How Many Calories are you Eating a Day?

casirdms
casirdms Posts: 145 Member
edited October 6 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)
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Replies

  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm 5'3", around 150 and eating 1,500 to 2,000 a day (and exercising).

    I was eating a lot less, but my losses stalled and then I started gaining, so I tried eating more and started losing again.
  • FITnFIRM4LIFE
    FITnFIRM4LIFE Posts: 818 Member
    5"2 around 117 mainly 1800-2000+ daily prior to that 1400-1600 and weight would not budge. and working out and eating most of those too.
  • gigiangelique
    gigiangelique Posts: 233 Member
    I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

    I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)


    We have simalar goals im 5/8 160 trying to loose at least 20 pounds! I am supposed to eat @ 1200 cal also. its possible you just need to eat the right foods that fill you up! fruits veggies whole grains and LEAN meats! you can do it! good luck and add if you need support
  • CRSE1214
    CRSE1214 Posts: 196 Member
    I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

    I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)

    I work full-time and have two toddlers as well and have, until now, used that as excuse not to exercise. I'm making the time (even when I so don't want to) even if its only 10-20 minutes each day. You deserve it ;-)
  • stephabef
    stephabef Posts: 936 Member
    It depends. Typically anywhere from 1400-1600 net, though I'm finding it difficult to pick one number and commit. I usually aim for 1400 and go over by 200, so maybe my body just really wants 1600!

    Oh, and I'm 5'4" and 134 pounds, looking to lose another 10-15.
  • casirdms
    casirdms Posts: 145 Member
    I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

    I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)

    I work full-time and have two toddlers as well and have, until now, used that as excuse not to exercise. I'm making the time (even when I so don't want to) even if its only 10-20 minutes each day. You deserve it ;-)

    So true.. I would really like to start doing Zumba. But if I can't find the time to do that maybe I can at least get on my treadmill for a bit a day. .. if I can clean it off from being a coat rack ;) lol
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    I'm 5'6" currently 172.5 (as of this morning - can I get a "hell yeah!"?) and eat 1450. (I also eat back any exercise calories, but I only track true exercise (i.e. I don't track cleaning or walking around campus.) Recently I upped that from 1400 because I was in a plateau for 2 months. the extra 50 calories seems to have helped because in the past 2 weeks, I have lost 3 lbs.
  • casirdms
    casirdms Posts: 145 Member
    It just baffles my mind to think that you can lose more by eating more. Maybe I will try 1350 or 1400 for awhile? hmm
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    I'm 5'2, and I'm eating about 1600 (non-exercise days) and 2000+ (exercise days). I"m set to lose about 0.3-0.5 lbs per week
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I'm 40, female and 5'9". I weigh 156 right now (trying to get to 145). My calorie goal is set to 1720, but with exercise I usually eat between 2000-2300 calories a day.
  • dianeellen2
    dianeellen2 Posts: 259 Member
    i am 5'6 and have worked my way down to 1200 but i do eat most exercise calories now

    I didnt used to and i am not an exercise person (i dont go jogging or pump iron) i walk, into town, to the shops etc. Usually for about an hour at a moderate pace which gives me about 250 (ish) exercise calories a day of which i usually eat about 200 of (usually in a treat) Makes me want to do the walk if i know i will have achoc bar to use the calories.

    I have been loosing between 1 - 2lb a week

    Diane
  • Lokisul
    Lokisul Posts: 50
    You wont loose any weight on 1200 calories a day, as thats the bare minimum you need to keep going. Your body will hit starvation mode and stop you from loosing weight.

    It takes a lot of getting used to, but eventually you find that in order to loose weight you need to eat, and you need to exercise.

    Never drop below 1200 if you are doing under, I struggle to eat 1600, but if I dont then my weight loss stops
  • armaretta
    armaretta Posts: 851 Member
    I'm 5'2", 126. I MAINTAIN at 1800-1900 calories without intentional exercise. I'm very fidgety and twitchy though. I eat about that most of the time and just workout if I want to have a deficit that day, but quite often I'll eat much much more :laugh: I don't lose if I net less than 1500-1600. The less you have to lose, the smaller your deficit needs to be.
  • mrsdizzyd84
    mrsdizzyd84 Posts: 422 Member
    I'm 5'10" and I weight about 197. MFP is set to a goal of 1650. That would have me losing about 1 lb a week. In reality, I try to eat about 1400 a day, which puts me at 1.5lbs lost a week. That 1400 number is tough for me whence the reason my goal is set higher.
  • Jenn638
    Jenn638 Posts: 85 Member
    i stick to 1200 but if you exercise than you have to eat those calories as well. i was told you always have to eat the net calories. so if you burn off 400 calories on a run than you have to eat an extra 400 calories. When you do that and are drinking water (not soda) your metabolism works better and faster, so you burn more. its about getting your body what it needs.
  • teagin2002
    teagin2002 Posts: 1,900 Member
    I am 5'4" 174 lbs, don't want to loos any more, and Work out an average of 600 cals/day and eat an average on 2400 cals per day.
    Lift weights 3 days a week, cardio every day. Want to tone my body, (30%/30%/40%) = (carb/protein/fat)

    I am estimating it will take a bout a year to get the lean and toned body I am looking for.
  • fittyfittybumbum
    fittyfittybumbum Posts: 90
    Greetings:
    I'm no expert, but i wanna offer my perspective. I think that may be too litte and unreasonable because being a mom of two toddlers, and working full-time, your're gonna need fuel to get you through the day and power you through workouts. Also, When you're not getting enough food, your body goes into preservation mode. Your body goes "oh crap, i'm being starved, im not gonna burn as much fat so i can survive". You want to eat well balanced meals and healthy snacks throughout the day to keep that metabolism revving, to keep the pounds melting off...for good. And besides who wants to be miserable with only 1200 calories. Im miserable with 1320 calories as my daily goal...but each day is getting better

    Wishing you sucess,
    Crys
  • kaysue160
    kaysue160 Posts: 12
    There are several Zumba DVDs available. I know it isn't the same as a class, but Ripped breaks the workout in half - so two 30 minute workouts and there are two other DVDs with works outs 30min or less. It really gets your heart going, tones muscles, and fits in during a nap.
  • JennC831
    JennC831 Posts: 628 Member
    I have my goal set at 1390 and I try to net that or as close to it as possible.. Some times I go over.. Recently I've been watching my carbs/sugar intake and I've lost a few lbs by just doing that... I haven't lost any weight in forever and finally I'm getting the scale to move.. Not that carbs or sugars are bad, and I'm going without.. I'm just monitoring them.... Good luck!!
  • PepeGreggerton
    PepeGreggerton Posts: 986 Member
    Play around with it and find out what works for you.
  • Crystal_Pistol
    Crystal_Pistol Posts: 750 Member
    I literally try to eat as many calories as possible. I'm set at 1520, but I workout to eat more and eat back ALL of my calories. I'm over some days as well. I just lowered my intake from 1800 and am missing it with a passion. After December, I'll probably go back up to 1800 with .5lbs/week as goal loss.
  • meg7399
    meg7399 Posts: 672 Member
    It just baffles my mind to think that you can lose more by eating more. Maybe I will try 1350 or 1400 for awhile? hmm
    If you eat too little you won't burn calories as your body stores them, or you just don't have enough energy to burn. I am 5'9", and currently weigh about 160. I am set to lose .5 lbs as I am close to my goal and MFP tells me to eat 1810 calories a day. I do eat back some of my workout calories.
  • Toxictwist
    Toxictwist Posts: 274
    i'm 5'4. 141 lbs & eating 1350 Calories per day + whatever I gain for calories in exercise too
  • Crystal_Pistol
    Crystal_Pistol Posts: 750 Member
    I switch things up to keep my body guessing, but I am enrolled in a little school with some of my girls on here that we call "EAT B!TCH Academy." I'm a big believer in eat to lose. I'm down just shy of 20lbs, it's worked for me!
  • ekz13
    ekz13 Posts: 725 Member
    i have mine set to 1500/day, I'm 6'3, 280 atm, haven't started working out yet.
  • johnsocq
    johnsocq Posts: 3
    I started a diet with a dr. on 11/25. I am 5 ft 1 and weigh 171.6 when I started. I have been following it up until yesterday when I had my first cheat. I drink meal replacement shakes at breakfast and lunch and then eat a healthy lean dinner. I have also been drinking 8 or so cups a water a day even walking 2 miles four days a week. I had lost 6 lbs, but now I am still at this same weight. From reports I have only been eating between 600-1000 calories a day. I don't know what else to do. HELP!!!
  • camillehardeman
    camillehardeman Posts: 46
    I'm 5'6, 128ish pounds. Since weight loss isn't really my main goal right now, I am trying to eat at maintainence to build a little muscle. I think 1200 is too low for anyone who is remotely active and I don't really understand why that is the set calorie allowance on MFP, but oh well!
  • margiemommy
    margiemommy Posts: 76 Member
    I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

    I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)

    I work full-time and have two toddlers as well and have, until now, used that as excuse not to exercise. I'm making the time (even when I so don't want to) even if its only 10-20 minutes each day. You deserve it ;-)

    So true.. I would really like to start doing Zumba. But if I can't find the time to do that maybe I can at least get on my treadmill for a bit a day. .. if I can clean it off from being a coat rack ;) lol
    if you like zumba and have a wii they have a awesome game out and u can pick the amount of time and the level of difficulty this may be a good option for you i do it myself first thing in the morning before my daughter gets up and if i do it in the evening my daughter loves the music and loves to watch .
    just remeber for this to work u need to make some time to take care of ur self and good luck
  • KZOsMommy
    KZOsMommy Posts: 854 Member
    I am 5'4 and around 155lbs (I do not weight myself anymore just measure). I workout a lot and have three children (8,7,5) and homeschool them. I may not workout outside the home but I work all day with them. When I first started working out about two years ago (I had three kids under 6) I was working out 3 times a day. You just HAVE to do it. Even if that means getting up early or working out when they are in bed. YOU ARE WORTH THE TIME! As for calories I was doing 1200 calories and my weight staled big time. I am now on a higher calorie intake, 1909, and I am losing inches again (3inches off my hips and an inch off my waist in the last month) and I am lifting and loving it!!!

    YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
  • Panda86
    Panda86 Posts: 873
    I'm 5'7" .. Currently 168 want to lose about 20 more lbs. My "goal" on here is 1200 calories a day but I've noticed some people say that may be too little?

    I'm not a big exercise person .. I know I need to try to get in some cardio at least a couple days a week but it's very hard having 2 children and working full time! But when I do I eat my calories back (usually only burn around 200 anyway)

    I work full-time and have two toddlers as well and have, until now, used that as excuse not to exercise. I'm making the time (even when I so don't want to) even if its only 10-20 minutes each day. You deserve it ;-)

    So true.. I would really like to start doing Zumba. But if I can't find the time to do that maybe I can at least get on my treadmill for a bit a day. .. if I can clean it off from being a coat rack ;) lol

    I also have two kids, and while I am a stay-at-home Mom, I am still super busy. I make and sell handmade items, and I homeschool. I know finding the time can be difficult, but here is an interesting little tidbit- 3 10-minute workouts throughout the day are just as effective as 1 30-minute workout! So maybe you can't get a full 30 minutes, but may you can find a few 10-minute blocks here and there????
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