calorie limits too high?

I've seen a lot of guidlines from classes, here, etc that say a very high amount of calories for each day. For me they reccomend many (2100) and I think it's partially inaccurate. What's everyone's thoughts on this, because today I've only eaten about 800 in 3 meals and some snacking.

The number of calories that you should be eating depends on a few factors: age, weight, height, activity level, etc. There's no magic number for everyone.

I know the feeling.  For me they recommend 1995 calories.  I have yet to make it.  I usually eat 1300 to 1500 calories a day.  No less than that or you are bordering on starvation.  I am losing the weight (about 3 pounds/week).  babyd is right that it does have a lot to do with how active you say you are and your weight.  Your weight seems to be a big one.  If you lesson your calories too much your body will go into shock and will hold onto the fat because it will think it is starving.

If you increase your activity level, you need to adjust your caloric intake as well (meaning more calories) so that your body has the energy to preform what you want it to do.

Those are my thoughts.

Hi there, There!

Like babyd said there are so many factors involved.  The major guideline is to take in between 500 and 1000 calories less than you burn.  That'll lead to a 1-2 pound weight loss per week.  You don't want to strive to lose more than 1% of your total body weight per week.

Too few calories and you can do some very serious damage to your body, as well as slow your metabolism down - and even gain weight!

See if you can find some high-calorie, low volume foods to mix in - peanut or cashew butters are great - high protein - and it doesn't take too much to give you that boost.  Cheeses, protien bars, and such are also good options.

Welcome and good luck!

I have been seriously counting calories for ten weeks utilizing this website as a base line.  The first couple weeks I tried to consume the recommended caloric intake.  I lost weight but I got greedy and decided to cut even more calories.  Quickly; I was tired, cold, and mentally weak.  That week's weigh in had me gaining weight as opposed to the huge loss I expected.  After a couple disappointing weeks, I read that my body probably was not getting the proper nutrition for my size.  I increased the caloric intake, feel physically better, and my weight loss has reappeared.  Hard to believe, eat more to lose weight.

Total weeks dieting - 31

Weight loss - 58 pounds

27 pounds to go.   

Hi,

I'm wondering what people are eating for breakfast that keeps their calories down, i seem to use up around 700 or more for breakfast, snack, and lunch.  Since I'm only allowed 1300 I feel like thats not giving me much for dinner and an afternoon snack or evening snack.  Plus I'm doing south beach which seems to be higher calorie foods in the whole grains. 

Help please!

imfeisty1- my breakfast this morning was 4 egg whites, 2 slices of toast with raspberry preserves and a cup of yogurt=269 calories.

My breakfast is usually:

- 1/3 cup of dry non-instant oatmeal (microwave it for a few minutes with water)
- 1 cup skim milk
Total Calories: 210

or

- 2 slices raisin bread
- 1 cup skim milk
Total Calories: 210

Sometimes I'll add a piece of fruit or some berries.

I'm so boring. cereal with fruit and skim milk every morning. lol

the only thing that changes is the fruit-I'm not much of a decision maker in the morning, so I grab what's easy. XD

I usually have a small banana and I dip it in creamy peanut butter, less than a tablespoon.  I also picked this up from my grandaughter when she stayed with me last summer.  I eat a bowl of dry cereal.  I love milk but I find that if I put milk over the cereal I eat more so I eat it dry and just drink the skim milk.  Seems to work for me.  I'm only allowed 1200 cal a day so I measure everything I eat to make sure I'm not going over my limits.  They have some pretty good food scales at Wal-Mart.  My husband has even started using the scale.  Really shows you what a serving truly is.

redviolist, i added you to my friends list! hope that's ok.  my best friend is a violist, and she has red hair, and i'm betting that's where you got your name.  (or is it a red viola?)

there's a lot of good advice for you here already.  yes, it's very important to figure out what is a good calorie intake for you and stick to it, even if it seems a little high.  are you looking at the ratios in your analysis?  that seems more important to me than anything.  mine are usually around 45-50% carbs, 25-30% protein, and 20-25% fats.  today i went over on the fats, but i had reached a new low weight, and allowed myself a little treat!

i think also it sometimes takes time to figure out how much you are really burning in a day.  the activity estimates are just that, and it may take several weeks to find whether you are losing or not.  then you either adjust the calories, or the exercise, or both!!

also, as you lose weight, your daily calorie limit may actually go down, because you will not have to work as hard to do your normal activities!  just make sure that it's about 500 cals less than you are burning, and you will lose a pound (3500 cals) of fat per week.

I had a light breakfast today, but it was something new I tried. Lite Yogurt with 1/4 cup corn flakes mixed in the cup (and a cup of coffee). Crunchy and sweet, better than skim milk.That was only 135 calories. I have decided I cant use too many calories for breakfast. In the begining, I felt like I had to have 300, but I think my body is getting used to smaller portions.

I'm not an example of what to do here- but I just can't eat breakfast.  I feel like doggy-doo all day long if I do.

After I've been up for a while, I'll have a coffee drink with non-fat milk.  Gives me some calcium, some protein and warms up my belly enough that a couple of hours later, I can have a morning snack and not feel icky.

I have been eating a English muffin with 1/4 cup of egg beaters and a slice of american cheese each morning. If I cook the eggs on the weekend, it it simple to make each morning and sticks with me for a while. Calories for the above = 210...better than McD's and tastes just as good.

I am a Oat meal man,

3/4 cup of regular oat meal (dry) 182 cals
1/2 cup of boiling hot water
1 x apple chopped up 72 cals.
1 x little pack of splenda alterate sugar 2 cals (I think)
some cinnamon to taste...

Total cal 256, and I have a full belly :)

I don't bother with any milk

-Paul

for breakfast i like to do 1/2 cup egg whites fried (omelet-style) in a spray of pam....then two tablespoons fresh salsa in the middle. tastes great, a little spicy, and with a little salt and pepper i feel it really fills me up. i think it's 65 calories or something like that, the way i prepare it. the fresh salsas (more like pico de gallo) I think  are best....less calories. and they taste better!

Wow...everyone's so involved in their breakfast.  I'm not usually
hungry in the morning, and get hungry around 11 AM regardless of
whether i eat breakfast or not.  Still, I read that you have to
eat breakfast in order to get your metabolism going, so I do, but I do
it lightly.  I usually have 1 serving of cereal, with equal
milk.  3/4 cup of special K with 3/4 cup non-fat milk.  That
works out perfectly for me, and only contains about 160 calories. 
If I have strawberries laying around, I'll throw some of them in, but I
don't do bananas, too high calorie.  Boring, but it works for me :)

Breakfast is usually on the go for me.   1 Dannon 'Lite & Fit' yogurt (only 60 calories and yummy!), 1 hard boiled egg, and a quick lil glass of orange juice.   I was told a lil protein in the morning is a really good metabolism jump start.   Then for a late AM snack I have my morning coffee, a protein bar, and a serving of fruit; usually an apple, some grapes, or strawberries.  
Lunch is often a turkey and lettuce wrap and maybe a few baby carrots.

I'm not terribly creative with my meals, but I'm still able to stick to under 1500 cals a day.

Both my husband and I are diabetic and twould both prefer to skip breakfast but that undermines everything so we have this routine we do that works for us. 

At night I put 3/4 cup old fashion oats to soak in a Corningware "grabit" bowl with it's glass lid. 

I also chop up about 1/2 to 3/4 low cal veggies like aspargas, tomato, mushroom, that type of thing that goes good with egg, put it in another "grabit" and pour 1 cup egg beaters or similar egg subistute over it. 

Then in the morning my husband gets up before (3A.M.) me (3:30 A.M.), turns the oven on to 350 and puts both "grabits" in the oven until the egg substitute is done. 

I get 1/4 cup of the oatmeal, he gets the rest; we have it with some sweet-n-low and a bit of cinnimon. 

We each get 1/2 the egg dish and I save 1/2 of mine for my 8A.M. snack protein.  He has an apple, but I don't get a fruit for breakfast.  That's why I include the veggies as they are so low in carbs and calories they don't hurt.  Adds lots of flavor.  We don't use salt but do like Mrs. Dash.

For breakfast I eat either the Peanut Butter Cookie or Carmel Nut Brownie Luna Bar. They are pretty good for you, have alot of protein. 180 Calories, they last me atleast 5 hours if not more.

Calorie wise, I'd say listen to the guidelines.  I know they seem high but if you subtract 500 from your maintenance calories, you should see weight loss (500 a day x 7 days = 3500 C = 1lb of fat).  Give it a few weeks and if it's not working, cut another hundred or so. 

For breakfast, I'm lazy.  I do cereal and milk or yogurt every morning at 5am.  Then I eat again, usually a piece of fruit or some cereal (if I didn't have cereal before) at 8 or 9.  I need to add egg whites or something, though because I could use the protein.