing weight,heck in 2003 I lost it without even trying.fast forward to now, and I find out I have a metabolic disorder(had it all my life just had no idea),and weight loss is soooo very slow for me.
Yes I meant to say that those women were family members. Typed too fast! I have never had my metabolism checked, but have had my thyroid checked (I have a complete physical every year) and it is normal. Many years ago, when I was around 21, I had a couple of fainting spells, and I was told I had low blood pressure - dr told me I needed to incorporate an exercise program into my day to "get the blood flowing". It took a while but I did start running at 27, have been a runner all my life until a knee issue this past year, and I've been a regular gym-goer for as many years. My health is excellent and my dr. attributes it so exercise and good diet. And I do still have good BP too - my resting heart rate is high 40's, probably due to so many years of running.
oh ok, Im not a runner but on a good day my resting HR is in the 40s. I too have low blood pressure,which they are keeping an eye on because its something new for me.I've always had health issues,even when I was thin and active. But some have improved since I have gotten older and became active again.1 -
I am 5'8.5" and 160lbs. I am losing eating 1800 to 2000 calories a day plus exercise calories.3
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