Tall Woman 5"8+ and calories

Hi All-

I successfully went from 170lbs to 140lbs over a year or so. Most of the weight loss was from Feb-July of this year. I am 5'10 and ate about 1500 or 1600 calories to meet that goal- maybe a bit less in the end.

I have gained about 3 lbs back from making poor food choices and being lazy- so I want to get back on the wagon. While using the calorie tool on here it said that I should eat 1251 cals/day to hit my goal. That seems crazy! Granted I put sedentary so I would add exercise etc... but I still dont think I could manage it.

What number of cals have worked for others here around the same hight/weight?

Thanks!

Hi there

I am 5'8'' and currently three weeks into my diet.  I am trying to lose about 20lb to get down to 133 lb (9 and a half stones).  So far I have lost 5lb in 3 weeks.  Like you I put in sedentary initially, but then changed it to "light" - I don't do much exercise, but I have two kids and don't actually sit down all that much.

My target is 1200 calories, but usually I am around 1400 calories.  As I am losing, I'm not worrying too much if I go a bit over, although I find it helpful to have the 1200 target as it stops me from getting complacent.  I haven't been feeling too hungry.  Nearly all my calorie saving has coming from cutting out snacks and as much fat as possible from my usual diet, seems to be working OK at the moment.

By the way, a gain of 3lb doesn't sound that significant - maybe you should be looking at a maintenance regime rather than weight loss?  That might just help you get on top of the poor food choices without feeling you are back on the diet again?

Good luck anyway.

If you're going to be exercising then don't list yourself as sedentary.  If you think you'll get half an hour a day go with 'light'... an hour average go with 'moderate'.  As you're trying to lose less than 10% of your total body-weight aim for about 1lb a week only when setting your target date.

And, of course, at 143lbs (if I'm reading that right) you're a perfectly healthy weight already.... so be realistic about your target there as well.  If you decide that you want to feel slimmer and firmer rather than simply being 'thinner' on the scales..... get plenty of exercise rather than cutting calories.

I am 5'8" and I started at 180 lb. I lost 22 lb over six months before I found out I was pregnant. I could barely manage on about 1700/1800 a day when I was trying to lose weight. I tend to maintain if I remain within 2100.

I set my activity as light to moderate since I get an hour of light to moderate exercise most days.

I'm 5'9" currently averaging 149 lbs.  When I try to lose weight I eat 2000-2300 a day.  I have been struggling on the weekends though.  I always manage to eat between 3000 and 4000 calories at least one day between Fri and Sun..sometimes more than one day.  If I could just stick to my weight loss number I would have no problems losing weight.  I have myself listed at sedentary and add my exercise in as well.  My burn is usually between 2400 and 3000 a day.  I need to start cracking the whip on myself so that I can lose my 10 lbs before the holidays...I know I will probably be gaining...better to gain back the same 10 than to add another 10 on top of that!  LOL 

Im 5'8 And have been on CC for about 2 years-ish.   I started at 176lbs and now weigh 144lbs.   I don't focus so much on the "burn meter". I try and do a couple cardio/weight days a week, and target my calories at 1400-1900 depending on how active I am. I am losing weight slow and steady when I am on the wagon!

I am 5"8". I started at 171 lb. in July and am currently trying to hold at 159 lb. before I continue down to the 145-148 lb. range. Sometimes it seems my husband tries to sabotage my diet plans, because I really need to watch my sodium intake and he likes to eat out a lot.

I aim for 1200 calories/day but because I usually try to get 200-300 calories worth of exercise daily I am quite comfortable at 1400-1500 cal. For myself the best strategies are to :

have one or two tagged "standard" meals that I eat for a certain meal like breakfast or lunch

use smaller plates, so my portions are smaller

eat slowly and stop eating when I'm no longer ravenous

eat lots of vegetables, preferably fresh or frozen, prepared steamed or sauteed with a tablespoon or two or olive oil for a 4-6 serving batch--I usually have it over brown rice or with wasa-type fiber crackers

eat plenty of fiber-rich foods--if I get the munchies at work I'll cut up a Fiber-One ™ or similar bar and eat it a bite at a time & drink a lot of water also

drink several pints of water daily