New here I try to stay at around 1200 calories a day, and I give myself 1 "free" meal a week. I eat whatever I want, and don't hold back! This is usually on date night with the hubby . It just seems to help me knowing that I'm going to get a treat once a week, and I don't feel as guilty about it. Currently at 190, with a starting weight of 230. Working my way to 145 (hopefully one day)!
I'm 50, and of this morning, am 119.6 (down from 230 on January 7, when I started). (-10 lbs in 5 weeks and a day)
I use MyFitnessPal to record everything and aim for 1260 net, which means I do eat back on the order of 200 exercise calories a day, so I'm really eating about 1460.
I say "about" because all of these estimates are, well, estimates. Was the orange I had for lunch really 65 calories? Or was it 55? Or 70? What about the fried egg I had at a restaurant over the weekend? How much butter was it cooked in? Are my 16 minute walks really 78 calories? Perhaps they're 70.
I'm just assuming everything is within 10%--and that's close enough.
I keep reading (and trying to internalize) that weight loss rates are not an even line down--it zigs and zags and as long as it's going more down than up, we should celebrate every 1/2 pound.
I don't change mine up, though--although I might if I thought I was stalling and it would help. Some people swear by "calorie cycling" and others claim it's hogwash.
I'm hungry at 1200, even though I lost my first 60lbs at that level. Maybe it's winter, but upping it to 1350 is what prevents me from starving and ending up going way over. As for your situation, I think that most people up activity levels to keep consistent 2lb/week loss when 1200 isn't working for them.
I', 69kg (roughly 140lbs) and I am aiming for between 1200 and 1800, i switch up my cal intake during the week - monday is less, wed is more coz i have a jam packed day of activities (dog training for 2 hours, squash for 2 and gym for 2 - wed is my workout day) and then on sat when I have no time for lots of exercise I eat 1200.
My average is about 2lbs a week loss, but for the last 3 weeks i have been stuck maintaining so I will be switching it up.
Well I seem to be the heaviest here, so no surprise that I have the highest calorie budget. I started out at 397lbs with 2740 calories per day, and I am currently at 376lbs with 2644 calories. Tomorrow I will have been using the "Lose It" app for 4 weeks, and I have lost 20lbs. I like that it lowers my budget every time I update my current weight. It has been very easy to use.
I'm 27, 5'7'', and currently 140.2 lbs. I eat around 1200 a day, but I don't beat myself up too much if I go over. When I work out, I eat my calories back only if I'm still hungry. I struggle with having too many fat calories, but I am usually under for carbs and just about right with protein.
Edited to add: I use MFP.
Last edited by bubblybarrister; 02-21-2013 at 01:03 PM.
I cycle and average 1500 a day. Sometimes more some times less. I started at 1900 and have cycled down as I lost. I have only been able to get down to 1200 a few times....
This has always been a gray area for me. I use myplate to track calories and based on my current weight (290) it says i need about 2500 cal to maintain my current weight. I try not to go over 1400 but right now I average 1200 but the last 2 days I have been lucky to hit 1000 (just not hungry).
I have only been tracking about a month now and I have lost 10lbs. Reading the other comments it looks like I may have started too low.
ETA I am 29 if that helps any...
Last edited by ichoose2believe; 02-21-2013 at 01:58 PM.
205. I aim for 1200 with an hour of exercise but now that I am sick and requiring surgury I don't exercise and I am lucky to keep 1000 calories down. But surprisingly my body feels fantastic on 1000 calories, better than it ever has in my life and my doctor says that its fine to be that low cause its better to keep 1000 down then eat 1200 and puke it allllll up. Just gonna say that before everyone attacks me for eating low calories lol. Once I have my surgury and I am all healed up I'll go back to my 1200 with exercise. Its what works for me.
And before anyone says omg you can't go down as you lose weight now cause you are already too low! I have been at 1200 with daily exercise since starting at 335 and have consistently lost weight with no issues.
Last edited by CherryQuinn; 02-21-2013 at 05:10 PM.
252 today and per bodymedia i expend about 2700-3100 cal a day and i try and keep it to 1900-2200 intake a day. i lift heavy weights 3x/week and do cardio nearly every day.
140 Pounds - 1400-1500 calories a day. I also eat back my exercise calories so my net falls in between 1400-1500. I use the app MyNetDiary to keep track.
140 Pounds - 1400-1500 calories a day. I also eat back my exercise calories so my net falls in between 1400-1500. I use the app MyNetDiary to keep track.
And you're still losing with this? Awesome! I find that I can't go lower than 1400 on a regular basis otherwise I get unbearably hungry so it's good to know that I can keep that calorie number even when I drop down to my goal weight some day.
And you're still losing with this? Awesome! I find that I can't go lower than 1400 on a regular basis otherwise I get unbearably hungry so it's good to know that I can keep that calorie number even when I drop down to my goal weight some day.
Yeah, there is no way I could eat less than that on a regular basis. Of course there a some days where I do eat less because I am not hungry, but those do not happen often. I am still losing at a really decent rate for someone my size.
I try to stay at around 1200 calories a day, and I give myself 1 "free" meal a week. I eat whatever I want, and don't hold back! This is usually on date night with the hubby 
