Holymoly calories!?

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  • So I checked this website.
    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

    And at 295 age 25, I workout around 3-5 times a week for a hour It's telling me to eat around 2360 for extreme weight loss. Well I don't think I've EVER eaten that many calories even when I'm not dieting. I thought 1200 calories a day would be good but now Im reading that if I dont eat enough calories I could just not lose any weight. What do I do ?
  • 1200 calories is pretty low for your current height and weight. Your not going to want to go below 1500-1600 especially if your working out When your filling your body with healthy foods you'd be amazed at how hard it is to reach that number sometimes :P

    I started calorie counting and keeping a 1500-1800 range but didn't have much success losing. I upped my calories to 1800 as my minimum and now i'm losing pretty consistently

    Most people are surprised at how many calories we actually consume when we're not calorie counting. I think i was eating around 3000-4000 a day before I started watching portions, but I was positive I wasen't going above 2000 or so.

    So play around with the amount and try and figure out what is best for you. Give it a few weeks and see if your seeing results
  • I agree, that calculator also gives me a very high number. I eat about 1600 calories per day (with no exercise) and am consistently losing about 1.5-2 lbs a week it seems. It is the least restrictive "diet" I've ever been on!
  • I've also fought with calorie calculators for years. They're not accurate for me. The one on LiveStrong has been the most accurate for me -- some had me needing 2600 calories to lose weight, which was definitely not true. Right now I'm at 2000 calories a day which the calculator said meant 2 pounds a week, but it's more like 1 pound every 10 days.

    What I did is start with a higher calorie goal and work down. I did 2400 a day and lost nothing. Then 2200 and lost nothing. Then down to 2000 and now I'm losing consistently, even if it's not as much as the calculator claims. It takes finagling but eventually you'll figure it out.
  • That calculator told me 1300, and that is about what I eat, and I am losing only about a pound a week right now.
  • A good rule of thumb is that your basal metabolism, calories needed to survive, is weight*10. At 295 that's 2950. Walk to work, walk back home, that's more calories. Exercise, more calories. So that does seem right.
  • I have no clue about the exact science of it.. but I do know that MFP tells me to eat about 1700 calories a day if I am working out 7 days a week for 30 minutes. I rarely get up to 1700. But a couple times I have. I try not to go lower than 1300 though. I never stick to an exact number. As long as it falls between 1300 and 1700, I am happy and I've been losing. 27 lbs since Jan 1.
  • 35(?;6)()$$8$(!78&' ( that is me swearing)

    I am eating 1800 a day and losing NOTHING. And I'm not really active. I'm getting ready to cry! Lol
  • Quote: 35(?;6)()$$8$(!78&' ( that is me swearing)

    I am eating 1800 a day and losing NOTHING. And I'm not really active. I'm getting ready to cry! Lol
    Are you weighing and measuring your food? If not, you could betting in more calories than you think you are. I know it is super easy for me to judge something as less calories than it actually is. If you are weighing and measuring.. have u thought of taking a walk of the afternoons or going up and down stairs instead of elevators?
  • You go up my stairs Bailey's!! Lol. I am weighing and measuring it allllll. I do need to exercise. I think that if I walk in public the birds and squirrels will make fun of me lol
  • Quote: You go up my stairs Bailey's!! Lol. I am weighing and measuring it allllll. I do need to exercise. I think that if I walk in public the birds and squirrels will make fun of me lol
    I hate stairs, but I do try to take them if it is just a few flights. Exercise is hard.. but for me it is the key to my loss this time.

    Someone would have to be a pretty low life person to make fun of you. If they are that low lifed, you shouldn't worry what they say anyway.
  • Yes, eat the 2360 cals and see where it takes you. That's really not the huge amount you're picturing, so make sure you're weighing/measuring your portions carefully. Just remember to recalculate as the weight comes off.
  • Thanks to everyone for the help! I'm actually pushing my CAL intake to around 1700 just to see what happens I'll weigh myself in on friday and see if it did anything. When I was doing 1200ish I was losing maybe a pound a week but I'm hoping more calories will help me lose more ( if that's possible! )
  • 2360 would be no trouble for me to pack away in one sitting. That's a big meal at a lot of restaurants.
  • So. Im around to 1700ish now. Im eatting more but now I'm -always- hungry it seems! It might be the increase in green tea Ive been drinking.. but is this good or bad? Im not snacking bad or falling off the wagon. I'm just wanting to eat more.