Question for those CC'ers who always recommend bumping up calories...

I'm just curious...how many calories do you eat?

I am 5'2" and weigh between 113 and 116, and honestly am really hungry if I don't eat at least 1800 calories.  Based on what other people eat on here, this seems like a huge amount!  I don't really gain or lose weight, but I feel like other people my size eat significantly less.

I'm also one of those people who advocates eating more calories (just the right kinds of calories) and wondering how many calories the rest of you who advocate increasing calorie consumption eat.   I guess this is my version of a poll :)

As a warning this might be upsetting to some, but then again, might also be an eye opener.

To everyone who may pass through, remember! 1200 minimum for an adult woman, 1500 for a girl under 21 or an adult male, 1800 minimum for a boy under 21. Sedentary! And that's only if you're short or small! If you're active, larger, heavier, taller, whatever - you will most likely need more.

It's not healthy to have a defecit greater than 1000 nor to go under these numbers as these leaded to dreaded plateaus and starvation mode - aka, the point your body conserves all it can get for famine. If you've not worked out your BMR already, use CC's tools if you're over 21: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/calories-bur ned.php and if you are under 21, CC's tools are inaccurate and you should use this calculator instead: http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html.

A healthy and sustainable rate of loss is anywhere between 0.5lbs and 2lbs a week.

A bit redundant, yes, but I am also someone who avidly encourages people eating what they need for their goals while remaining healthy, happy and not at all cheated. :] So don't cheat yourself, work out your calories and up 'em if you're under!

I'm one of the calorie boosters. During my weight loss, I aimed for about 1700 calories on average. at least once a week I would eat to maintenance. or just over.

doh! I'm 5'5" and reached my goal last month. 139 I'm currently a pound down.

I was an under-eater before I came here.  I was so very uneducated that I honestly didn't realize that what I was doing was wrong.  I simply thought that the less I ate, the more weight I would lose.

I was eating about 1,000 calories a day when I was burning around 1800.  I thought this was ok since I only had an 800 deficit.  What I didn't realize was that alot of people who don't have a LOT of weight to lose won't be able to safely have that big of a deficite without putting themselves at risk of slowing their metabolisms, hitting plateaus and not getting the nutrients that they needed.

I had come here because I was eating so little and just not losing anymore weight and I didn't understand why.  Once I got the facts straight, I realized that I was able to eat more and lose weight easier than when I was undereating.  How cool is that?  I think this is why so many of us push the issue with newbies so much.  Because so many of us have been there and didn't even realize it.  We want to share the information with others because it's so cool to know that we might be able to help others.

I'm a reasonably active in a not-going-to-the-gym sort of way 44 year-old 150lb woman and I maintain my weight on about 1900-2100 a day.  I eat very little processed food and fast food... a 'clean' diet if you will.  If I need to lose a pound or two I'll reduce that to 1500 for a while.    My weight seems pretty stable and my doc tells me I'm in good health.

Yep, I'm one of those! 

I'm 34, 5'5", 150-160 depending, active to very active depending on the day/week/month.  I eat roughly 2,000 calories when losing weight, 2300 to maintain except on my high exercise days where it's closer to 3,000 calories.

I'm about the same -- 48 (next week), 5'8", 150 lb, eating 1900-2100 -- not really exercising much right now.  When (really) exercising -- I eat about 2300 -- but I'm still in a weight loss mode (theoretically).

Lala--of course I didn't mean to upset anyone, so my sincere apologies if I have. 

I was honestly just curious because I was also one of those people who wasn't eating enough and could never understand why I didn't lose any weight but was always hungry (eating about 1400 calories a day).  I didn't know about CC during this time, and went to a dietician and nutritionist to get my body fat and BMR tested and to find out what I was doing wrong.  Could have saved myself a lot of time and money if I either knew about CC or just listened to my body and ate more :)  So I'm with peaches on that one!!

For what it's worth, I'm 33, very active, and even on non-gym (or other types of working out) days, I still need about 1700-1800 calories to feel satisfied.  It seems like a lot, but I don't question it anymore.

Thanks for the replies!!

Oh, gosh, I didn't mean you'd be doing it intentionally! No, not that. Rather that people are inherently going to compare: "Oh goodness, [x] loses on [y] calories? I gain on that!" sort of mentalities. Then again, I'd hope anyone who sees people can LOSE on high amounts might then be motivated to indeed up their calories - thus why I mentioned it'd also be an eye opener. So don't be dismayed. :D

Original Post by gi-jane:

I'm a reasonably active in a not-going-to-the-gym sort of way 44 year-old 150lb woman and I maintain my weight on about 1900-2100 a day.  I eat very little processed food and fast food... a 'clean' diet if you will.  If I need to lose a pound or two I'll reduce that to 1500 for a while.    My weight seems pretty stable and my doc tells me I'm in good health.

 Can I ask how tall you are jane?

I am a bit younger (38) only 5'0", and same weight as you and I am finding it difficult as of late to stick to 1200 calories.  I want to lose about 10 more lbs and maintain forever.  The most walking I do is around campus and grocery shopping and such.  Right now i"m not doing any 'exercise' per say since i'm so busy doing the wife, housework, school, studying, shopping thing. 

Do you think 1200 is too low?

~H~

Lala--I think that happens on forums such as these, because inherently a lot of us compare ourselves to others (human nature?).  I think that's how so many people start eating the wrong amout to begin with.  I used to think I could only have 1400 calories because that's what the celebrities I read about eat--I was making a comparison to them.  It's a delicate line we walk seeking opinions and advice from others but not getting too stuck on what any one person says.

Haley--although you addressed this question to jane, I would chime in and say that if you're finding it difficult to stick to 1200 calories (by which I assume you mean you're still hungry after eating that amount), you probably should eat more.  It's important to listen to those hunger pains!!  Try eating more and see if that helps with the hunger and the weight loss (it did for me).  Maybe start by adding about 200 calories and see how that goes for a couple of weeks.  Also, pay close attention to what you are eating.  One of my biggest problems was that I wasn't eating enough protein.  So most of the calories I have added to my daily intake consist of protein (light cottage cheese for example).  The nutritionist told me to have fiber and protein with every meal and snack, and I find that very helpful.

I'm not a pusher, per se, but I needed the push! Before I came to CC, I had gone from non-deliberately maintaining/GAINING weight (and, at 267lb with a physical job, that pretty much means 4000 cals per day) to losing weight too fast. When I got here and started using the tools, I found out that I was at like 815 cals per day. And wondering why I never felt very healthy or satisfied? The calorie pushers really helped me get back on track.

Original Post by ehp1975:

Lala--I think that happens on forums such as these, because inherently a lot of us compare ourselves to others (human nature?).  I think that's how so many people start eating the wrong amout to begin with.  I used to think I could only have 1400 calories because that's what the celebrities I read about eat--I was making a comparison to them.  It's a delicate line we walk seeking opinions and advice from others but not getting too stuck on what any one person says.

Haley--although you addressed this question to jane, I would chime in and say that if you're finding it difficult to stick to 1200 calories (by which I assume you mean you're still hungry after eating that amount), you probably should eat more.  It's important to listen to those hunger pains!!  Try eating more and see if that helps with the hunger and the weight loss (it did for me).  Maybe start by adding about 200 calories and see how that goes for a couple of weeks.  Also, pay close attention to what you are eating.  One of my biggest problems was that I wasn't eating enough protein.  So most of the calories I have added to my daily intake consist of protein (light cottage cheese for example).  The nutritionist told me to have fiber and protein with every meal and snack, and I find that very helpful.

 Thank you for the reply ehp :) I welcome any ideas and thoughts!

I had no problems cutting calories when I was 250 lbs.....but 100 lbs later, I feel like i'm a scavanger some days.  I just cannot grasp the concept that you could possibly lose weight, eating more.....

My average daily fiber intake is:  Daily Fiber Intake - 35 grams

Daily Sodium Intake - 1,655 mg

Protein usually around 40-50 grams

I just REFUSE to gain that weight back.  I will NOT do that to myself!

~H~

I am 26, 5'4, 165ish (my weight fluctuates fairly widely from day to day, based on my cycle, water intake, and any number of mysterious factors). I have lost 15ish pounds since November eating about 1700 calories/day, which gives me about a 500 calorie deficit. On days when I work out, I'll eat back part of what I burn on top of that. I have at least one free meal/week, frequently more (sometimes a lot more!). I eat fairly 'clean' but have been known to have an occasional weakness for cheese whiz.

I would definitely up the calories, 1200 is just not enough for your size.  Looking at your protein intake, that's an easy place to  add.  You should be aiming for at least 80 grams of protein.  50grams is a bare minimum for survival.  When I was losing and working out, I aimed for 105-110 grams of protein a day. 

eggs/eggwhites,protein shakes, cheese (in small amounts), nuts, beans, fish  (!) are all good sources of protein that can be lean.