123.5 lbs/5'7 female, maintaining on 2300 calories
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laura9503
Posts: 43 Member
Hi, I'm a 5'7 22 year old girl and I currently weight 123.5 lbs. I work out about 3/4 times a week for about an hour (weight lifting + cardio, 50/50). About 2 years ago, I recovered from anorexia and I know this influences the amount of calories you need for a long period after you've recovered. However, I'm now barely maintaining at 2300 calories. I might even eat more, I sometimes don't log all my food. It just seems like a lot. Are there others with this sort of situation?
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Replies
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Thats the way to do it....keep eating more and lifting...thats the way! When I increased my calories and started lifting weights 3 times a week lost all my fat..7
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This is really not something to worry about! Eat up!
But more seriously, you're young and you're active, it really has little to do with the past ED and everything to do with those two things. Enjoy it as much as you can. It's not a huge amount of calories really.9 -
And, keep in mind that it is entirely your eating disorder telling you that 2300 calories is a lot of food. 2300 isn't a lot, and especially not when you're active.13
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lauraandeweg wrote: »Hi, I'm a 5'7 22 year old girl and I currently weight 123.5 lbs. I work out about 3/4 times a week for about an hour (weight lifting + cardio, 50/50). About 2 years ago, I recovered from anorexia and I know this influences the amount of calories you need for a long period after you've recovered. However, I'm now barely maintaining at 2300 calories. I might even eat more, I sometimes don't log all my food. It just seems like a lot. Are there others with this sort of situation?
Sounds like you are doing great to me! You've probably backed on some serious muscle with all that weight lifting. Muscle is metabolically expensive. The more muscle you have the more you burn. So build that muscle girl and support it with great eating.
And pat yourself on the back. You've come a long way. Being able to eat 2300 and maintain your physique means you've worked hard. Way to go!2 -
2300 calories isn't a lot for an active female at all. My wife is all of 5'3" on a good day and 43 years old and maintains on about 2300 calories with her running and lifting.8
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Congratulations on your recovery and weight maintenance.3
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I'm 5'7" in my 20s and very early 30s (before the dreaded desk job) I maintained at 126-131. I ate a ridiculous amount of food, but I was also very active and had very active jobs in addition to training and workouts. The one time I tracked everything during that period (as part of an assignment) I was eating between 2500-3000 calories a day.
If your body needs the fuel, then feed it!9 -
collectingblues wrote: »And, keep in mind that it is entirely your eating disorder telling you that 2300 calories is a lot of food. 2300 isn't a lot, and especially not when you're active.
This.
You might want to confirm it with your treatment team3 -
Thanks for the replies! Really helpful to hear all your experiences! I'll just keep eating and working out as I'm doing now And indeed, it probably stems from my previous ED thoughts that I see 2300 as a lot3
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I have an MFPeop who is 5ft 6" and 122lbs and logs just under 3000 Cal and maintains. Her goal is to gain at a very slow rate; but she fails to do so unless she consistently logs over 3000. She is very very active.5
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It's definitely not a lot. I am shorter than you and eat average of 2300/2400 ish a day. You workout for 2 hours a day 3/4 times a week so I would expect you to maintain on more. Don't worry or let your mind tell you you are eating too much.2
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Congrats on maintaining, 2300 isn't alot for your height, if you are still losing you'll need to bump up your calories a bit more.
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »It's definitely not a lot. I am shorter than you and eat average of 2300/2400 ish a day. You workout for 2 hours a day 3/4 times a week so I would expect you to maintain on more. Don't worry or let your mind tell you you are eating too much.
Oh god, not 2 hours haha, "just" one hour. But thanks for the feedback!
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I maintain somewhere around that level (gross calories eaten), maybe a little more, at 5'5", 120s, age 62, sedentary/retired daily life, around 1-1.5 hours daily vigorous intentional exercise 6 days a week (spin class, on-water rowing, rowing machine, weight training, mostly).
Admittedly, I have an unusually high burn for my size and activity level, but I would hope it would still reassure you that 2300 is not off the map for someone taller, active, and 40 years younger!7 -
I maintain somewhere around that level (gross calories eaten), maybe a little more, at 5'5", 120s, age 62, sedentary/retired daily life, around 1-1.5 hours daily vigorous intentional exercise 6 days a week (spin class, on-water rowing, rowing machine, weight training, mostly).
Admittedly, I have an unusually high burn for my size and activity level, but I would hope it would still reassure you that 2300 is not off the map for someone taller, active, and 40 years younger!
Ahh thank you! If anything this is inspiring2 -
Glad to see your post. Having similar challenges. Am 39yo female 5'7" 121# was 147# a year or so ago. Lost weight from stress and not eating very much, not from diet plans. I don't workout but i work at a grocery store, standing, running around, stocking, etc. Am having a difficult time maintaining weight. Eating lots of sweets everyday, and it feels like I'm eating a lot, but still losing weight. So just started tracking calories today. Think nutrient absorption is altered after prolonged fasting like anorexia. I used to eat 1200 calories and walk a hour a day when I weighed 145 and couldn't lose weight. Metabolism changes. Thanks for your post, good luck.3
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I’m 5’7 and I was about 120 for a long time.
That number seems spot on, maybe a bit low depending on the intensity of your workouts.
Keep up the great work.:)0 -
My weight actually just dropped to 122 lbs which was quite shocking to me. I haven't worked out in 2 weeks now due to my health (going to see the doctor tomorrow) so maybe it's muscle? I do notice that today I'm verrrry hungry so I'm giving in to it and not paying too much attention to my calories. Apparently my body needs a bit more to sustain right now. But thanks for all the comments, it has changed my view on the amount of calories.2
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lauraandeweg wrote: »My weight actually just dropped to 122 lbs which was quite shocking to me. I haven't worked out in 2 weeks now due to my health (going to see the doctor tomorrow) so maybe it's muscle? I do notice that today I'm verrrry hungry so I'm giving in to it and not paying too much attention to my calories. Apparently my body needs a bit more to sustain right now. But thanks for all the comments, it has changed my view on the amount of calories.
More likely water weight drop from dropping exercise for a couple of weeks (reduced muscle repair happening). The amount is well within the scope of normal day to day fluctuation.
If you're having health issues, eating at least maintenance is a really good plan. Healing is priority one.
Hope your health turns around soon!2 -
Hi Laura, I see a weight drop when I take a few rest days as well. Stick with your doctor checkups! I just want to echo what others have said- 2300 is not a lot of food for an active female your age and height. We get really warped not just from our own issues, but from all the 1200 and 1500 calorie diet crap. Keep getting support and sanity checks from a healthy community- it sounds like you are doing great.1
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