ALL MY LADIES! What are your daily calorie goals?

How many calories do you all eat in a day and how much are you losing per week? I’m trying to figure out a good amount of calories to consume so that I lose weight without feeling deprived. 1200 is just too low for me so I was thinking of going up to 1500? I will workout about an hour a day but I don’t log those into my diary. I want to loose around 2 lbs a week....thoughts? Also add me if you want a friend! I’ve got about 45 pounds to lose and having friends would help a ton!
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Replies

  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,128 Member
    edited June 2018
    MFP will tell you how many calories you need to lose weight at the rate you've chosen.

    2lbs per week requires a calorie deficit of 1000 calories, as you say this can leave you feeling deprived, so it might be better in the long run to aim for 1lb per week (500 calorie deficit). Whatever rate you choose, it has to be sustainable because you also need to plan for maintenance and keep it off.

    Asking other people what they lose on, probably isn't very helpful for your own purposes, as we're all different shapes, sizes and activity levels. For example, some of my friend list are short, slim and sedentary and would maintain on just over 1400 calories, whereas I maintain on close to 2500 net (Actual intake on a really active day can be around 3000 calories to lose 1lb per week) because I am tall, heavy and very active.

    Understanding how the calorie allowance is calculated can help you better understand how weight loss works, this infographic may help:

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  • AveriaKyle
    AveriaKyle Posts: 20 Member
    2200 cals
    25yr old female
    162cm 57.4kg.
    Not including exercise calories.
  • Enchanta
    Enchanta Posts: 5 Member
    I'm eating 1200 a day at the moment and it's hard going. I've got about 33 pounds to lose (15kg) to get to my target weight and I'm hoping to lose about 2 pounds a week. I do Gillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred every other day and get a fast walk in on the off days. I'm a part time teacher so I didn't really know what to put for lifestyle - active when I am teaching, sedentary when I'm off because I'm sat planning for most of it! I'll happily be your fitness friend but I don't really know how it works as I'm new to this!
  • workinonit1956
    workinonit1956 Posts: 1,043 Member
    I’m short, older, and working on the last 10-15 pounds. I net 1250, but with my activity and exercise I eat around 1400 a day. I’m set to lose 1/2 pound a week and am doing that easily.
  • Running_and_Coffee
    Running_and_Coffee Posts: 811 Member
    Under 1400 (I'm usually right at 1350-1390) and I don't eat back workout calories. I'm 44, very active, and at goal weight but still trying to shave off a few more pounds. I could eat more calories and still lose when I was younger and heavier.
  • etherealanwar
    etherealanwar Posts: 465 Member
    I have mine set to lose 1.5lbs a week and its given me 1200 calories. I usually have between 1100-1300 calories on a daily basis.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    edited June 2018
    56yo menopausal female 5'4"
    currently weigh 195 lbs, goal weight 148
    walk, hike, or cycle daily for exercise
    1400cals/day
    I don't eat back my exercise calories and am losing 8-10lbs/month.
  • ashxtasticness
    ashxtasticness Posts: 160 Member
    I eat between 1,200 and 1,400 depending on the day and what I decide to eat. I'm typically pretty active, but don't eat back any calories burned (unless I decide to splurge and have a few drinks or something) I keep my carb total below my protein total, try to eat at least 25 g of protein per meal, never eat a carb without a protein and keep my sodium below 2300. On most weeks I average -2 pounds as long as I keep everything consistent, but I'm heavier so weight comes off quicker.
  • SagePeach
    SagePeach Posts: 37 Member
    I'm 39 years old, in maintenance with a bmi of 21.8, and MFP sets me at around 1,800 calories a day.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    40something, 150 lbs, 5'9", trying to lose the stubborn belly fat...ugh

    Strength training days I eat 1900 cal (3x/week), other days I eat 1200 cal (4x/week).
  • Cassandraw3
    Cassandraw3 Posts: 1,214 Member
    Hi! I'm 29, 5'4", and currently weigh 160. My net is set for 1300 cal/day for sedentary (I work a desk job) for 1lb/week weight loss. I do eat back some of my exercise calories. Currently for exercise I am running 3x a week and doing crossfit 3-4x a week. On days that I work out, my total calories are 1500-1800. My first goal is to get to 155, at which point I will reassess my calorie and pounds per week goal. My ultimate goal is 145, at which point I will see how I feel if I want to maintain at that or keep going.

    MFP will not set your goal to lower than 1200, so it is likely that even at 1200 cal/day, you still wouldn't lose 2 lbs per week. I would recommend going a little higher in the calories. If you feel like you are restricting yourself too much, you are more likely to binge later, which depending on how bad it is, could undo all your hard work. Just my thoughts!
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    34, 140lbs, 5'7. Strength 4x per week, cardio 2x per week. About 2400cals average losing around 0.5lb give or take per week.
  • BlessedMom70
    BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
    edited June 2018
    47 years young, 5’6, 155 lbs. 1,550/cal day and walking 30 min. 4-5x/week to lose .5-1 lb/week
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    edited June 2018
    I am a 35 year old female. I am 5'0" and 135 lbs. My starting highest weight was 145 lbs. My goal is 115-120 lbs. I have set my calories at 1400.

    On sedentary days, that is supposed to be 1/2 lb a week weight loss. On more active days it calculates out to 1 lb a week. I have a mix of different activity levels throughout the week. I have been losing an average of 1 lb a week.

    I do eat back the extra calories that my Fitbit gives me sometimes. I havent logged exercise but when I'm more active then fitbit gives me extra.

    On special occasions or social events I eat at maintenance level of 1750 calories.
  • etherealanwar
    etherealanwar Posts: 465 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    34, 140lbs, 5'7. Strength 4x per week, cardio 2x per week. About 2400cals average losing around 0.5lb give or take per week.

    I find this insane! How you are losing instead of gaining on that high amount of calories just baffles me, but honestly kudos to you that's awesome. When I go above 2000 calories I start to gain...and according to online calculators my maintenance is going to be around 1600-1700 calories when I reach my goal weight of 135lbs (I'm 5'4" ).

    I wish it would be higher but I do plan on starting a lifting routine when I reach my goal. Doubt it will help much considering it's difficult to put on a decent amount of muscle mass for women.
  • tremmax
    tremmax Posts: 9 Member
    I am 5’2” and weigh 141lbs. MFP has me at 1220 cals to lose 1lb a week. I have it set to light active and record my exercise seperately through my garmin and I try to eat back most of my calories from exercise. I can’t eat much lower than this without feeling really tired. Been at a weight loss stall for 3 weeks now which is very frustrating and demotivating. Just keeping going though!
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    40 years old, 5 '1, working on losing the last 30 pounds (already lost 100 and maintained that for almost 2 years)

    i eat around 1350 every day (sedentary) and do not eat back most of my exercise cals.

    I lose about 2 pounds/ week when I am consistent.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,110 Member
    edited June 2018
    5'8" and at a healthy BMI. My goal is around 1700 before exercise adjustments are added from my fitbit (usually ends up being around 2100 total for the day after adjustment). I'm working on recomp eating within 250 cals of maintenance every day, some days over and some days under.
  • BNY721
    BNY721 Posts: 125 Member
    33, 5’1” 130 I maintain on roughly 1800 (lift 6x a week)..but am currently eating in a small deficit to get a bit leaner.
  • allisonlane161
    allisonlane161 Posts: 269 Member
    edited June 2018
    56 years old, 5'8 at goal weight, but still trying to lose a bit more. I exercise--both cardio and weights--a lot, so my calories go between 1500-1700. On days I don't exercise (and those are not very often) I still could not do only 1200. I'd say that day is closer to 1400. Sometimes I'm over the 1700, but that's rare also.
  • etherealanwar
    etherealanwar Posts: 465 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    34, 140lbs, 5'7. Strength 4x per week, cardio 2x per week. About 2400cals average losing around 0.5lb give or take per week.

    I find this insane! How you are losing instead of gaining on that high amount of calories just baffles me, but honestly kudos to you that's awesome. When I go above 2000 calories I start to gain...and according to online calculators my maintenance is going to be around 1600-1700 calories when I reach my goal weight of 135lbs (I'm 5'4" ).

    I wish it would be higher but I do plan on starting a lifting routine when I reach my goal. Doubt it will help much considering it's difficult to put on a decent amount of muscle mass for women.

    I would say most of it is due to my activity. I am not sedentary. Also I have a pretty decent amount of muscle mass, which in itself may not burn a lot.. but I use them often (especially with 4 lower body days a week), also I am able to sit at a higher weight and still look lean, so more weight helps too.. again maybe not sitting but when I move.

    Start lifting now. Just because you may not put on muscle doesn't mean it isn't beneficial. I highly recommend you do not wait until you get to goal, if you start now you will preserve way more muscle as you lose and your body composition will be much better off. Trying to build muscle when you get to goal is like trying to put flower petals back on a flower after picking them off, or waiting for it to grow again next year.

    I know that I should start lifting now to preserve my muscle but I always seem to give up because it just *feels* like nothing is happening (even though I know it is helping in the long run). I just really need to accept the fact that progress won't show in regards to toning up because of the layer of fat I still have to get rid of but that I WILL look better at my goal if I start.

    It's been really hard trying to instill that into my mind and stick to it...I start for a week or two then fall off. I pay for the gym membership and barely utilize it. Pretty pathetic now that I'm typing this up to be honest.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    34, 140lbs, 5'7. Strength 4x per week, cardio 2x per week. About 2400cals average losing around 0.5lb give or take per week.

    I find this insane! How you are losing instead of gaining on that high amount of calories just baffles me, but honestly kudos to you that's awesome. When I go above 2000 calories I start to gain...and according to online calculators my maintenance is going to be around 1600-1700 calories when I reach my goal weight of 135lbs (I'm 5'4" ).

    I wish it would be higher but I do plan on starting a lifting routine when I reach my goal. Doubt it will help much considering it's difficult to put on a decent amount of muscle mass for women.

    I would say most of it is due to my activity. I am not sedentary. Also I have a pretty decent amount of muscle mass, which in itself may not burn a lot.. but I use them often (especially with 4 lower body days a week), also I am able to sit at a higher weight and still look lean, so more weight helps too.. again maybe not sitting but when I move.

    Start lifting now. Just because you may not put on muscle doesn't mean it isn't beneficial. I highly recommend you do not wait until you get to goal, if you start now you will preserve way more muscle as you lose and your body composition will be much better off. Trying to build muscle when you get to goal is like trying to put flower petals back on a flower after picking them off, or waiting for it to grow again next year.

    I know that I should start lifting now to preserve my muscle but I always seem to give up because it just *feels* like nothing is happening (even though I know it is helping in the long run). I just really need to accept the fact that progress won't show in regards to toning up because of the layer of fat I still have to get rid of but that I WILL look better at my goal if I start.

    It's been really hard trying to instill that into my mind and stick to it...I start for a week or two then fall off. I pay for the gym membership and barely utilize it. Pretty pathetic now that I'm typing this up to be honest.

    It is not a quick process, but take lots of progress photos and measurements and you will start to see the difference.

    I've done it both ways... cardio only in a deficit .. body composition results were.... ok.. but nowhere near compared to when I was lifting in a deficit.

    Is working out at home an option? There are plenty of great bodyweight programs to get you started if you don't want to commit to a membership just yet.
  • Lora2380
    Lora2380 Posts: 195 Member
    5’5 and have been eating at 1200 to loose 1.5-2lbs a week and eating back 1/2 workout cals and it caught up to me, I’m tired, hungry and my hair is getting brittle and Thinner, I’m upping cals to 1 lb a week loss 1350- 1400 cals until the end of June then will probably go maintenance for a month before trying for the last 5 lbs. to give my body a break. I have been on 1200 since feb. 30lbs down.
  • etherealanwar
    etherealanwar Posts: 465 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    34, 140lbs, 5'7. Strength 4x per week, cardio 2x per week. About 2400cals average losing around 0.5lb give or take per week.

    I find this insane! How you are losing instead of gaining on that high amount of calories just baffles me, but honestly kudos to you that's awesome. When I go above 2000 calories I start to gain...and according to online calculators my maintenance is going to be around 1600-1700 calories when I reach my goal weight of 135lbs (I'm 5'4" ).

    I wish it would be higher but I do plan on starting a lifting routine when I reach my goal. Doubt it will help much considering it's difficult to put on a decent amount of muscle mass for women.

    I would say most of it is due to my activity. I am not sedentary. Also I have a pretty decent amount of muscle mass, which in itself may not burn a lot.. but I use them often (especially with 4 lower body days a week), also I am able to sit at a higher weight and still look lean, so more weight helps too.. again maybe not sitting but when I move.

    Start lifting now. Just because you may not put on muscle doesn't mean it isn't beneficial. I highly recommend you do not wait until you get to goal, if you start now you will preserve way more muscle as you lose and your body composition will be much better off. Trying to build muscle when you get to goal is like trying to put flower petals back on a flower after picking them off, or waiting for it to grow again next year.

    I know that I should start lifting now to preserve my muscle but I always seem to give up because it just *feels* like nothing is happening (even though I know it is helping in the long run). I just really need to accept the fact that progress won't show in regards to toning up because of the layer of fat I still have to get rid of but that I WILL look better at my goal if I start.

    It's been really hard trying to instill that into my mind and stick to it...I start for a week or two then fall off. I pay for the gym membership and barely utilize it. Pretty pathetic now that I'm typing this up to be honest.

    It is not a quick process, but take lots of progress photos and measurements and you will start to see the difference.

    I've done it both ways... cardio only in a deficit .. body composition results were.... ok.. but nowhere near compared to when I was lifting in a deficit.

    Is working out at home an option? There are plenty of great bodyweight programs to get you started if you don't want to commit to a membership just yet.

    Yeah that's a good idea on taking progress pictures! I don't mind paying for the gym if I get myself into the routine of actually going. I actually like lifting and it makes me feel good. I just need to get over being lazy and force myself to start going! I had an excuse that it takes way too long to drive there, work out for an hour and drive back on weekdays when I don't have much time after work but I can get around that by going Friday-Monday then taking rest days. Thanks for the tips and encouragement :)

    I'm sure when I start and get past my stupid mentality I'll be so glad I did.
  • kdbulger
    kdbulger Posts: 396 Member
    edited June 2018
    My MFP calorie goal to lose 1lb a week has me at 1480 calories per day (set for sedentary). However, I burn on average 500+ calories per day with running, strength, and general NEAT (my heart rate monitor is synced) so I tend to eat a majority of those calories back. I average probably 1700-1900 cals a day. Some days I can and do eat well into the 2000s if I have run and been otherwise active in a day.

    I'm 32, 179lbs, 5'7", and work out 5 days a week. I've lost 40lbs since August 2017. I will note that I am not in a rush to lose this weight. I like food. I'm losing 0.93 lbs a week when you average out my loss over the weeks since I started.
  • snemberton
    snemberton Posts: 175 Member
    I have an Apple Watch that I wear nearly all the time except when I'm sleeping. I use MFP for tracking my calorie intake, but a spreadsheet to get more accurate overall information. My resting calories average 1980 every day. I have a move goal of 600 calories each day and have only missed that a couple of times this month because I was terribly sick for a couple of days with a bad cold. I often go well above that, making my average 720. To meet that goal, it's a mixture of everyday activity here at home and intentional exercise (cardio and strength at the gym, plus some yoga and stretching). My average combined resting and active calories are 2735 as of today. I eat typically 2000-2100 calories a day. (Not super strict on logging but pretty close.) Spreadsheet says my average deficit is 627 calories. My calculations come out to say I should have lost 3.4 lbs since I started using this method three weeks ago, and my actual loss is 3lbs.

    I'm 207 now, 5'7" with a goal of 160 (then I'll re-evaluate to see how much farther I need to go.) I've lost 10lbs overall since I started. 1/2 inch lost from my waist and an inch each on my hips and thighs just this last week. (Didn't start the measurements until last week.) I suppose I could be more strict logging and limit myself to slightly fewer calories, but I'm very happy with everything so far, I eat a lot of my favorite foods still (just smaller portions) and bonus, I'm not starving all the time.