Hi Ladies,
I'm 26 years old and 5' 7". I'm struggling like crazy to lose these 20 pounds that creeped on over the last couple years. I know everyone's calorie needs are different depending on your height and age. But I was wondering what all your 20 somethings out there who are around 5' 7" are doing to lose or even maintain weight.

How many calories are you eating? How many meals do you eat a day? How many days do you exercise and how long each day?

Any advice is helpful!!

Hello!

I'm 5'6 and about 145 pounds currently. I've been maintaining at this weight for awhile now (give or take the odd pound) and eating between 2,000 - 2,500 calories a day (more toward the high end of that :P).

I run just about every day for anywhere from 30mins to over an hour at a decent pace (around 8mph) with some intervals and hill running. I do weights 3 times a week and one or two spin classes.

At the moment I am aiming to lose a couple of kilos or about 10 pounds (summer is coming!) and have dropped my calorie intake to 1,400 - 1,500. My exercise regime hasn't changed much as it's already quite intense. For me it's more about food than exercise!

Oh, and I eat 5 -6 small meals throughout the day.

I dont know how much help I'll be since I'm much heavier than you. But I'm a 5'7" 20 something.

I can lose weight, eating between 1800 - 2200 calories, and for exercise, lately I've been running, and riding my bike (on the road and on mt biking trails).

Right now I'm doing a slow body recomposition (adding muscle while losing fat) so I have to keep my calories close to maintenance. I maintain at about 2200 calories per day, so at the moment I try to stick to 1900-2000. The change on the scale is relatively slow, but my strength gains have been great and I'm whittling the fat off my waist quite nicely.

Melly83- I love this thread! I am also 5'7" and have been struggling for a very long time trying to drop like 20 lbs as well! I started a new concept 7 weeks ago, weighed in at that time at 146.2 and have lost 7 lbs since. It is slow and very frustrating. I have fluctuated a lot since I started college (I am 27 now!) I would lose 15, gain 20, repeat. I always wanted to lose 5 more lbs, but would end up binging and never get back to a healthy lifestyle until it was too late.

So what I do now is this... I keep a very rough estimate of my calorie count. I aim to eat 1600 cal per day but some days it is more like 1800. I don't deny myself. If someone brings donuts into work and I really want one, I select my favorite, and will eat half. If I want a piece of chocolate, I eat it. I had a few days where I ate pretty bad in the past 7 weeks, but I mostly make healthy choices, ie for breakfast I eat whole grain english muffin with 1 Tb peanut butter. Snack is 100 cal almonds and iced coffee with skim and splenda. Lunch is some sort of veggies and bean salad with light dressing, yogurt, fruit. Dinner is chicken or steak with large spinach salad and veggie side, dessert is a fiber one granola bar and then a fruit smoothie made with banana, peach (or whatever is in season), milk, ice, splenda. IF I am still hungry, I'll grab pretzels, ice pop, or milk. Some days I'll eat a few Tb of peanut butter if I am still very hungry. So I don't starve myself, but I try to eat less than 2000 cal.

I exercise 30-40 min a day most days of the week rotating treadmill (power walk on incline) and free weights with circuit training (similar to 30DS). The weight is coming off slower than ever but it is coming off. I am trying to lose 15-20 more lbs by my bday (dec 19) but not sure if it will work.

What are you doing and what kind of success are you having?

Hi Melly!

I'm 5'7" and 239lbs. I've got another 69 pounds to lose before I hit my goal weight. I've had a weight problem my whole life, and that's something I'm aiming to change.

I actually don't count calories. I wasn't making any progress on my own, so I broke down and got a personal trainer. She told me to read The Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno (www.eatcleandiet.com), and it's accompanying cook book. It's totally revolutionized the way I look at food.

The whole diet is about eating six mini meals of fresh fruits and veggies, and balancing lean protein with complex carbs. They're all naturally low calorie choices, so there's no real need to count.

The only time I really have to pay attention is when I eat out with friends, since I don't have as much control over how the food is made.

Hello!

I'm recently back at my "comfy" weight of 145 (I got up to almost 160 several months ago), but would like to see 135 again. I'm 5'6.5.

I am not exercising as much as I would like- 2 strength training sessions and 1-2 cardio sessions a week, which isn't near where I usually am. However, I've been doing really well with eating and that's working like a charm. The exercise is just a bonus.

I eat around 1500-1800 calories a day, with a 2,000-2,200 day thrown in for good measure.

I'm not much of a grazer. I have a big smoothie for breakfast (with protein and psyllium) and a light dinner. I don't eat after 7 or so. Lunch is my biggest meal of the day and it's usually a salad w/ veggies and hummus on the side and a protein on top.

I am going to the beach in a month, so I really need to get moving (literally!)

Glad to see there are a few of us around

Hi! I eat 1200-1400 calories a day, and try to get in fiber and protein at every meal. Exercise 6-7 days per week - 1 day of a long run or walk and the rest high intensity on the elliptical at the gym.

I consistently lose 1/2 to 1 lb per week, and continually increase the intensity of the exercise. I can't seem to lose as much on higher or lower calories. I have a medium build, so I'll keep going until I'm about 135-140 lbs.

I'm about 5'7". My goal range is 133-140, I've maintained it for awhile, but am at the upper end. I also go by what my stomach looks like. I exercise at least 5 days a week. I don't count calories as a rule, but it's usually over 2000 (but I am quite active).

5'6", 143ish lbs. I try to consume 1100-1300 calories a day. It used to be more but I don't have the time to work out anymore. I do walk three miles every day (.75 miles from school, walk there and back twice a day). I also try to do a 2000 calorie day at least once every two weeks. I average of loss of 1.83 lbs per week.

Thanks everyone for "weighing in"(haha) on this!! I find it helpful to see what other people are doing and how it's working for them.

Currently I'm trying to average 1600-1800 calories a day and burn 800-1000 calories exercising every evening. This is my first week at this so I'm sure it'll take a little time until I can tell how it's actually working.

I'm also allowing myself a 250 calorie treat every day. That could mean a iced latte, cookies, chocolate, a donut, ect. Obviously I have a sweet tooth and denying myself turns into intense cravings, binges and guilt. I figure this way I can look forward to some kind of treat daily and as long as I work it into my calories then I don't have to feel guilty about it.

Hopefully I'll soon see the scales drop back into the 130's!! I'll update you next week and let you know how things are going...

I'm 26 & 5'8" - I currently eat around 1500net per day. The calorie counting journal I use reccomends 1700. When I was way skinnier, around 22, I was trying to get from the 160's to the 140's and I was eating 1300 a day net.

For you calorie counters, does anyone struggle with being hungry on the amount of calories that your eating?

Hey
I feel frustrated with my dieting and exercise routine. I have lost weight but it is just coming off so slow and fluctuates a lot. I did pretty well for several days but gained weight. I am journaling and realize I lost most of the 7 lbs in the first few weeks (have been doing this for real for almost 8 weeks). I just can't seem to lose the weight like I used to. I try to eat 1600-1800 cal/day and exercise 30 min 5 days per week. Should I decrease calories? That would be so hard.. some days I am starving so I need more. I can't imagine eating less. Should I add 15 min or so to my routine?

JessieCat - I would suggest adding 15 mins to your exercise rountine. It really seems like your at a good calorie intake for weight loss. I understand the weight not coming off as easy. It seems like a few short years ago I could drop the weight like nothing. Now it's struggle. Your technically not at a bad weight now so you have some room to play around and try some different things and see what works best!!