How many calories do you eat?

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4thehardman
4thehardman Posts: 731 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have my calories at around 1430 per day. I usually eat them and I am working harder at having a better balance of the sugar, fat, carbs etc within the range set by MFP.
I do keep seeing people at the 'magic?' number of 1200. Should I adjust my settings to a lower number or am I fine at 1430?
I have triplets who are 3 and a 4 year old. We are fairly hectic and Im always picking up, cleaning up and catching up after them so I have set my activity level at lightly active. I have athritis in my wrists so for now I am not 'working out' but I am making sure that I am more active during the day ie. walking instead of driving, doing the stairs more than 5 extra times each time I use them etc.
Can those of you that have this figured out please let me know if this sounds ok or if I should eat less,
I'm 5'5 and 238.8lbs. Thanks.
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Replies

  • mdorry
    mdorry Posts: 1 Member
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    WOW! tripplets and a 4 year old! Hats off to you.
    I'm the mom of twins and work full time. I am also 5'5 currently at 160 lbs but have my calories set at 1700 but on most days hit about 1500.
    It depends on what you can do and how long you want to wait for results.. BUT DON't STARVE yourself!!!
    Be honest with yourself and what you are tracking and you will see it come off!!!
    GO MOM!!!
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
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    1430 is great. i usually stick to 1370. today is 1800 though... yikes lol x
  • 4thehardman
    4thehardman Posts: 731 Member
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    Thank you for your responses. I'm hoping that if I'm not logging my exercise if and when I do any, that it will create a deficit on somedays and on others will stop me beating myself up about it.
    Obviously in dreamland I'd love a magic solution that would see me lose the 80lbs I want to lose in the next 6 months but the realist in me really doesn't care how slow I take it just as long as I get there eventually and with consistent losses (as in I' rather lose 1lb a week than 7 one week and gain 9 the next) Ive been there before and I know I can't do a strict diet.
  • WattsJA
    WattsJA Posts: 160 Member
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    2000 (40% Protein / 35% carbs / 25% fat) on non-exercise days and 2200 on exercise days (yes, 2200 no matter how much I burn exercising).
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
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    Roughly 3200.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
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    Roughly 3200.

    by eating roughly, do you burn more calories?


    when I was bulking, I was eating 3,000 on work out days, 2,600 on rest days

    I am now eating 2600 on days I work out and 2000-2100 on rest days, we shall see how this works.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
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    2000 net.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
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    Right now about 3000. When I'm dieting about 2000.

    There's no need to do 1200 unless you are really small or post menopausal. A smaller calorie deficit (deficit = calories burned - calories eaten) is actually better than a large one as you maintain more muscle and well, it's just easier.
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
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    2100 net.
  • Legalchica
    Legalchica Posts: 462
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    Roughly 3200.

    by eating roughly, do you burn more calories?

    hahahhahaha
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,679 Member
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    1700 or so on non workout days, 1900-2000 on lifting days
  • cooter2533
    cooter2533 Posts: 108
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    1600 on all days, sometimes on days I lift ill get 1700-1800 if I need to get more protein
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
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    I do 1430 right now (and usually most of my exercise cals) for .5 / week loss
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
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    about 3200 to 3500.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
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    3200 to 3400 calories and 300 grams of carbs......
  • ADobs
    ADobs Posts: 160 Member
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    about 1,400-1,500. When I was more active it was anywhere between 1,600/1,700 and double that on my "spike" day.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,554 Member
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    So many people eat 1200, and I'm sure it's just not necessary!
    Last year I ate anywhere from 1450 - 1600 net calories a day and lost weight steadily and without it being so hard that I wanted to give up (net cals means I ate that many cals plus my exercise cals).
    Now I'm maintaining, I eat around 1800 net cals a day.
    Don't change a thing, you must be really busy, no need for a specific workout in your day!
  • Gisna
    Gisna Posts: 3
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    600-700
  • Loves418
    Loves418 Posts: 330 Member
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    1200 net includes eating back my workout calories and I am full. Maybe as I lose more I will have to go up but right now its a battle to get down under 160 for me. I get so close then I gain a pound.
  • natalieg0307
    natalieg0307 Posts: 237 Member
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    Why is 1200 the "magic" number? It's not that much. MFP says 1200 for me. I'm 5'1" 113 now. I started MFP a little over a month ago. It was several weeks before I came close to 1200. I was always over. I eat my exercise calories too. Now I'm eating better and making better choices and it's easier....but still....1200 isn't much.

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