Women between 5' and 5'3" how many calories a day do you eat?

As many of you know there is a lot of conflicting information out there of how many calories you should eat. Personally I have lived in fear before of eating above 1200 calories. Failed time and time again, suffered from overeating due to an "all or nothing" mentality I developed from it.

Currently I am trying something radically different. Using the calculation of my goal weight times 12 to find my daily calories (saw a trainer on tik tok suggest this). So I eat between 1700-1800 a day. I am 5'2"

Women between 5' and 5'3" how many calories a day do you eat? 145 votes

1000-1200
14%
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1200-1300
15%
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1300-1400
19%
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1400-1500
11%
Kristi26cat872MeCampbelwicky24ExistingFishdebtay123skyblue34jmccgnooshi713JamieMartin4Jcmhfpalbinop3angela_boinkers406MamaBearKDough789BMeeks16 16 votes
1500-1600
13%
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1600-1700
6%
pinkessZombellaMrsAERcbihattempty_fieldtamfellamxlaw90Tiny_Alisonmarty102a 9 votes
1700-1800
7%
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1800-1900
4%
SherryRueterBella_FiguraMoter98nay0m3Luke_rabbitJennlcorteralienjpg 7 votes
1900-2000
2%
glassyodebrag12Psychgrrlhappysquidmuffin 4 votes
2000+
4%
MarielP83Mouse_Potatoxxzenabxxclaireychn074alexandramosensonmmspach1Fractal44 7 votes
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Replies

  • Bridgie3
    Bridgie3 Posts: 139 Member
    I'm not able to comply, being 5'5" but - age plays a part. Young people need more calories than old. so are you able to change your survey to allow people to state their age?

    Cheers, bridget.
  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,786 Member
    1500-1600
    I'm 5' even. If I eat between 1500 and 1700 calories I maintain. Anything below and I lose.
  • Strudders67
    Strudders67 Posts: 989 Member
    Your height, age, weight and activity level all have an impact.

    I'm 5'1 (and a half) and maintain at around 1400. However, I usually eat more than that as I'm out walking multiple times a week and an 8 mile hike burns a few calories that need eating back.
  • LiveOnceBeHappy
    LiveOnceBeHappy Posts: 448 Member
    1000-1200
    I eat 1200 / day but I’m pretty inactive.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    1300-1400
    I’m currently losing at 1300 average this week, but I haven’t been as physically active this week. I’m also older.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,757 Member
    1900-2000
    I'm 5'2" and in maintenance (except for the whole going cray cray and gaining this week 😀) and average about 2,000 calories a day but I try to stay active while still awake so I can.
  • ExistingFish
    ExistingFish Posts: 1,259 Member
    1400-1500
    I'm 5' and I'm trying to stick to 1500 calories - I should lose slowly at that level.
  • pridesabtch
    pridesabtch Posts: 2,479 Member
    1300-1400
    I’m 5”1 on a good day and usually between 1350-1500, with exercise I bump up to 1600-1700. I lose, but only like a pound a week. I also have the occasional date night where we eat out and have drinks. Those days I’m up around 2000, but only every couple of weeks. It looks bad for a day or two on the scales, but all in all it doesn’t seem to hurt me too much.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,653 Member
    2000+
    I eat between 2100-2200 to maintain, lm 5’3 and 47 yrs old, and c55kg
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    1400-1500
    I’m maintaining at 1400-1500 a day. I’m 5’, lightly active, 39 years old and have 30-40 lbs to lose. I haven’t been able to go any lower due to hunger hence why I have not lost weight yet.
  • westrich20940
    westrich20940 Posts: 921 Member
    1700-1800
    I eat probably somewhere between 17-1800 calories per day. I also run ~20miles per week...on days that I run, I will probably eat 200-400 calories more...bc I'm hungry. On days that I don't run I usually walk or hike (~3 miles), do strength training simply to support my running 2x per week, and also have days I sit on the couch and watch Youtube/Netflix/etc.

    I'm 5'3". Your activity level is pretty important when it comes to caloric requirements.

  • azuki84
    azuki84 Posts: 212 Member
    I am right at 5’4” ill eat 2100 maintenance
  • mizzpfft
    mizzpfft Posts: 8 Member
    1200-1300
    I'm 51 yo and 5'1"/ #121, and my BMR was measured via dexa at 987 /day (which is lower than predicted given height, weight, muscle mass, age, probably from long term restriction/overexecise when younger? like the biggest loser effect?). Dexa also calculated my TDEE is about 1350 with c.4-5 workouts a week, which aligns with MFP. I'm adding in more weight training now. Ideally I'd like to get to about #115 and be able to eat closer to 1400-1500 to maintain but I need to add muscle to get there. The only way I was able to lose any weight recently was a 5 day fasting mimicking diet (5 days at about 500 cal/day). I am not interested in losing weight so much as increasing my metabolism.
  • jellybaby84
    jellybaby84 Posts: 583 Member
    1000-1200
    I'm 5'1" and 37 years old. I don't know my weight (I'm too scared to weigh myself!) but it could be anything from 125lbs - 140lbs based on how I feel and how my clothes fit right now. I think my BMI goes into the overweight category at 132lbs so I'm borderline. I'm more comfortable at 105-115lbs.

    I'm relatively sedentary (lightly active job, do some dancing and walking but no heavy exercise) so I think my TDEE is only about 1400-1500. Therefore I think I maintain weight eating around there and would consider 1200 a weight loss diet and 1700 a weight gain diet.

  • cbihatt
    cbihatt Posts: 319 Member
    1600-1700
    I’m 5’3”, 42 years old. My calorie target is something like 1720, but how much I eat varies anywhere from 1550-1850, depending on the day. I try to get close to my target, but if I’m hungry enough to go over (or not hungry enough to eat all my calories), I don’t stress about it too much. I try to simultaneously listen to my body while restricting my calories enough to lose weight. It’s a delicate balance.
  • Luke_rabbit
    Luke_rabbit Posts: 1,031 Member
    edited March 2022
    1800-1900
    My intake varies wildly, from 1400 - 2000+, but averages from 1700 - 1900 calories.

    57, 5'3", ~114 lbs, in maintenance. Get about 10k steps daily. Do a little yoga and strength training.

    It's been a while since I've let the app give me numbers, but I think MFP set my maintenance almost 200 calories less than I actually need. No idea why, but I'm happy to eat extra!
  • sdavisrdh
    sdavisrdh Posts: 2 Member
    I’m 5’2” 62yo. I’m in a cutting/losing phase, so My caloric goal is 1000. My bmr is 1200. Around 23% body fat. Only 1 week in. I strength train 3x per week and so far I feel great, have energy and have lost 4 lbs. I’m following the Muscle for Life/Mike Matthews plan, counting macros and training.
  • dzinegrl
    dzinegrl Posts: 5 Member
    1200-1300
    I’m 5’3” 53 and before MFP I thought I had a problem bc no matter what I did, I couldn’t loose weight. I was walking an hour a day and losing nothing and when I figure out 1200 calories was my target, I finally started losing. Have about 30 to go. Never counted before. Intermittent fasting makes it easier. I find that even at this number, I can’t eat carbs at night or it totally stops my progress even if I’m at my goal calories or even a bit less. It also makes me hungrier at night.
  • Caralarma
    Caralarma Posts: 174 Member
    1200-1300
    I'm 5'3 and I find that I won't lose on anything above 1200. I can eat around 1400 to maintain though.

    TIP: Get yourself a fitness tracking watch and sync it up with MFP. It will give you a more personalized calorie budget based on your activity thoughout the day, even if you dont do a proper workout! Instead of focusing on a calorie number like 1200, it rather focuses on how much of a deficit u are in and the amount you eat will change depending on exercise. I just find it better than manually tracking exercise calories
  • TxTiffani
    TxTiffani Posts: 799 Member
    edited March 2022
    1300-1400
    I am 5’1 hw 161 sw 2022 148 cw 141 gw 115. I’m on my feet for my job but I wouldn’t call it active as I’m mostly standing and moving my arms. Exercise 30-60min 5 days/week. Was eating 1000 (sometimes slightly less) and was losing well but then I stopped losing, got super lethargic, and binged. I did some research and decided to shoot for 1300-1400 from now on. My weight bumped up for the last week since I increased cals but I was back down a little this morning. I think I’ll lose slower at this amount but be healthier overall. Still have 27lbs to lose.
  • KDough789
    KDough789 Posts: 6 Member
    1400-1500
    I'm 5'0, 31, and attempting to eat an average of 1200-1300 a day. I successfully lost weight on 1500, though. Currently, that is something I know is doable for me, so I put down 1400-1500 a day. I eat about 200-500 extra calories a day on the weekend, despite whatever weekday goal I have.
  • kaydensmom2009
    kaydensmom2009 Posts: 57 Member
    1300-1400
    I’m 5’1” with a sw of 198 and cw of 131. I maintain around 1500-1700 depending on my activity level and when I was in weight loss I was at 1200 and didn’t eat exercise calories back.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,513 Member
    2000+
    I eat between 2100-2200 to maintain, lm 5’3 and 47 yrs old, and c55kg

    @claireychn074 Our stats and intake are almost identical! It's nice to see another woman of our age who is so active. :smile:
  • dzinegrl
    dzinegrl Posts: 5 Member
    1200-1300
    I used to have a Fitbit, but it broke and found that I ate my workout calories which isn’t good when you’re trying to lose. I plan to increase my intake when I get more active. The number is just a guide and sometimes I’m over, but it works out and I feel free. (Also edit I’m 52)
  • boombalatty123
    boombalatty123 Posts: 116 Member
    I'm 5'2", 54yo, and when living a sedentary lifestyle if I eat below 1300 calories I lose, if I eat above, I gain. I try to keep it in the 1100 to 1500 range, mostly towards the low end. I'm exercising now and trying to eat back at least half my exercise calories.
  • angela_boinkers
    angela_boinkers Posts: 11 Member
    1400-1500
    I’m 5’3”, 47, 140, have my cals set at 1430, but don’t always eat them all. I exercise most days and don’t eat my exercise calories back, for the most part.
  • xxzenabxx
    xxzenabxx Posts: 948 Member
    2000+
    I’m 5’ 4” 28F weigh 185 lbs and workout 4-5 days a week plus 8000 steps a day and can maintain on an average of 2500-2600 calories. Aiming to lose 20-30 lbs.
  • katethegeekygal
    katethegeekygal Posts: 2 Member
    1000-1200
    I actually just came to the forums to ask this!

    I’m 5’ and eat anywhere between 1200-1500 and exercise for 60 minutes a day, 4-6 days a week, and I’m not even losing half a pound. I’m even using the same meal plans I had when I was able to afford a dietician. I’m so frustrated and confused and I’m at the point where I’m going to the doctor to ask for advice.

    I’m scared y’all, I’m pre-diabetic and have been working my *kitten* off since I got this new in January. I’m so tired and discouraged.

    If anyone wants to send a friend request please feel free to do so, I’m tired LMAO
  • LaBellaHarris
    LaBellaHarris Posts: 63 Member
    1500-1600
    and I’m not even losing half a pound.
    Take measurements and use photos!!! It could be that you recomp weirdly fast so the fat -> lean muscle transition isn't showing up as weight on your scale. My dad and I are both like this: Our weight is very steady, but our body composition can change a lot (at least mine does; as he's gotten older, he's just more and more skeletal). I'm sure someone out there has studied this phenomenon, but all I have are my personal experiences and anecdotes, sadly. I've been fit at 125 (ran marathons) and I've been chubby at 125 (getting winded going up the stairs), and I haven't been able to drop below 120 since getting boobs in the 8th grade. It's a little frustrating because scales are easy and convenient, but photos are too now that all our phones have cameras 😊