I'm 26, breastfeeding an older toddler (she nurses twice a day, so I don't need as many extra calories as moms of newborns) and I work a very physically demanding full time job. I work out 6 days a week and burn between 300-500 calories. Current weight is 145, and my calorie goal is 1550. Took lots of trial and error to figure that out, after starting at 1200 and starving, but this is my happy place apparently. On Sundays, my day off, I usually eat 1800-2000, so maintainence for my goal weight. I eat my exercise calories back if I'm hungry, but not just because they are there. I lose about 1 pound a week, but I'm a slow loser no matter what so I'm fine with that.
I'm 40, 170lbs, and also breastfeeding a mostly-weaned baby. According to MFP, my target is 1400 calories a day, and I find that I naturally come out around there if I eat well and when I'm hungry. I'm losing an average of 2lbs a week, allowing for a bit of leeway and a weekly 'treat' meal.
I exercise only sporadically, and when I do I don't particularly make an effort to eat it back. It doesn't seem to make any huge difference to my rate of loss whether I do or not.
And before anyone says omg you can't go down as you lose weight now cause you are already too low!
That argument has never made sense to me. If you start at a lower caloric intake, you'll lose faster and more consistently, so you won't NEED to go down lower. And regardless of the starting figure, you get to raise it once you reach goal (unless you're eating eucalorically, meaning at projected maintenance levels). Your plan seems to be working very well for you. Keep it up!
Hey! I'm 25 and I aim for 1500 calories. I lose maaaybe a lb a week, but then every few weeks I have a whoosh of 5 lbs (love those weeks!)
I am not currently working out due to an injury but I don't eat my calories "back" when i am working out.
As far as shocks go, I went on an all inclusive vacation a few weeks ago and i kept losing upon my return. I haven't had a plateau yet so I don't know lol I just jinxed myself, didn't i?!
Mine is 1500-1600. I'm at 209 right now, but I ate 1500/day when I worked my way down to 155 a couple of years ago. I absolutely cannot get by on less than 1400 on a regular basis. Just doesn't work for me.
Hi! I just started counting calories a couple of weeks ago. The first week i was ****-bent on staying at 1200 but that was too difficult for me and was stressing me out (can we say cranky lol?) Anyway, knowing myself, I figured if I tried to keep that goal I would end up bingeing and falling hard, so I adjusted to a more realistic goal of 1390. This increase has done the trick - in this 'honeymoon phase' of early dieting I am losing around 2 lbs every 3 to 4 days and I'm not starving.
I'm 43, 5'6.5" tall, I'm fairly fit - I do 5-6 hours a week of exercise (recently 6) and I do a mix of cardio and strength training. I aim for 1400-1500 a day (never eating back exercise calories). I lose about a pound a week (if I'm lucky). I also have a low thyroid that is treated by synthroid = 112 mg and I'm perimenopausal.
Last edited by berryblondeboys; 03-23-2013 at 11:15 AM.
New here! I am 5'10 268 breastfeeding a toodler and also training for a half marathon. My caloric intake is between 1600-2200 depending on how many miles i jog that week.I have lost 32 pounds since november following this. after the marathon is over though my intake will drop down.
Current weight: 160
Current allowance: Calorie cycling with average of 1450 a day
So far, I've lost 60 pounds from when I started transitioning to a healthier lifestyle about a year ago (I've only seriously changed my lifestyle within the past 6 months). More recently (within the past few months), I decided to start calorie cycling when I hit a plateau.
Considering that I workout intensely for 2 hrs 4-5 days a week, I try to maintain my intake at an average of at least 1450 a day. On days I don't workout I maintain between 1100 and 1250. On workout days I stay around 1300-1400. On weekends, I allow myself some wiggle room and usually go around 1600-2000, but it all depends on my current progress and what is going on in my life. For example, if I know I'm going out on Thursday, I'll switch my high calorie day to make up for that.
Over the past few months I have been doing this, I have lost 2 lbs consistently every week. So far, this has worked much better than eating the same calories every day. Not to mention, it is much easier to maintain and it allows that room for error on some days.
I eat 1200-1350 plus 30min of cardio equaling 1150-1300 (I hope to make it an hour but right now I need to start with this). I know it's low but I have a history of anorexia so if I eat more I have EXTREMELY low self esteem and will end up binging. I used to be fat and cut calories before (Which ended up becoming anorexia) and I would 1200 (Before the anorexia) and lost 2lbs a week. I am at my highest weight now though so I think I will lose about 2-3lbs. Not sure yet.
Last edited by wolfgirl69; 04-02-2013 at 07:42 PM.
I am 5'8'' and currently 157. I eat 1200 calories a day, which works well for me. I tend to save a good majority of my calories for the evening because I like to look forward to a big dinner and it keeps me from going over.
lol I just jinxed myself, didn't i?!
