5'5" girlies?!

squishycow7
squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hiiiiii girls

I'm sure there are dozens of posts with my same question, but I dislike the search feature on this site :P


Soooooo how many calories would you recommend for a 5'5" "lightly active" 20-something-year-old girl?


I started on the site at 1200. I lost some weight but ended up semi-binging a few times because I just got too darn hungry. then I upped to 1400 and have been here for about 2 months... my weight loss has slowed, and granted I've been less dedicated to becoming more fit due to vacation time, BBQ's etc/excuses/blah blah blah.

BUT. I just wanted a few numbers to think about, to see what others like me have had success with.

Thanks!

Replies

  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    I'm 5'4, about 150lbs, and moderately active (sedentary office job but I hit the gym 4-5x/week). I aim for about 1,500 calories daily, though it often varies from around 1200 - 1800... which is good! Keeps the body guessing :)
  • Bridge_CG
    Bridge_CG Posts: 429 Member
    Hello fellow shortie! I'm eating 1500 right now just because it does keep me full, and it keeps me going. It seems like enough with me kickboxing 4 or 5 times a week and it works for me...

    I would say up those calories of yours!
  • SportySpiceVT
    SportySpiceVT Posts: 59 Member
    I'm just getting started (20 days ago) and also found 1200 to be a little low. I upped to 1300 and that seems to be a good fit for me. I also asked my facebook friends for ideas on low-cal snacks and those have helped me stay full throughout the day (100 calories of popcorn is decent sized bowl-full). I also find when I exercise, I don't need as much food. Maybe it is just taking my mind off of food but I have noticed it EVERY time I take a long walk or something I eat less that day. My progress is slow though (about 1/2 pound per week).
  • daynalee30
    daynalee30 Posts: 45
    Hey! I'm about 5'5, and also a lightly active 20 something year old! I started at 1200 calories too and didn't eat my calories that I worked off and ended up in a two month plateau from starvation mode. I upped it to 1400 and I lost about 1lb a week and of course I'm looking for a slightly larger weight loss each month so left unsatisfied with the results yet again.

    It is definitely a tough balance but you dabble in different ranges and see what works for your body. For me, it is 1250 calories and eating back about 1/2 of my workout calories. It ends up being a bigger weight loss each week about 1.5lbs.

    My advice would be to try in between 1200 and 1400 for a few weeks and see what happens.

    Good luck!
  • futurefitgirl88
    futurefitgirl88 Posts: 284
    I'm 5'5 and 140 pounds (goal weight: 120)

    :) I eat around 1500 calories daily. Recently reduced it to 1200 to really kick up my weight loss a notch. I think you can eat between 1200-1500 and still loose weight. I vary mine, if I really want something (i lay off cookies and cakes) I eat it. and then I eat a lighter meal later on to balance out the calories.
  • Tweety379
    Tweety379 Posts: 78
    I am in my late 20's and about 157. I eat about 1400 a day and have lost almost 4 pounds in 3 weeks. I found that it has been the right amount of net calories. I try to workout 4-5 times a week. I take zumba classes and a total body sculpt class at my gym. I find the exercise in combination with trying to stay between 1300-1400 calories a day has helped me with my weight loss.
  • MizzDoc
    MizzDoc Posts: 493 Member
    Hello there! Another five five shortie here.

    Like many folks, I started at 1200. I managed to stay close to that or under, but I was ALWAYS starved. While I was lost weight, I was really uncomfortable with being hungry all the time. I had some headaches on several occasions and many times I would go to bed with a rumbling tummy and wake up with one. NOT GOOD!

    I then went to 1400 for a month, to see if there would be a major difference. My weight loss was negligible. I didn't gain but I didn't lose as much as I would have liked. So I adjusted my calories after that month was done.

    Now I am at 1360 (was at 1390 but had to adjust my exercise down from 5 days a week to 4 days a week, so MFP knocked off 30 calories, lol). It is a happy medium. I am certainly not starved all the time and if I don't exercise, I feel as though I have enough calories to sustain me sensibly.

    I will add that my initial exercise (back when my calories was set at 1200) was 30 min a day, 3 times a week. I am now up to 45 min a day, 4 times a week (minimum, sometimes I do more).

    Hope this helps!
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    I'm 5'5.5" (close enough). I started out 1200 back in January, and then changed to 1500 calories (maybe in March?) which helped me reach my goal of 125 lbs.

    I've now switched to maintenance at 1800 cals a day and am maintaining at 1800.

    It did take a while to lose @ 1500, BUT I MADE IT!!!! AND I'm keepin' it off now!

    Slow and steady wins the race - it's a lifestyle so don't rush it. You'll get there when you get there. Eat clean and drink lots of water, lift heavy weights. :D

    Edited to add: EAT YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES! :D
  • GaiaGirl1992
    GaiaGirl1992 Posts: 459 Member
    1200 is waaaaay too little for me! that's the amount if I wanted to lose 2 lbs a week. I had it set to 1 1/2 lbs/week, and 1400 is doable, at +200 lbs I'm still losing 4 lbs each week.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    I'm 5'4, about 150lbs, and moderately active (sedentary office job but I hit the gym 4-5x/week). I aim for about 1,500 calories daily, though it often varies from around 1200 - 1800... which is good! Keeps the body guessing :)

    This is me except I'm 5'6" and 181 -- but I also aim for 1500 calories daily (1lb a week - 2 lbs is TOO MUCH unless you are obese - its just too strictly limited for 99% of people). I generally also eat between 1200 and ....well, not 1800 generally (but I was baaaaad today) so its more like 1150 - 1650 for me I'd say. Most of the time, I eat right around 1450.
  • namrettik
    namrettik Posts: 127
    5'5", 140 lbs, size 12 (stocky German build; thanks, ancestors).

    I was at 1200 calories for over eight months. I just upped it to 1400 yesterday to make it easier for my body to get everything it needs now that I'm into heavy lifting. At the bare minimum, I should be getting 103ish grams of protein a day, and that's practically impossible on 1200 calories (even though I did it today, but today was more of an exception to the rule for me). Also, going towards maintenance level in calories will help out my muscles a lot, too. I'm 10 lbs away from what I have on here as my goal weight and have been for two months. I'm not really concerned about the scale anymore. My real goal is single-digit pant sizes. I want my most comfortable pants to be size 8. :smile:
  • Ashonym
    Ashonym Posts: 172 Member
    You have to do what works for YOU! But I'm 5'5" and I sit at 1200 daily. Sometimes I go over a little bit but mostly don't and it leaves me breathing room enough anyhow, so to speak. I've been losing really well and I never feel starving. Enough water always helps me. :)
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    thanks ladies!! totally appreciate your advice

    feel free to add me, we can be shortfriends
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