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How many calories do you eat in a day? Im supposed to be eating 2200 a day. I calculated it yesterday and I ate about 1500. Plus I worked out for an hour. Hmm...
I get really different results from different online calorie calculators but they seem to average around 2100-2200/day. And that is with an activity level of running 25-30 miles per week, plus doing some rock climbing/yoga (I always choose "moderately active" because I have a fairly sedentary desk job). That seems to be about right for me; I've been tracking my intake for the last couple of weeks because I am trying to increase my protein intake, and I feel pretty satisfied when I get 2200-ish in my system.
I'm a little bit surprised to hear that you are supposed to be eating 2200/day. I am under the impression that you are smaller than me, so unless you are hitting serious cardio for an hour or more 6-7 days week ("extremely active"), I would have think those calculators would tell you something less.
I get really different results from different online calorie calculators but they seem to average around 2100-2200/day. And that is with an activity level of running 25-30 miles per week, plus doing some rock climbing/yoga (I always choose "moderately active" because I have a fairly sedentary desk job). That seems to be about right for me; I've been tracking my intake for the last couple of weeks because I am trying to increase my protein intake, and I feel pretty satisfied when I get 2200-ish in my system.
I'm a little bit surprised to hear that you are supposed to be eating 2200/day. I am under the impression that you are smaller than me, so unless you are hitting serious cardio for an hour or more 6-7 days week ("extremely active"), I would have think those calculators would tell you something less.
I was very surprised too. My activity level IS pretty high, I run 3 miles about 5 days per week, plus weight training and I swim for a half hour once per week. So I think I exercise too much for the amount of food I eat.
I really couldn't eat 2200 calories a day even if I tried, I am so small and my stomach shrunk so much that I get full really fast. Sometimes I have to eat just to eat, not even cause I'm hungry in order to have energy to work out. I could easily live off of 700 calories if I didn't work out.
I keep losing weight so I'm not sure what to do. I can't eat anymore than I already do and I DON'T want to cut my exercise back. I tried that one time and began to "skip" more days because I wasn't in the habit of going to the gym as much.
seriously- do an ensure, or even those slimfast shake things.... the calories are higher, but you also get vitamins and nutrients so it's not just wasted calories.
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I was very surprised too. My activity level IS pretty high, I run 3 miles about 5 days per week, plus weight training and I swim for a half hour once per week. So I think I exercise too much for the amount of food I eat.
I really couldn't eat 2200 calories a day even if I tried, I am so small and my stomach shrunk so much that I get full really fast. Sometimes I have to eat just to eat, not even cause I'm hungry in order to have energy to work out. I could easily live off of 700 calories if I didn't work out.
I keep losing weight so I'm not sure what to do. I can't eat anymore than I already do and I DON'T want to cut my exercise back. I tried that one time and began to "skip" more days because I wasn't in the habit of going to the gym as much.
I think on most of the generic calorie calculators, your level of activity would be considered "moderate" and not "high" so you may get different numbers if you are calling what you do "high". I'm not trying to be insulting in any way; I'm very active myself but as I said I still fall into the "moderate" category in these calculators. They seem to consider "high" activity to be for people with jobs that require significant physical labor throughout the day (so - think - this is HOURS a day of major calorie consumption, not a 30-minute jog after working at a desk all day).
If you want something more precise, look for an online calculator that has you fill in how you are spending your time every day (ie sleeping for 7 hours; watching TV for 2 hrs; sweeping the floor for 30 mins etc). Then you will get calorie requirements tailored to exactly how you spend your days.
I think on most of the generic calorie calculators, your level of activity would be considered "moderate" and not "high" so you may get different numbers if you are calling what you do "high". I'm not trying to be insulting in any way; I'm very active myself but as I said I still fall into the "moderate" category in these calculators. They seem to consider "high" activity to be for people with jobs that require significant physical labor throughout the day (so - think - this is HOURS a day of major calorie consumption, not a 30-minute jog after working at a desk all day).
If you want something more precise, look for an online calculator that has you fill in how you are spending your time every day (ie sleeping for 7 hours; watching TV for 2 hrs; sweeping the floor for 30 mins etc). Then you will get calorie requirements tailored to exactly how you spend your days.
Yeah, I changed it to moderate. It didn't make THAT much of a difference, it changed it to 2000 calories. I found this one that said I had to eat 2000 to maintain on a moderate activity level, 1500 for fat loss, and 1200 for extreme fat loss...I eat about 1200 I would say.
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L_B, considering the amount of activities you go through a day, it's good to say you already burn around 2000- 2200 calories a day. The question is are you still trying to lose weight? If you're comfortable with your current weight, then eat the daily amount of about 2000 to maintain your weight, but you're looking to cut ( burn fat) then go 500 cal below your calorie, with about a majority of it from protein, or about 1g protein for every pound of lean muscle you have. That will at least ensure you gain a little muscle and burn fat.
Eating 1000 or 1200 for a long period is extreme for anyone, because it will eventually drive your body into starvation mode. What you need to do is at least go 1500 or 1800 ( especially since you're moderately active) or if you can't eat so much, try "cycling" your calories. That means you can eat 1200 one day, but then 1500 the next and then 1300 the day after. This way it'll confuse your body's metabolism so it won't adapt to storing fat. The important thing is that you do not go for more than 2- 3 days under your caloric intake because it will prompt your body to go into starvation mode.
Also, calorie counters are not approximations but they do help you establish a ground rule on what you need to do to lose or maintain weight.
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How many calories do you eat in a day? Im supposed to be eating 2200 a day. I calculated it yesterday and I ate about 1500. Plus I worked out for an hour. Hmm...
I eat around 5000 a day. But I'm also in a couple of very physically robust classes for school right now so... it's necessary.
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I eat about 1200 a day, I aim for it but I won't skip meals or anything. I am a bit surprised to see that as for "extreme weight loss". I doubt I could eat 2000 calories a day, that would make me put on weight fast and it's just too much food.
By the way, you are looking really good LB. Proud of you.
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I eat about 1200 a day, I aim for it but I won't skip meals or anything. I am a bit surprised to see that as for "extreme weight loss". I doubt I could eat 2000 calories a day, that would make me put on weight fast and it's just too much food.
By the way, you are looking really good LB. Proud of you.
Thanks!!
I agree I could never eat 2000 but I think Im continuing to lose weight. I'm not sure what else to do...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen Erased
I eat about 1200 a day, I aim for it but I won't skip meals or anything. I am a bit surprised to see that as for "extreme weight loss". I doubt I could eat 2000 calories a day, that would make me put on weight fast and it's just too much food.
C_E I would just like to elaborate that 1200 cal a day is good for L_B if and only if her lifestyle isn't so active, but given that she does cardio ( running) and strength ( swimming) she probably has developed some muscle. Muscles burn more carbs. Depending on the kind of food she eats, if most of her calories comes from carbs, at 1200 cal a day, she'll be running a very strong calorie deficient prompting her body to burn more carbs than fat. And when she's low on carbs ( glycogen) the body will burn fat, yet there's a limit to how much the body will burn the fat until it starts to think you're starving it, and it'll try to retain fat and start burning muscle cells.
In my opinion, all calories are not equal. If your diet is composed of mostly carbs, the body will either burn it all off ( because carbs are the first to be used as fuel) and then use stored fat as fuel. Yet, if your body can't use up all the glycogen, it will store the carbs as fat stores ( this is also a reason why some people can get fat even if they eat so little fat ( like red meat) but have a high consumption of cookies, etc.). As for fat calories, they're harder to burn off, but if they are used, the body does have to work at a high intensity ( since fat cal are approx. 9 calories). That's why when a person does cardio, the intensity of a workout prompts the body to use stored fat as fuel as opposed to burning carb stores.
All in all, if you have to count calories, the simplest way is to have a calorie deficient. Depending on your goals, if you want to lose weight, 500 calorie deficient is the norm ( to lose weight healthily; and obtain long term results). Extreme calorie deficient like going to 1000 or 1200 a day is possible, but most people use it for plateaus and it should only be done for no longer than 2 to 3 days.
C_E I would just like to elaborate that 1200 cal a day is good for L_B if and only if her lifestyle isn't so active, but given that she does cardio ( running) and strength ( swimming) she probably has developed some muscle. Muscles burn more carbs. Depending on the kind of food she eats, if most of her calories comes from carbs, at 1200 cal a day, she'll be running a very strong calorie deficient prompting her body to burn more carbs than fat. And when she's low on carbs ( glycogen) the body will burn fat, yet there's a limit to how much the body will burn the fat until it starts to think you're starving it, and it'll try to retain fat and start burning muscle cells.
In my opinion, all calories are not equal. If your diet is composed of mostly carbs, the body will either burn it all off ( because carbs are the first to be used as fuel) and then use stored fat as fuel. Yet, if your body can't use up all the glycogen, it will store the carbs as fat stores ( this is also a reason why some people can get fat even if they eat so little fat ( like red meat) but have a high consumption of cookies, etc.). As for fat calories, they're harder to burn off, but if they are used, the body does have to work at a high intensity ( since fat cal are approx. 9 calories). That's why when a person does cardio, the intensity of a workout prompts the body to use stored fat as fuel as opposed to burning carb stores.
All in all, if you have to count calories, the simplest way is to have a calorie deficient. Depending on your goals, if you want to lose weight, 500 calorie deficient is the norm ( to lose weight healthily; and obtain long term results). Extreme calorie deficient like going to 1000 or 1200 a day is possible, but most people use it for plateaus and it should only be done for no longer than 2 to 3 days.
Thanks! Okay so what do you think I should do? I actually try to eat carbs in moderation, although I have upped the amount I eat (more healthy carbs, whole wheat rice/pasta, ect.)
I want to stop losing weight actually, I think I am at a pretty good weight for myself. I use muscle milk as a protein supplement and I try to balance my food groups with an occasional rice krispie treatment here and there (like every 3 days or so).
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Please, she's find 1.2 calories a day too fattening.
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