How many calories do you eat a day?

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Replies

  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    We're confusing TDEE and BMR. This happens a lot.

    TDEE - Total Daily Energy Expenditure

    This is how many calories you burn doing EVERYTHING. Think of it as your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) + Exercise + Lifestyle. You want to eat 500-1000 calories less than your TDEE. A 1000 calorie deficit should be reserved for those who are near morbid obesity.

    BMR- Basal Metabolic Rate

    This is how many calories you need to sustain organ function while in a coma. It does not include lifestyle. You should eat at least your BMR to maintain proper organ function.

    BMI- Body Mass Index

    This is an estimate of how overweight you are based only on weight and height.
  • allaboutme
    allaboutme Posts: 391 Member
    We're confusing TDEE and BMR. This happens a lot.

    TDEE - Total Daily Energy Expenditure

    This is how many calories you burn doing EVERYTHING. Think of it as your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) + Exercise + Lifestyle. You want to eat 500-1000 calories less than your TDEE. A 1000 calorie deficit should be reserved for those who are near morbid obesity.

    BMR- Basal Metabolic Rate

    This is how many calories you need to sustain organ function while in a coma. It does not include lifestyle. You should eat at least your BMR to maintain proper organ function.

    BMI- Body Mass Index

    This is an estimate of how overweight you are based only on weight and height.

    Sorry I didn't explain it as well as Songbird, but that was what I was saying, BMR is what you need just to breath and do nothing else, and you shouldn't go below that number. If 1200 calories per day takes you below that, plus you don't eat your exercise calories, you aren't getting enough food to lose in a healthy way.
  • allaboutme
    allaboutme Posts: 391 Member
    This is a very informative website which really details the difference between BMR and TDEE with examples. When searching I did come across a couple that indicated that BMR was the amount of calories your body needs to maintain its current weight, so I can see where people would get confused over it. BMR calories are not maintenance calories or TDEE calories, there is usually a difference between the two of anywere from 300-1200 depending on activity levels.

    Check it out.

    http://www.shapefit.com/basal-metabolic-rate.html
  • jessmomof3
    jessmomof3 Posts: 4,590 Member
    My base is 1,500 cals and I eat some of my exercise cals, depending on the day. My average day is around 1,800 total cals (on long run days, could be more). And I've lost the last 5# in the last 6 weeks that I have wanted to lose, so it is working for me. I would die at 1,200 cals, but that's also because I run, lift weights, and keep active!
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
    Same as Tam - 1370 on non workout days and up to 1900 depending on what I have burned.

    ditto
  • erikhutson
    erikhutson Posts: 8 Member
    doing p90 with p90x I take in around 1700-2000 a day depending on the workout, if Im a little lazy with the workout Im consume less then I would if I bust my rump
  • heather0mc
    heather0mc Posts: 4,656 Member
    Same as Tam - 1370 on non workout days and up to 1900 depending on what I have burned.

    same here, exactly the same! 1370 and 1800-1900 on workout days
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Same as Tam - 1370 on non workout days and up to 1900 depending on what I have burned.

    same here, exactly the same! 1370 and 1800-1900 on workout days
    Don't you love workout days?? That is when I have a heaping plate of pasta!! :laugh: :laugh: (whole wheat of course! :wink: )
  • thecountrydays
    thecountrydays Posts: 17 Member
    what kind of work out do you do?
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    what kind of work out do you do?
    When I was in "lose" mode, I was doing a ton of cardio and weights. I would do an hour on the elliptical with arms...the interval setting, level 19. And I moved at warp speed! LOL! I think there was smoke coming out the back. And by the end I would add some time on the elliptical with incline or the recumbent bike, etc.

    Now that I am in maintenance mode and pregnant, my goal isn't to burn so many calories but more to keep myself strong and healthy.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    holy wow. Tam I have a whole new additional level of respect for you.

    Ok I already knew you kick @$$, but level 19!! for an hour!! Damn.

    I was all proud when I did 30 min at level 10.

    :flowerforyou: you are AMAZING!
  • Periphria
    Periphria Posts: 358
    non workout days - 1200 cal.
    Workout days - 1600 - 1800 cal

    I do mostly cardio about 4 days and 1 or 2 days of weight training.

    I'm working on my last ten pounds so my calories are lower.

    Goodluck:happy:
  • Sapporo
    Sapporo Posts: 693 Member
    1400ish on rest days up to 2000 depending on how many exercise calories I earn.
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    holy wow. Tam I have a whole new additional level of respect for you.

    Ok I already knew you kick @$$, but level 19!! for an hour!! Damn.

    I was all proud when I did 30 min at level 10.

    :flowerforyou: you are AMAZING!
    Thanks!!:bigsmile:

    Well, I slowly built up to that! I started at 20 minutes at level 3. Every time a level got easier, I would bump it up and add 5 minutes! :happy: I think that's what helped me not really hit a plateau (at least anything long term). I had a couple weeks where I maintained but I got over it.

    At some point it isn't so much about lowering calories anymore but more about keeping your body guessing with the exercise and pushing yourself that little bit more. The combo of eating enough AND pushing your body helps to keep your metabolism at a constant burn!! :drinker:
  • ohthatbambi
    ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
    I have mine set at 1500 on here. I do not log in my exercise here. I where a HRM and keep a running log of my exercise on my facebook page so at the end of the year I can see everything I have accomplished. I exercise everyday..even if it is just walking the dog for thirty minutes. On days that I work out hard I may eat up to 1600 but I really try not to go over that EVER!!
  • honey2101
    honey2101 Posts: 29
    Well I am allowed to have 1200 ckals a day, though I am having about 800-1000/day. I have cut out all wheat+junk (fizzy drinks, biscuits bread etc) from my diet since the past 3 weeks and have found that I feel so much better+ lighter on this diet! I only do gym 1-2 times a week, yoga every other evening after work for approx 20 mins. I dont eat my exercise cals but treat myself to a gorgeous salad afterwards :P
    You could try a salad with beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, nuts, low fat cheese, olives etc.
    good luck xx
  • hmo4
    hmo4 Posts: 1,673 Member
    When I was losing still..........by the end, on non-gym days I ate 1400 and on gym days, I would burn a lot and eat around 1800-1900. And obviously it worked because I got to my goal! :wink:

    Good job!! How long did it take you?
  • allaboutme
    allaboutme Posts: 391 Member
    Well I am allowed to have 1200 ckals a day, though I am having about 800-1000/day. I have cut out all wheat+junk (fizzy drinks, biscuits bread etc) from my diet since the past 3 weeks and have found that I feel so much better+ lighter on this diet! I only do gym 1-2 times a week, yoga every other evening after work for approx 20 mins. I dont eat my exercise cals but treat myself to a gorgeous salad afterwards :P
    You could try a salad with beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, nuts, low fat cheese, olives etc.
    good luck xx

    please read.:happy:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    When I was losing still..........by the end, on non-gym days I ate 1400 and on gym days, I would burn a lot and eat around 1800-1900. And obviously it worked because I got to my goal! :wink:

    Good job!! How long did it take you?
    About 16 months. :smile:
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