How many calories should I aim for

nicolaguy19821982 · March 2019

Hi, I am 5ft10 and 13st11. I want to get to 10st. I don't really exercise. I walk the dog and do housework that's it lol. My eating is atrocious. How many calories should I be eating to lose 2lbs a week? Is 2lbs too excessive? I've been reading that 1200 cals is too low, so how many cals should I aim for?

rkcampbell · March 2019

Put your stats into MFP and see what it tells you? 🤷‍♀️

Panini911 · March 2019

enter your stats in MFP and select a reasonable rate of loss. 2lbs/week is for those obese (very overweight) as you get closer to goal you should go down.
eat back your exercise calories.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1399829/step-by-step-guide-to-losing-weight-with-myfitnesspal

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

rkcampbell · March 2019

But with very little to lose you’d be better off setting it for .5 or 1 lb per week.

MikePTY · March 2019

2 pounds is too aggressive for your current weight for your height. I would not try to do more than 1 pound a week. 10 stone (140 pounds) is on the lower side of healthy for your height so you may struggle to get there in a healthy way. I would maybe look at trying to set a little less aggressive goal to start and reevaluate.

Enter your stats into MFP, and set 1 pound as your target loss, and see what it gives you in terms of a calorie goal. My guess is 1800-1900.

sijomial · March 2019

rkcampbell wrote: »

But with very little to lose you’d be better off setting it for .5 or 1 lb per week.

@rkcampbell
She is trying to lose 53lbs - not what I would call very little.

OP - Enter your stats honestly and accurately in your goal setup but when you select your rate of loss have a serious think about what eating level you think will be sustainable long term over the course of many months.

angelsja · March 2019

I'm 5ft 8 starting weight on 14/01/19 13 stone 10 been on 1500 cals current weight 12 stone 13 ultimate goal is 10 stone also your 2inches taller so should be able to eat more and lose at the same rate

Dilvish · March 2019

2 lbs. a week is aggressive. Sustained weight loss takes a long time and means moving more and eating less for life.
Heavily reducing you caloric intake may work in the short term but eventually you'll end up eating more and ultimately gaining it all back.

Trying to find a balance can take weeks, even months.

You have to add more exercise (find a routine you enjoy) and eat within your tolerance. Given your stats that could be as little as 1500 calories a day.

Start with small steps. First thing you want to do is overhaul your eating habits. Cut the crap, don't eat fast food, opt for meals made with fresh/raw ingredients and avoid as many things as you can that come in a package or container. Processed foods are wrapped in packaging of some sort and are the worst offenders.

Read and understand food labels so that you can eliminate added sodium and sugars in all their forms

How many calories should I aim for

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