Need help with calorie intake

AshleG1
AshleG1 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a 25 year old female, 5'1 & 137 pounds. I want to lose 15-20 pounds & have lost 7 so far by counting calories. I have looked up my TDEE & it says maintenance for me is around 1,600 (I don't currently exercise at all even though I know I should even just for health reasons). So I've been able to maintain 1,200 calories pretty consistently but every so often I feel like my heart is racing & just get kind of out of it so I was wondering if that is too low of a goal? I work in retail so I'm on my feet all day but I figured that doesn't count for much as far as activity goes. I like the results I'm seeing so far, I just don't want to hurt myself & don't know if my side effects are from the calorie deficit or something simple like being tired. Any advice?

Replies

  • uninc57
    uninc57 Posts: 24 Member
    edited February 2017
    Get a fitness tracker, I bet you move more than you think at work. All those steps add up. How long did it take you to lose those 7?
  • AshleG1
    AshleG1 Posts: 6 Member
    About a month and a half or so, the first 5 or so I lost very quickly within the first 2 weeks when I first started counting calories but lately I would say I've been averaging about a pound a week.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Could be lots of reasons for dizziness - Hormones, hydration, cardiovascular issues, or just plain old not eating enough. I think that you discuss this with your doctor.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Doctor. If you are logging correctly, you aren't eating too little.
  • AshleG1
    AshleG1 Posts: 6 Member
    Thank you everyone, I figured I wasn't eating too little from everything I've looked up & how short I am but I wanted other people's opinions. I should probably cut back on my caffeine intake too, I got rid of soda a month ago as well & don't like coffee so I have been taking caffeine supplements instead to get rid of headaches so maybe it's too much & I should cut it down. I also don't eat meat so I'm trying to eat more protein bars & shakes as well.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    As short as you are and as close as it is to your TDEE, 1200 calories should be far less of a problem for you than it is for women who are taller. I would think that any health issues would be caused by something else.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    could be from too much caffeine....
  • AshleG1
    AshleG1 Posts: 6 Member
    I'm definitely cutting back on the caffeine today to see if that helps. Thank you everyone.
  • DrusiliaDD
    DrusiliaDD Posts: 71 Member
    I am quite similar to you height, weight and goal wise (5ft and around 138lbs at the moment with an initial goal of 124lbs), I set MFP to lose 0.5lb/week so I would have more calories to play with. At the moment it recommends I eat 1400 a day and i'm pretty happy with that and have lost 1lb in 2 weeks, basically exactly as the goal states. I do at least some walking every day and I have a pedometer app on my phone and I log the walking time and speed and eat back half the calories if I want them. It might be worthwhile reducing your goal to 0.5lbs/week, you can still aim for 1200 if you want but even if you go over a little you'll still lose weight and you would have enough spare calories for a snack during the day if you're feeling dizzy and want to check if food helps. I'm by no means a weight loss expert but this is my experience.
  • AshleG1
    AshleG1 Posts: 6 Member
    That's definitely a good plan too, thank you!
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