How many calories do you eat?

4thehardman
4thehardman Posts: 731 Member
edited November 9 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
    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
    1430 is great. i usually stick to 1370. today is 1800 though... yikes lol x
  • 4thehardman
    4thehardman Posts: 731 Member
    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
    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
    Roughly 3200.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    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
    2000 net.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    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
    2100 net.
  • Legalchica
    Legalchica Posts: 462
    Roughly 3200.

    by eating roughly, do you burn more calories?

    hahahhahaha
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    1700 or so on non workout days, 1900-2000 on lifting days
  • cooter2533
    cooter2533 Posts: 108
    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
    I do 1430 right now (and usually most of my exercise cals) for .5 / week loss
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    about 3200 to 3500.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    3200 to 3400 calories and 300 grams of carbs......
  • ADobs
    ADobs Posts: 160 Member
    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: 6,423 Member
    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
    600-700
  • Loves418
    Loves418 Posts: 330 Member
    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
    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.
  • shortie555
    shortie555 Posts: 37 Member
    2200 give or take
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    To lose 1/2 lb per week, my goal is set at 1370. I also eat my exercise calories, so for example today my goal ended up just over 2000 and I ate only 1 calorie under my goal. :-)
  • Adri1994
    Adri1994 Posts: 24
    1330
  • alecta337
    alecta337 Posts: 622 Member
    I try really hard to get 1200 a day, the medication I am on decimates my appetite.

    I take my pill after breakfast so I try to get 500-600 calories for breakfast and then the other 600 mostly in protein shakes and peanut butter and avocado for the rest of the day.

    On the weekends (no medication) I am aiming for 1500 calories a day and I am going to start weight training on the weekends.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    My calories are at 1580 but with exercise most days I eat around 2000.
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    1200 seems to be those near or at their goal. I run around 1400 - 1600 and losing just fine, 212 here.
  • deeva2266
    deeva2266 Posts: 65 Member
    Mine is set at 1430 and I don't always hit it. I do not eat back excercise calories back.
  • Sheri3851
    Sheri3851 Posts: 70 Member
    Mine had me at 1200 calories too. That doesn't seem to be a problem but I always have way to many grams of fiber. I had 14 over today. Should that be a concern? Not used to counting calories. Used to Weight Watchers so this is really different.
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    I have mine set at 1290 cals and I dont eat back my exercise cals but if I have a big workout day or am extra hungry i eat an extra 100 cals that day, but I am fairly sedentary. I think that you should leave your cals where they are for now and see if you lose, if you arent then play around with it, everyone is different
  • kylee_marie
    kylee_marie Posts: 299 Member
    anywhere from 1260-1600 depending on the day... i aim for 1260 but im trying to listen to my body and eat when i am hungry
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