AIBU to wonder if the recommended 2000 calories a day for women is too much?

[VenetiaLanyon]

I'm of an average build and height and exercise regularly, but would definitely put weight on if I ate this much every day. Anyone else?

[MousyMouse]

it's so variable
for me it's about right, am tall and walk a lot a go running regularly.

[TheDogDidIt]

It certainly would be too much for me (5'1") - I put on weight on any more than about 1,300 . But it's interesting to hear an average-sized woman saying the same thing - I'd assumed it would be based on average size and activity.

[frootshoots]

Too much for me. I lose weight on 1200 per day, but gain on 2000. Completely depends on the persons BMR and daily activity though, IMO.

[aldiwhore]

Its the balance between energy in and energy out. 2000 cals is based upon a person who burns off enough calories to maintain.

Exercise is my weak point, so 2000 cals per day is WAY too much.

When I'm active I can maintain on those calories though. Its quite deceptive I think because people have different lives.

[imnotmymum]

I would put on weight if I ate that much daily. I do not know how you could eat that many calories daily if follow a healthy lifestyle. I run/cycle daily but could not eat 2000 calories.

[VenetiaLanyon]

I have recently discovered that I can maintain my weight if I eat about 1500 a day, with daily exercise, so was slightly surprised to see the 2000 calorie recommendation on a BBC online article today on how children can become obese. It seems like a bit "one size fits all", and is therefore potentially unhelpful as a guideline.

[TheProvincialLady]

It depends hugely on the individual. I am slim and short and I eat more than 2000 calories a day most days and don't put on weight. I lose at 1800 or less. The guidelines probably don't take into account how sedentary most people are these days.

[MrSunshine]

Thats what most people consume, and its very likely you all underestimate how many calories you consume, since the majority people do. People forget to add in everything they drink as well as eat, or underestimate cals in sauces and toppings and snacks and all kinds.
Studies show that if you think you consume 1500 cals a day, its probably more like 1800.

[multipoodles]

I only eat around 1200 and struggle to eat more, I'm vegan and vegetables do fill me up!

[Cokeaholic]

I have gained lots of weight over the last 10 years eating around 2000 calories a day.

I always thought the woman's recommended calorie intake was 1800 per day but as I'm over 40 and currently trying to lose weight I find that I have to eat about 1200-1300 to actually lose a pound over a week. I suspect that if I want to mainatain a lower weight I'll have to stick to 1500 a day max or find someway of shoehorning massive amounts of exercise into the week.

[SomersetONeil]

Yes, 2000 is too much for me to maintain my weight when I'm not able to be particularly physically active.

[VenetiaLanyon]

I guess it probably is an age thing too; I am on the shady side of 40...

[EdMcDunnough]

I'm surprised, from what I remember in my dieting days (ok 20 years ago) it was supposed to be about 1500 - I remember trying to stick to 1200. and being hungry.

Diets are so crap.

[Puppypanic]

I couldn't eat that much in a day if I tried! Probably only eat 1300 calories max per day and feel fine on it.

It's such a one size fits all, ridiculous really as so dependent on your height and level of activity.

[Notanexcitingname]

YANBU to wonder. But I'm 5'1", I don't think I'm more than arevagely active (well I am, but I eat those extra calories), and I lose on 1900/day.

scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

allows you to calulate it based on weight and height. I've been utterly converted to "eat more to lose weight", which ensures you eat enough to keep you metabolism up.

[LadyMargolotta]

It's incredibly hard to estimate how many calories you consume. I also thought the recommendation was now 1800 for women.

I think it's based on women doing a healthy amount of exercise every day, when many women don't.

[GoldShip]

It depends how active you are as a person I suppose, and your age.

I worked out that if I did nothing but lie in bed all day, my body would use 1,500 calories.
This is called the Basal Burn Rate calculator here

But my Total Daily Energy Expenditure (working etc) is 1,879 calculator here

So 2,000 technically is a bit above that I should need.

(And if I wanted to lose weight at a slow steady pace I'd eat between the two numbers)

[SchrodingersMew]

It's way too much for me, I put weight on after about 1300!

Wrong foods mind.

[VenetiaLanyon]

Could be, Mr Sunshine, but I have been tracking religiously with MyFitnessPal, so think I am tracking the calories pretty accurately...

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

I lose weight at 1200, but gain at 2000, so try to stick to around 1800.

I never understood how many calories were in things until I did MyFitnessPal earlier this year. It was a revelation about a lot of things. Now I know how many calories are in things I can judge my diet better.

I've lost 2st since getting that understanding.

[VenetiaLanyon]

I do about 30-40 minutes exercise (Shred or similar) and walk briskly for about 30 mins a day, but otherwise am sedentary.

[fuckadoodlepoopoo]

I think its probably right if you also follow the guidelines for doing 3 lots of cardio exercise a week.

Im short and currently following mfp on 1200 a day and the weight is coming off very slowly indeed. It says that i should eat 1600 to maintain but seeing as i haven't lost any for the last two weeks on 1200 then i doubt it.

I walk quite a bit, run occasionally and have just spent 2 hours doing very energetic housework so its not like i spend the whole day on my arse!

[sarahtigh]

this is all based on averages but most people even doing food diaries whther thin or fat underestimate actual food/ drink consumed by 25%, there maybe a few who are meticulous but most estimates are wrong like 10g butter on bread is so thin you a=can hardly see it, a slice of bread unless you read packet varies from 80-120 calories very easy to get it wrong

average women is about 5'4" or 5'5" and about 10 stoneit does not assume vast amounts of exercise at all but also would not be based on sitting all day and going everywhere by car,

a lot of people who do lots of exercise will need way more, someone doing 5-6 hours of hard physical activity/ exercise a day would need 500-800 more calories

[fuckadoodlepoopoo]

Id only burn 1316 if i spent all day in bed!

[perceptionreality]

If I ate 2000 calories a day I'd be the size of a house!