5ft4 ladies...What's your calorie number?

bump... 1200 for me, but only started two weeks ago so too early for a plateau!

I went from 1200 calories initially to 1400 after losing 11 lbs. The smaller you get the more you will need to eat for energy since your body will have established a higher metabolism. I get hungry often throughout the day so the increase really helped. My results have not caught up with the dietary change yet, but I am still tweeking things out with the amount of exercise I need. Every persons body is different. It takes some time to find the balance.

Well, the smaller you get the lower your BMR gets.

I'm 5'4" and need to lose 20 lbs. to get back the 'healthy' BMI. I eat around 1400 (swings wildly day to day, according to my hunger levels but averages that) and burn around 2000, according to Fitbit. I don't do a lot of "exercise" so much as I focus on increasing my N.E.A.T. I shoot for 70,000 steps a week, for example.

Hang in there! Eat more if you're miserable!

I'm 5'4" and 60 years old, a bit over 200lbs. I eat between 1200 calories, which I find is OK if I'm travelling or otherwise immobilised, but it isn't enough on an active day, and up to 1800 (ish) when I've done lots of exercise. I put myself down as "sedentary" when I registered as my activity level varies a lot day by day & week by week. Then I log all exercise and aim to eat about half of those extra calories. If I'm having a hungry day, I'll eat more of them. If I'm STILL hungry I'll eat more and walk to earn the extra calories. I make an effort to eat plenty of veg and fruit and drink more water than I used to.

I've been counting calories & timing exercise for about 18 weeks and lost 36lbs. As far as I'm concerned, it's working and is sustainable long term.

Have you heard of the group "Eat More To Weigh Less"? Give it a go - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

I started at 172, now I'm at 158. been here for months now.

I can relate! I am about 5'4". I aim for about 1300-1400 kcal per day. I upped it from 1200, so I would have more energy. I have lost some inches, but my overall weight has been pretty steady. I am on my feet a lot, but am not as active as I should be. If I were, I would certainly lose weight faster.

I'm 5'3.5" and 115 lbs. I am still figuring out my maintenance calories but it is between 1900-2000. I run for 30-45 min 3 days per week, lift weights 3 days per week, and walk the dog about an hour a day. Otherwise I an pretty sedentery. When losing weight, I never ate below 1600 and it came off steadily. If you don't have a lot to lose, a small deficit is best, IMO.

I'm 40, 5'5 and around 135#. I maintain around 1800 plus exercise calories, and lose at around 1400-1600 plus exercise calories.

I am 5 ft 4 inch. Eating around 1200 cal. But net only about 700 because I don't eat back my exercise cals. Weightloss works just fine. When I reach my goalweight, I add each month about 200 cal to maintain.

I took a peek at your diary and it looks like you haven't been eating 1200 since the 10th now your average is closer to 1500 so if that didn't break your plateau you might try changing your exercise style, then again how long have you been in a plateau? I'm 5-4, I eat at 1200 or less and don't eat my exercise calories back the longest plateau I have experienced was 3 1/2 weeks but during that time I lost inches so I can't complain. As has been said before in many threads every body is different if you start eating more and that breaks your plateau and you keep losing more power to you, if you gain you can always reduce again and try something else.

I am about to turn 50, 5'4 1/2" weigh 275, and started only 4 days ago. My calories are 1800, I chose to lose slowly since I have gained all this weight slowly over the last 10 years or so. I have a very sedentary lifestyle, well, I did before I got here, lots of time on computer...A friend started a few months ago and has lost I think 25 lbs already!

It's amazing how I can watch what I am eating now, I didn't think I could do this, but so far so good!

I can't believe I can eat so much food (healthy) and still stay under my goal! Are the foods listed correct in their calories???

-bonnysites.com

Finally my 5ft 4inch ladies are calling. I am 36yrs My start weight was 206 as of Saturday my weight was 186 I hit my first 20lb goal in under 3 months, Real quick, I eat between 900-1100 per day. I work out everyday for 45min to an hour I don't skip a day or have a day off. I am on a mission to get another 40lbs off by Oct, 20th, 2012 I never eat back my exercise cals. I have a lot of fun. I am in it for life. I don't listen to everything I am told. I listen to my body and my body loves me. I love to motivate and be motivated. If I am down and out I will not eat myself to death. I will laugh, work out or try to do something productive. My only bad habbit is smoking and I will beat that one day to. I will not give up or give in and neither should you. Add me as a friend if you'd like.

I'm at 1,700 but I don't count my exercise calories. When I do that I starve on the days I don't workout so I've averaged out about the week and have gone from there. If I counted my calories then my net would be about 1,300 calories...but I can't eat that little the 2 days a week I don't work out. I've been really bad the last three days and have ended up going over because I have made a couple bad decisions.


ETA: I'm 152 and right now I have my goal weight set at 130 even though the scale wouldn't bother me if it never moved as long as my abs start showing

Didn't read all the responses so hope I'm not repeating. I'm 5'3' and started at 1200Cals/day early April. I work out 2-3xs a week normally an hour of cardio and then a 30minute circut (arms, legs, core whichever day I'm on). I noticed a standstill in my losses and actually bumped my cals up by 100. Within the next 4 days I was already loosing close to 1lb! I thought it was nuts when someone else told me to eat more for a little while. It actually worked.

Good luck!

I am 5'3. Today my calories r set for 1500 and I eat back most of my exercise calories. I am losing about 1/2 pounds a week. I am 137 now and want to get down to 135 or 130... We shall see since I am happy where I am. I am also training for half marathon so weight isnt as important.

I started here in Feb, I set MFP to lose a lb a week and actually lost more each week, I never plateaued. I ate back most of my exercise calories every day! I cut out processed foods and upped my protein to 30% of my diet.

For exercise, I started with Insanity until the weather in PA got nicer then I built up my running.

So many times in here I have seen so many start at 1200 and then give up after a few weeks. Heck, I did it for years until I read up on TDEE and BMR. Ever since my son was born 3.5 years ago, I yogo dieted until I found MFP. I am 33 and a mom of 2 kids, I work full time as well. You gals can do this! Just have to figure out what works best for you.

1410, plus most exercise cals. I average about 1600-1900 a day actually eaten, 1410 NET. I walk at least 1/2 hour a day. I was doing the 30 DS, 3-4 days a week, now I am working with a trainer 2 days, going to a strength training class once.

I have started plateau - ing, but after a week or two, I'll drop about 2 lbs quickly. I think some of it is holding water from exercise, because I usually drop after a break (vacation, days off, ect.)

I eat - MOSTLY clean, but we eat out too often (though never fast food).

Edited to say - I started at 185, I am now at 166.2. I'm 5'4. I'm 29 years old.