What/ why/ is your calorie goal

Hoosier_born
Hoosier_born Posts: 127 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hi,

I'm 116 or so kg, and I did 1200 cal at first, and found that I got pretty hungry still, then increased it to 1400, and sometimes I'm hungry, other times, I'm not.

How do you know what to base your calorie goal on? If I went up to say 1800, I'd really struggle.

Replies

  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    i'm 5'2" 125 lbs. I got some muscle on me. i used the harris benedict formula to calculate my calorie needs. its around 1750 to maintain. i try to eat around that..sometimes i go over sometimes i'm under..but i have yet so far to gain or lose any weight. at one point i was eating to gain weight (put on muscle) on a "bulk". i ate around 2000-2200 cals a day..and took me like 5 months to put 10 lbs on. most muscle..haha..i hope!
  • ashleab37
    ashleab37 Posts: 575 Member
    I weigh about 235lb and my calorie goal is 1610 a day, which is my setting based on losing 1 1/2 LB a week. I know that with all of my exercise I can bring that up and lose approx 2.5lb a week (I aim for over a kg).
  • lucysmommy
    lucysmommy Posts: 460 Member
    im 1200 cals and i exercise so can i eat more if i get hungry and i find this helps
    x
  • akiramezu
    akiramezu Posts: 278 Member
    1500-2000 calories, going down to 125pounds to fight
  • tasnim81
    tasnim81 Posts: 91 Member
    Mine is 1450 and I eat almost all my exercise calories too. I started out at 1200 but felt it was way too little, even though I'm not very active.. decided to change my goals to lose less so I could eat more. Feels more realistic.
  • shadowkitty22
    shadowkitty22 Posts: 495 Member
    My daily calories are set to 1490 right now (I'm set to lose 2 pounds a week). It started higher (close to 1600) back when I was 24 pounds heavier but it goes down a little bit each week. I'm typically never hungry at the end of the day, stay under my calories and don't eat back all of my exercise calories.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    I started by entering my initial weight and 'lose 2 lbs per week'. It told me 1440. I do eat the exercise calories back, and I find it extremely difficult to stay under on non-exercise days (basically, friday). I'm not dropping the calorie count as I lose, though -- as a matter of fact, once I pass 200 I plan to boost it to at least 1500.

    Why? My goal is a lifestyle change, and not a 'lose weight then suddenly jump to maintenance'. I figure if I gradually decrease rate of loss/increase calories towards maintenance I've got a better chance of balancing out/sticking with it. Furthermore, knowing that MOAR FOOD is coming in a couple of months makes it easier to be good now. Given my height, large frame, and the fact that I'm pretty muscular, I'm aiming at 180.
  • fatty_to_fitty
    fatty_to_fitty Posts: 544 Member
    I make better food choices with my diary set to 1200. I eat back exercise calls and if I'm hungry I go over and don't fret it.
  • kryptonitekelly
    kryptonitekelly Posts: 335 Member
    I'm 122lbs.
    Goal is 1700 a day.
    Maintaining :)
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    1200 before exercise. Not a problem if I avoid naughty foods (like the Lindt dark chocolate I had for breakfast today - oops). It's just a matter of finding the right foods to stave off being hungry. I used to munch on raw veg if I get hungry, now I tend to drink a lot of herbal tea instead. Sorts the hungry pangs right out.
  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member
    My calorie goal is 1300, because that's what MFP told me it should be.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,247 Member
    Hi,

    I'm 116 or so kg, and I did 1200 cal at first, and found that I got pretty hungry still, then increased it to 1400, and sometimes I'm hungry, other times, I'm not.

    How do you know what to base your calorie goal on? If I went up to say 1800, I'd really struggle.

    In a nutshell (and these are only mathematical models) the Harris Benedict model goes like this:

    Women: BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in lbs) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years) and then the result is multiplied by a factor between 1.2 and 1.9 depending on your activity level.

    again, these are approximations. If, for example, you were training for an Ironman I'm pretty certain that the 1.9 factor for activity would be grossly inadequate.

    If you're not achieving your desired results are are unsure that you're eating properly a visit to a registered dietitian would be a good idea.
  • Hoosier_born
    Hoosier_born Posts: 127 Member
    I am trying to figure out what mine would be, I am 5'6, I exercise about 5 days per week...trying to figure it out


    ETA MFP said 1800 calories when I first started
  • nikkylyn
    nikkylyn Posts: 325 Member
    I could never eat 1200 I would starve LOL.

    My bmr is 1480 ish. So I have mine set a little higher than that at 1600. What is your bmr I was told to never go below your bmr.
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