Dieters: What''s your normal calorie intake?

[musey]

I'm sort of trying to resolve a disagreement between myself and a friend. We're both lifestyle dieters and calorie counters, though we take VERY different approaches.

Independent of other dieting factors (nutrient values, your height/weight etc.) and exercise... What is your basic daily calorie intake goal? If you're comfortable sharing other info (height/weight/goal weight/exercise/etc.) please do.

Of course don't reply if you're not comfortable sharing further info (if you are comfy with it, I'd appreciate you expanding on your vote!), just vote anonymously if you're willing

 

[musey]

Sorry, I never remember to include a "just show me the results!" option! I sure wish that "view results" button worked...

 

[chrono]

Musey,
I have no idea what is my daily intake. I just eat everything in moderation, go really easy on sweet, fried and carb items. Medium portions with free helpings of fruit and vegetables. Low fat dairy and minimal butter.

 

[musey]

Thanks for replying, Chrono

 

[Mara]

unfortunately my calorie intake is not independent of my exercise because i have to eat enough to offset the workouts i do...but not eat too much. my nutritionist wants me to eat 1800 cals per day but i try to aim more for 1600 for mostly maintenance and maybe 1-2 lbs of loss. but i also work out like 5x a week. so if i worked out less, i'd eat less too. but for my 5x a week workouts and lots of weight/muscle resistance training, i try to eat about 1600ish per day.

i'm sure you already know this but eating under something like 1000 or 1200 cals per day is not advised especially for those who work out as your body might actually think you are starving and start to RETAIN weight and fat rather than burn it. this was starting to happen to me when i was eating an average of about 1400 cals per day, which is why i try to keep it a little higher and have been pretty successful since then.

 

[musey]

Date: 11/5/2007 5:02:57 PM
Author: Mara
i'm sure you already know this but eating under something like 1000 or 1200 cals per day is not advised especially for those who work out as your body might actually think you are starving and start to RETAIN weight and fat rather than burn it. this was starting to happen to me when i was eating an average of about 1400 cals per day, which is why i try to keep it a little higher and have been pretty successful since then.

Mara, this is actually precisely what our 'disagreement' is about. I'm eating 12-1400/day (toward the high end on exercise days, low end on "off" days) because I recently had to gain 15lbs. and am in the process of dropping it off again.

My friend, on the other hand, eats 800-1000/day AND exercises 3x/week, all advised by her personal trainer

Granted, she is 4'11" and has a very small frame (she's 1/2 filipino) so she shouldn't be eating as much as me (5'4" with a heavy/curvy bone structure). It makes sense that smaller people should have lower minimums. However, I was under the impression that 1200 is kinda the minimum for people in general.


Anyway! That's what made me curious to see if people do generally eat below that. I see only one PSer vote for under 1200 so far.

 

[musey]

Date: 11/5/2007 5:11:45 PM
Author: musey

I see only one PSer vote for under 1200 so far.

I spoke to soon! There are now 3.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 11/5/2007 5:11:45 PM
Author: musey

Date: 11/5/2007 5:02:57 PM
Author: Mara
i'm sure you already know this but eating under something like 1000 or 1200 cals per day is not advised especially for those who work out as your body might actually think you are starving and start to RETAIN weight and fat rather than burn it. this was starting to happen to me when i was eating an average of about 1400 cals per day, which is why i try to keep it a little higher and have been pretty successful since then.

Mara, this is actually precisely what our 'disagreement' is about. I'm eating 12-1400/day (toward the high end on exercise days, low end on 'off' days) because I recently had to gain 15lbs. and am in the process of dropping it off again.

My friend, on the other hand, eats 800-1000/day AND exercises 3x/week, all advised by her personal trainer

Granted, she is 4'11' and has a very small frame (she's 1/2 filipino) so she shouldn't be eating as much as me (5'4' with a heavy/curvy bone structure). It makes sense that smaller people should have lower minimums. However, I was under the impression that 1200 is kinda the minimum for people in general.


Anyway! That's what made me curious to see if people do generally eat below that. I see only one PSer vote for under 1200 so far.

I think if you want to be healthy and lose weight then you eat 1200 calories or above. I eat between 1200-1500. When you eat under it kicks the body into starvation so then when you do eat normal you gain weight. I am no expert but I have a few friends who are in the medical field (one ER doc, an trainer and registered dietician) and we had this conversation one day. I would advise her to talk to a Dietician or her doctor; 800 calories is super low.

 

[musey]

Date: 11/5/2007 5:39:36 PM
Author: Skippy123

I think if you want to be healthy and lose weight then you eat 1200 calories or above. I eat between 1200-1500. When you eat under it kicks the body into starvation so then when you do eat normal you gain weight. I am no expert but I have a few friends who are in the medical field (one ER doc, an trainer and registered dietician) and we had this conversation one day. I would advise her to talk to a Dietician or her doctor; 800 calories is super low.

I agree, and that is/was my understanding of the nutritional standpoint, but the issue of "health" in my crowd is unfortunately a low priority. She's having trouble booking gigs (she's an actor as well) and weight is the easy thing to blame it on (instead of ethnicity, ability, etc.) because it's what can be controlled.

I was kinda shocked to hear that her eating and exercise habits are a result of her personal trainer's suggestion... those people should really know what they're talking about, especially at the rates they charge

Anyway, I see there are now 3 votes for under 1200, so I guess she is not alone, and I'm no closer to resolving that disagreement

I do hope she speaks to a nutritionist, though.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 11/5/2007 5:53:59 PM
Author: musey

Date: 11/5/2007 5:39:36 PM
Author: Skippy123

I think if you want to be healthy and lose weight then you eat 1200 calories or above. I eat between 1200-1500. When you eat under it kicks the body into starvation so then when you do eat normal you gain weight. I am no expert but I have a few friends who are in the medical field (one ER doc, an trainer and registered dietician) and we had this conversation one day. I would advise her to talk to a Dietician or her doctor; 800 calories is super low.

I agree, and that is/was my understanding of the nutritional standpoint, but the issue of 'health' in my crowd is unfortunately a low priority. She's having trouble booking gigs (she's an actor as well) and weight is the easy thing to blame it on (instead of ethnicity, ability, etc.) because it's what can be controlled.

I was kinda shocked to hear that her eating and exercise habits are a result of her personal trainer's suggestion... those people should really know what they're talking about, especially at the rates they charge

Anyway, I see there are now 3 votes for under 1200, so I guess she is not alone, and I'm no closer to resolving that disagreement

I do hope she speaks to a nutritionist, though.

I am laughing at myself because I didn't see what Mara typed. hehee Gosh, if I would have read her post then I could have ditto.

Gosh, that is too bad about your friend and they wonder why woman have body image problems especially when a trainer is advising this. hmmmm

 

[Mara]

musey, i have seen a lot of ''advice'' from nutritionists and doctors in women''s magazines and ALL of them say to never go under i think 1000 for women. 800 is WAY too low. 1000 is too low for many people. but maybe if the person is really tiny then it might be okay. but most everything i have seen says ~1200 from what i can recall. your body NEEDS calories just to survive and continue basic body functions.

if most people calculated out their basal metabolic rates they''d probably find that their body burns something like 1200 cals just being able to walk, talk, breathe...etc. so when you cut back too low AND add exercise on top of that it can really hurt you. people DIE from anorexia because their bodies, their organs just shut down when they are not getting enough nutrients.

your friend should be careful, definitely! i might get a 2nd opinion from another nutritonist if i were her.

 

[brgirl]

I''ve been confused by how many calories I *should* eat as well!! There are a few formulas out there where you use your height, current weight, body fat, & activity level to determine your calorie intake if you want to maintain, lose or gain weight...I remember one time I did it, my ''maintain'' number was around 1100. Then it said if you want to lose X number of pounds, subtract X calories /day - which made my calorie number like 1050 or 1000. It said you could also increase your activity level instead of subtracting - but what if I just want to maintain and not gain? It''s was all too confusing... (I''m 5'' 1" and between 105-115, depending on what i''ve been doing).

 

[lyra]

I''m not as versed with calories as I am with carbs, as I''m diabetic. I believe in general though, that one is advised to eat ideal weight x 10 for losing weight. So if her ideal weight is 80 lbs, then 800 calories would be okay. I know that she might be very petite, but 80 lbs. is *no* adult woman''s ideal weight, I''m quite sure.

I believe 1200 calories is the low end when you realize that everyone should be eating 3 meals and 2 snacks per day with all the daily requirements, and taking into account whatever amount of exercise is scheduled per week.

 

[robbie3982]

My understanding is that 1200 is the lowest you should go for most women. This is based on the calories your body actually needs to run and the fact that it''s hard to get all of the nutritional value you need with less than 1200 calories. Keep in mind that since it''s most women, some women obviously need more and some need less. It''s possible to eat less and still be healthy, but it''s very hard and requires a very strict diet. If your friend isn''t following a strict diet that''s meeting all of her nutritional needs, then she''s most likely doing what everyone else has said and kicking her body into starvation mode. That being said though, it''s pretty easy to eat 1500 calories a day and not meet all of your nutritional needs too.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I selected 1800 to 2000, but that''s really a guess. I don''t count calories. I just try to keep meal portions reasonable and snacks at 100 to 200 calories of good stuff. And then I have wine and/or chocolate too. I figure that if I''m monitoring my weight, I don''t need to count calories per se. But I bet I consume more than women who consider themselves to be on a diet, which I don''t. I''m just trying to be healthy. It makes sense to me that if I eat too little, my metabolism will slow down. When I''ve had periods when I was unusually hungry and know I had many more calories than normal, I''ve found that my weight stayed the same or even dropped, so I figure my body was just telling me what it needed.

 

[KimberlyH]

I eat about 1500-1600 calories a day 5 days a week. 2 days a week I splurge at dinner and end up more in the 2000 calorie range, so if you average it out I eat about 1600-1700 calories per day. I''m 5''5 and weigh 125-127, typically.

I''m no nutritionist but 800 calories sounds dangerously low and unhealthy to me.

 

[gailrmv]

800 sounds way too low to me. It's hard to figure out but I've always heard 1200 is the lowest you should go. I also remember some advice from a doctor years back who said multiply your weight by 15 for your maintenance goal and by 10 for your weight loss goal. So if your friend weighs 110 she would eat 1100 to lose weight (but I'm still not sure they woudl recommend going below 1200). Personally I am 5'8 and exercise a lot and I eat betwen 1400-1800 generally.

 

[Linda W]

In order for me to lose weight, my calorie intake has to be 1200. If I am really really active on the weekends, I can add more calories.

Linda

 

[misysu2]

Hi Musey,

My non-dieting average calorie intake is around 1400. I took notes on what I ate for a month to figure this out. I am 5'7".

They say you have to cut out about 400-500 calories a day to lose 1 lb of fat a week. At the careful supervision of my FI, a med student, I dropped it down to 1000 per day and lost 15 pounds. This is, of course, ONLY on an extremely healthy diet and daily vitamin supplements.

 

[Independent Gal]

Well, 4''11" is pretty small. I''m on the small side too (5''2") and at my normal weight of 104, I apparently need to eat about 1400-1500 to MAINTAIN my weight. If I eat more without working out, I''ll gain weight. So, it''s quite possible that she needs less than that still.

Buuuuut, 800 does sound ridiculously, frighteningly low to me. Maybe call your doctor and ask?

 

[Lorelei]

I try to think of having enough quality petrol in my tank to give me enough energy and to fuel my hour long cardio workouts most days so it varies. I am 5.9 tall and fairly active, so I tend to aim for around 1500 to 2000 a day to try to not actively lose weight, but to try to maintain and keep fat off.

 

[musey]

Thanks ladies! I'm glad there were so many willing to expand on their diet habits.

My friend and I went for a run this morning and she tired out FAR earlier than I did (this is not normal for her--she usually can run laps around me!). She said her calorie intake over the past 6 days has been 850-950

I suggested that perhaps she wasn't getting enough calories (ie ENERGY) to keep herself moving like she's used to. She's starting to feel run-down, and I think, hopefully, seeing the connection? We shall see. Her trainer's pretty hardcore, so I'm hoping she switches to someone a little more, um, normalish-body-friendly.

Besides that, she's lost 0 pounds in the past week and I've lost 2. I know everyone's bodies shift at a different pace... but in her frame of mind, she might see that as her doing something "wrong" and my doing something "right." Hopefully she'll bump herself up to the 1200 club with me

(or at least a little closer!)

 

[Mara]

gosh when i eat too low for a day or two i TOTALLY feel it in my workouts and i just feel like my muscles are weak too. totally not a good feeling. i''d much rather feel strong and fit than weak and tired.

to robbie''s point...you can eat a ton of useless cals to make your numbers OR pack in the nutritional stuff only and eat less. i would much rather eat less cals but all the right stuff because as lorelei said it''s FUEL for your body to do it''s job. which is what you want it to do. doesn''t mean you can''t have splurges sometimes but i try to remember that when my body is getting the right fuel for it...i feel SO much better.

 

[lxb87]

There''s a neat tool at my gym that measures how many calories an individual burns at rest in a day. The nutritionist had me breathe into the tube (like a scuba apparatus) for 20 minutes, and then she figured that I need 1850 a day with my level of activity. That was last year, though, and since I''ve increased my amount of exercise by a lot recently, my trainer thinks I should go up in calories too. It sounds counter-intuitive - eat more to lose weight - but from what you all were saying on here, it makes sense.

 

[goldfish]

I eat around 750-900 calories a day. But I''m not on a diet. It''s just my appetite level. I''m half Japanese and very small as well. (5''2" and around 95-98 lbs.)

 

[Mara]

Date: 11/6/2007 5:11:41 PM
Author: goldfish
I eat around 750-900 calories a day. But I''m not on a diet. It''s just my appetite level. I''m half Japanese and very small as well. (5''2'' and around 95-98 lbs.)

wow you eat like a goldfish!!!

get it? i kill me.

 

[goldfish]

Ha.

That''s actually why my fiancee started calling me that. And also that I''m so shy.

 

[marcy]

I voted 1200 to 1400 calories. I am trying to loose weight and exercise light to moderate (stretching and walking). I''ve lost 133 pounds and want to loose 42 more pounds. I think once I reach maintenance I will still only be eating 1400 to 1500 calories a day. I think your friend is probably not eating enough.

Holy cow, goldfish. You are tiny and don''t eat much.

 

[Pandora II]

I''m 5ft 10", medium boned and weigh about 143lbs. I prefer to be about 5lbs less than that though.

I''m one of the 1,000-1,200 calories people.

This is the heaviest I have ever been, mainly because my spinal problems have made exercise impossible. My physio and surgeon have banned pretty much everything except walking, although I have bought a secret exercise bike for stress-relief!

I think because of my tablets, I am never hungry. I don''t ever eat breakfast (I know...), normally forget to eat my lunch until 4/5pm, and just have supper - which is my favourite meal anyway. I don''t eat wheat or drink alcohol, so I''m already eliminating some of the high calorie things.

To be honest it''s quite an effort to do the 1200 - but my weight has been stable for about 6 months.

 

[asscherisme]

I aim for 1,200-1,500 but thats hard to stick to!


Holy cow Marcy, your loss is amazing!! You should be incredibly proud of yourself. How long did that take you?