Help! Looking for advice on calories...

Bethaf01
Bethaf01 Posts: 5 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi all, am really struggling to lose weight at the moment, I jog on average 4k 5 days a week, and stick to 1200 calories, but wondering if I need to increase my calorie intake.
Have been looking into it and based on NHS guidelines and some online info I should be aiming for approx 1600-2000 cals a day, I know it's a minefield as everyone is different but just wondering if the calories I'm eating now are too few? Thanks for your help, Beth

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    We're not that different. What weightloss rate did you pick, and is it appropriate for your weight? What's your height and weight?
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    If you are not eating back any of your exercise calories the answer is almost always YES you are not eating enough. How did you get 1200?
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    How do you determine that what you eat equates to 1200 calories?
  • IGbnat24
    IGbnat24 Posts: 520 Member
    edited June 2018
    1200 is probably too low unless you’re a very small person. But are you actually eating only 1200? Weighing and measuring everything that crosses your lips? Have you been losing/maintaining/gaining weight?
  • Kandisn29
    Kandisn29 Posts: 92 Member
    1200 for me is not sustainable in the long run and leaves me very unsatisfied, even on no exercise days.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Your stats and activity level suggest you should have a higher calorie goal - at a minimum eating back exercise calories from your runs.

    The fact that you say you’re struggling to lose weight at 1200 cals needs more information. What does “struggling to lose” mean? Does that mean you aren’t losing at all? You haven’t lost in a while (how long?)? You aren’t losing as fast as you’d like?

    Also how are you logging your food - are you using a food scale for accuracy?

    What are your stats, goal weight, and what rate of loss did you choose?
  • Bethaf01
    Bethaf01 Posts: 5 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    We're not that different. What weightloss rate did you pick, and is it appropriate for your weight? What's your height and weight?

    I'm 5'5 and 13 stone 10lbs. I stated I wanted to lose around 2lb per week.
  • Bethaf01
    Bethaf01 Posts: 5 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Your stats and activity level suggest you should have a higher calorie goal - at a minimum eating back exercise calories from your runs.

    The fact that you say you’re struggling to lose weight at 1200 cals needs more information. What does “struggling to lose” mean? Does that mean you aren’t losing at all? You haven’t lost in a while (how long?)? You aren’t losing as fast as you’d like?

    Also how are you logging your food - are you using a food scale for accuracy?

    What are your stats, goal weight, and what rate of loss did you choose?

    Hi, I'm 13st 10lbs at the moment and 5'5. My goal weight is around 12st (to start with, but this is just an initial goal) I entered a weight loss rate of 2lb per week. Having gone back and checked my stats I'd stated that when it came to activity, I was sedetary, I have now amended this and my calorie allowance has increased to 1500 per day, which I feel is more sustainable long term.
    I do weigh and measure majority of my foods, unless the calories are stated on the packaging of whatever it is I'm eating.
    I'm only 3 weeks in, so it may just be that I'll see the results in the next couple of weeks...
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Bethaf01 wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Your stats and activity level suggest you should have a higher calorie goal - at a minimum eating back exercise calories from your runs.

    The fact that you say you’re struggling to lose weight at 1200 cals needs more information. What does “struggling to lose” mean? Does that mean you aren’t losing at all? You haven’t lost in a while (how long?)? You aren’t losing as fast as you’d like?

    Also how are you logging your food - are you using a food scale for accuracy?

    What are your stats, goal weight, and what rate of loss did you choose?

    Hi, I'm 13st 10lbs at the moment and 5'5. My goal weight is around 12st (to start with, but this is just an initial goal) I entered a weight loss rate of 2lb per week. Having gone back and checked my stats I'd stated that when it came to activity, I was sedetary, I have now amended this and my calorie allowance has increased to 1500 per day, which I feel is more sustainable long term.
    I do weigh and measure majority of my foods, unless the calories are stated on the packaging of whatever it is I'm eating.
    I'm only 3 weeks in, so it may just be that I'll see the results in the next couple of weeks...

    Weigh all solids/semi solids and measure all liquids...including food in packages. Double and triple check the entries you're using for accuracy too...
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Bethaf01 wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    We're not that different. What weightloss rate did you pick, and is it appropriate for your weight? What's your height and weight?

    I'm 5'5 and 13 stone 10lbs. I stated I wanted to lose around 2lb per week.
    At your weight, you can lose around 1.5 pounds per week, easily - physically; it might be challenging if you comfort eat, stress eat etc.
    Bethaf01 wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Your stats and activity level suggest you should have a higher calorie goal - at a minimum eating back exercise calories from your runs.

    The fact that you say you’re struggling to lose weight at 1200 cals needs more information. What does “struggling to lose” mean? Does that mean you aren’t losing at all? You haven’t lost in a while (how long?)? You aren’t losing as fast as you’d like?

    Also how are you logging your food - are you using a food scale for accuracy?

    What are your stats, goal weight, and what rate of loss did you choose?

    Hi, I'm 13st 10lbs at the moment and 5'5. My goal weight is around 12st (to start with, but this is just an initial goal) I entered a weight loss rate of 2lb per week. Having gone back and checked my stats I'd stated that when it came to activity, I was sedetary, I have now amended this and my calorie allowance has increased to 1500 per day, which I feel is more sustainable long term.
    I do weigh and measure majority of my foods, unless the calories are stated on the packaging of whatever it is I'm eating.
    I think it's smart of you to change into lightly active; in MFP's world, in my experience, sedentary means "almost comatose".
    I'm only 3 weeks in, so it may just be that I'll see the results in the next couple of weeks...
    Maybe. You will lose weight over time, provided you're in a true calorie deficit.

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