Women who eat more than 1800 calories a day !!!!

bumping the new thread! I love checking this out everyday to see what new information is shared!

Yep, Me too!

The longer I do this, the more I'm convinced that scales are completely useless.

I went on maintenance in October at 1700 plus exercise calories when I reached 126 pounds, and slowly over the next 3-4 months (including the winter holidays and an injury), went up to 133. One pound was during January when I pretty much took the entire month off while I recovered from my stress fracture and stopped logging my food. But going by measurements, photos and how clothes fit, I was smaller and tighter at 133 than I was at 125. So I had no interest in losing weight.

In February, I started logging my food and exercising again, easing back into running by starting C25K, with my adjusted maintenance goal of 1730 plus exercise calories. By the end of February, I was down 1 pound. By March 10th, two weeks later, I'd lost two more, so I was 130 pounds.

Last week, I increased my calorie goal, changing my settings from lightly active to active (I'm a housewife, artist and web publisher... I'm not all that active when I'm not exercising), with a new goal of 1840. I netted over 1800 every day this week, possibly more because on weekends, I don't log my food (and pigged out on half price appetizers at Applebees on Saturday night)... and I'm down another pound.

Bizarre.

OK, y'all. I just can't keep this to myself. Since we all seem to be ladies posting here, I hope this doesn't offend anyone (I'll probably take it down soon anyway).

I've been making an effort to eat back all my exercise calories, for a total intake of anywhere between 1700-2000 calories for the past month (and I keep track of calories burned during my strength sessions as well as cardio). I seem to be maintaining more than losing, although occasionally, I'll lose a half a pound here or there. In the past 5 months, I've only lost a total of 6 pounds.
Now, if I were going by the scale alone, I would be discouraged at my lack of progress. Even though I'm feeling pretty good where I am and even though I can see progress in other ways, I've still been wondering if maybe I should cut my calories a bit. I tend to second-guess myself.
But I took another set of progress pics yesterday to compare. Although the angle and lighting is a bit different, I am pleased enough with the progress I can see to stay my course.



(I keep staring at that 2nd picture. I can't believe it's me. I never thought I would be able to look like that again after children. )

All I can say is , "WOW!!!" You look like a totally different person!

Ok - update - I increased my calories from 1300 to 1500 last week and I have more energy for my workouts, but I have gained 2 lbs since. I know I said I was going to give it two weeks and not freak out, but ... I'm kinda freaking out.... Somebody PLEASE talk me down - I really want to cut my calories back again. HELP!!!!! I have this inner dialogue going on - half of me thinks that if I give it another week, it will be ok and I'll go back down, the other half thinks that everyone is different and I shouldn't calculate my calories on what works for everyone else.

Stick with it a bit longer!

I've been eating 1800 for a week now and I have much more energy already.

I know I don't want to eat 1400 calories for the rest of my life and knowing I never have to again makes me feel soooo good!!

I'm eating 1800-1900 cals per day and maintaining at 125 lbs!

This makes me want to bang my head against a wall. I'm eating the same amount and am no where near 125. Even working out 10 times a week. GRRRR!

I am 5'9, 215lbs - 51 years old, and have just in the past two weeks upped my total calories eaten from 1500 - 1600 to 2100 - 2400 calories per day... This includes eating most of my exercise calories (previously I would only eat about 40 - 50% of them)

This has decreased my daily calorie deficit from over 1100 per day to around 600 / 700 per day (as measured with my Bodymedia Fit) , and I have seen a 7 lb loss in two weeks on the scale (this is after a 4 month plateau)

I know my losses will get smaller - but as long as I see some movement I will be happy!!

I try to eat between 1800-2200. I should eat 2200 though. I'm trying to gain weight. So far, I'm seeing more muscle development, just gotta keep getting the calories in.

Ok - update - I increased my calories from 1300 to 1500 last week and I have more energy for my workouts, but I have gained 2 lbs since. I know I said I was going to give it two weeks and not freak out, but ... I'm kinda freaking out.... Somebody PLEASE talk me down - I really want to cut my calories back again. HELP!!!!! I have this inner dialogue going on - half of me thinks that if I give it another week, it will be ok and I'll go back down, the other half thinks that everyone is different and I shouldn't calculate my calories on what works for everyone else.

I am not sure what others have responded but I question whether 1500 calories is enough to get your metabolism going again. Yes I think it is wise to up slowly but I would think that unless you are very sedentary and very short 1500 wouldn't convince your body to speed up the metabolism. I guess it depends on how long you were eating below your BMR and what your BMR is though. 1500 has not worked well for me in the past. I thought originally it was too high and yes for a while 1340 worked well. Now I am wondering if it wasn't too low since when I started here I was already exercising regularly. I am now at 1700 and am maintaining and may be slowly losing. I am wondering if to get my metabolism going I may have to up it to maintenance for a while. I am just a bit above my BMR. Just my initial reaction.

OK, y'all. I just can't keep this to myself. Since we all seem to be ladies posting here, I hope this doesn't offend anyone (I'll probably take it down soon anyway).

I've been making an effort to eat back all my exercise calories, for a total intake of anywhere between 1700-2000 calories for the past month (and I keep track of calories burned during my strength sessions as well as cardio). I seem to be maintaining more than losing, although occasionally, I'll lose a half a pound here or there. In the past 5 months, I've only lost a total of 6 pounds.
Now, if I were going by the scale alone, I would be discouraged at my lack of progress. Even though I'm feeling pretty good where I am and even though I can see progress in other ways, I've still been wondering if maybe I should cut my calories a bit. I tend to second-guess myself.
But I took another set of progress pics yesterday to compare. Although the angle and lighting is a bit different, I am pleased enough with the progress I can see to stay my course.



(I keep staring at that 2nd picture. I can't believe it's me. I never thought I would be able to look like that again after children. )

Wow! What an inspiration. I guess a big part of the worry for me right now is I am in a weight loss contest at work that ends the last weekend in April. I feel like having the contest in the back of my mind is a bad motivator for me because I know that if I drop my calories and stop exercising - I'll win the contest. I'm just going to keep my head in the game and do what I'm doing - I may win the contest anyway. Going to keep my head in the game and feel better for it.

Thank you everyone for all the feedback! You guys are awesome. I really love this site.

I can relate to this. I am moderating a weight loss challenge in my group. I took it over since the past moderator was having some health issues and couldn''t do it. It is a great group of MFPals but I feel like for now I just need to get my metabolism going and not focus on weight loss yet. It is almost over but they are already talking about the next one. I am thinking about what to say. I love the group but weight loss challenges really don't work for me I have decided.

Femtec, it might take a little time to adjust. What are you doing for exercise?
I am planning to start a 3x5 lifting program 3 days per week, but I was going to follow the calorie guidelines of the New Rules of Lifting for Women:
1. Step 1 - weight in kg
2. resting metabolic rate - run this equation: 795 + (7.18 x body weight in kilograms) = resting metabolic rate
3. Step 3 - body mass index - there's a table in the book, so if you don't know your BMI, give me your height (imperial measurements) and your weight (in pounds).
4. Daily activities multipliers - If your BMI is under 25, your multipliers are: a) no workout = 1.6, b) active workout day = 1,8, c) strenuous work and active workout day = 2.0. HERE IS WHAT YOU EAT: on a non workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.6 and on a workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.8. Those are your calories (for non-workout and workout days, respectively).
5. Eat like that for ONE MONTH. Then, you can add in a small deficit, perhaps 300 calories per day.

So, going to try it for one month even though it seems really high-1800 for me on rest days!

What are the multipliers if your BMI is above 25?

I am 5'9, 215lbs - 51 years old, and have just in the past two weeks upped my total calories eaten from 1500 - 1600 to 2100 - 2400 calories per day... This includes eating most of my exercise calories (previously I would only eat about 40 - 50% of them)

This has decreased my daily calorie deficit from over 1100 per day to around 600 / 700 per day (as measured with my Bodymedia Fit) , and I have seen a 7 lb loss in two weeks on the scale (this is after a 4 month plateau)

I know my losses will get smaller - but as long as I see some movement I will be happy!!

I upped my calories too after getting my BMF. I realized I burned way more calories just on my normal everyday activities before exercise Keeping that deficit lower triggered my weight loss again. Yay to more food!!!

Question for those who started out lower cal and then upped....

My bmr is 1500 (I'm 5' 11", 160lbs) and given my workouts and lifestyle I've determined tdee is roughly 2200. However with my intermittent juice fasting my net has been closer to a 1300 average. Obviously I need to change this.... But unsure how to properly reset things . Should I go to 1800 (deficit to lise from tdee) or 2200???


Thanks I appreciate the input and advice... I juiced for health and achieved what I wanted but unintentionally set myself to chronically undereat. I can't live like that LOL

Femtec, it might take a little time to adjust. What are you doing for exercise?
I am planning to start a 3x5 lifting program 3 days per week, but I was going to follow the calorie guidelines of the New Rules of Lifting for Women:
1. Step 1 - weight in kg
2. resting metabolic rate - run this equation: 795 + (7.18 x body weight in kilograms) = resting metabolic rate
3. Step 3 - body mass index - there's a table in the book, so if you don't know your BMI, give me your height (imperial measurements) and your weight (in pounds).
4. Daily activities multipliers - If your BMI is under 25, your multipliers are: a) no workout = 1.6, b) active workout day = 1,8, c) strenuous work and active workout day = 2.0. HERE IS WHAT YOU EAT: on a non workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.6 and on a workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.8. Those are your calories (for non-workout and workout days, respectively).
5. Eat like that for ONE MONTH. Then, you can add in a small deficit, perhaps 300 calories per day.

So, going to try it for one month even though it seems really high-1800 for me on rest days!

What are the multipliers if your BMI is above 25?

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that...

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS THREAD!!! You have no idea how much this has helped me. I have really been struggling the past few weeks. I was on maintenance calories but do to a new med - I gained 8 lbs, so I dropped my calories back to losing 0.5 lbs/week BUT I was starving all the time. I was doing high calorie burns (anywhere from 700 to 900) but even after my workout snack I was starving. A friend on here directed me to this thread, and it has tremendously helped me. With the help of this topic and another website, I have realized I was putting my body into starvation mode.

So, I have increased my calories back to maintenance (1660 calories) and plus I will eat back most of my exercise calories. According to the other website, I should be eating around 2200 calories/day with moderate exercise. So, I am going to start doing this and so far today, I am not as starving as I was before. Must better day!! Now, I will admit I put the scale away for Lent, so I am not due to step back on it until April 8 - hope I get a good result by then.

Remember, your body needs food to fuel the body!!! You MUST eat to lose weight!!!

I had been watching to see if people were posting on this thread not realizeing it went to the next page already. I have been maintaining and may be slowly losing at 1700 calories and exercise calories. However the question I have is if I don't get up to maintenance calories am I really giving my body a chance to reset its metabolism before I try to lose again. I have been at between 1500 -1340 calories for 1.5 years which is below my BMR of 1640. I am doing as well now or better than I was on 1350 in terms of weight loss and I am eating better so I am happy but to eventually lose I feel I need to go further. I will give it another week at 1700 and then if I am not losing I am going to try upping instead of lowering. I have decided I am not going to lower my calories until I have been on maintenance for a while. I am hoping to get my loss going by upping my calories. Anyway as someone has said if you aren't losing anyway what have you got to lose by upping your calories. Less than you have to gain which is good nutrition for your body. I am just wondering if I have raised them enough.

Just posted a topic thread on this in the "Eat more to weigh less" group! Interesting to hear you're going through the same thing. I'm going to try maintenance for a while before going lower.