to eat 3000 calories a day?

[chocolategateaudeluxe]

DH is on a diet so all conscious about how much calories everything has... So, just out of curiosity, I counted how many calories I ate for a couple of days - it was, pretty concistently, 3000! To be honest, I watched what I ate on those days, not restricted but watched, I bet it's usually more towards 3500.

I knew I eat a lot and that most people I know eat less, but I'm a bit shocked in light of those figures. Yes, I've gained a bit of weight since having DCs, I'm a size 10 now, but it makes me wonder what would happen if I really piled on the weight. I don't think I could get below 2500 calories a day, let alone properly diet.

Can there really be that much - healthy - variation between people? The guideline for women is, how much, 1800-2000? DH eats half of what I do, is muscely and 3 stone overweight... Should I try and eat less or is this just how much I need? Btw, I'm healthy, thyroid etc. all ok. I sit at the desk most days but also walk and run a bit.

You just have a fast metabolism. Rejoice!

What's your bmi?

I don't know how important any one statistic is when it comes to general health. Be that calorie intake, BMI, dress size etc. If you feel and look healthy, that's a start. Is your food intake balanced? Do you eat a lot of fruit and veg? Avocados and fruit are quite high in calories, but that doesn't make them 'bad.'

You say that your husband is 3 stone overweight, although very muscular. Does he look fit? According to who/what is he overweight? If it's BMI then it often doesn't take into account the distribution of weight such as skeleton/fat/muscle so just comes up with a general idea.

Food is fuel for us to enjoy though!

Can there really be that much - healthy - variation between people?

I find yes it's true. Unfair, but true. You should monitor over a few weeks & see if maybe some days you eat much less, long term average might be lower than you think.

3000 calories is a lot, but you must be eating better high calorie food rather than eating mars bars all day.

It also depends on your age! Up to the age of 35 i could pretty much eat what I wanted, I am now discovering this is not the case at age 39!

The way to think of it is at present you eat 3000 cals a day as your maintainence weight. If you decided to loose weight you would only need to drop 500 cals to start losing.

I'm well jealous, I'm stuck on 1200 cals atm!

How much do you walk? That can add up to a surprising amount over the day.

You could get a pedometer and keep track for a week or so.

My BMI is 20.5, so normal. My diet is fairly balanced: Little meat, 7+ portions of fruit & veg, little processed food, drink only water (apart from coffee), but also crisps, chocolate & wine every day... and I lOOOve cheese.

DH is muscular but also has a lot of fat (he has a noticable belly), he definitely is overweight despite exercising a lot and eating little...

You'd need to keep a food diary for at least a week to get a proper idea of what you eat. Maybe without realising you have a few low cal days now and then and it all evens out.

If you really are eating 3000-3500 a day, then for an easy, relaxed way to lose weight just make sure it is 3000 max. Stick at that for a few weeks. Then cut down another 200 a day.

How tall are you. Size 10 on most people would be slim.

With a BMI of 20.5, you don't need to lose anything. If you go much lower then you'd be in the unhealthy range.

YANBU but crisps and choc every day won't be doing you any favours inside, even if you look ok on the outside. Lots of fruit and veg is great, but won't counteract the fats you are eating too. Just beware metabolism changes as you get older and you might find it hard to break these eating habits. I can eat what I like too, but am very aware of health implications of what I eat iykwim, but no, your body your choice. Of course YANBU.

It just goes to show that not all slim people are virtuous and eat very little.

3000 calories is a lot!

my excuse rationale for chrisps and choc is that i need the calories (to maintain my weight) and what can you choose after 8 slices of toast, some with peanut butter, 3 bowls of pasta, 4 eggs, beans, more nuts, or similar food, and you've had your 10 5 a day and you're still hungry? this is the same reason why DS1 eats a large margherita pizza every day after school, before cocked dinner for tea, and still is skinny with an eight pack

3000 calories is a lot but.........you're slim so really dont sweat it, maybe you are genetically made to be smaller and you have a fast metabolism. If I ate 3000 cals per day I would be the side of a small terrace!

Just thank god, enjoy your food and pity us poor sods who exist on fresh air to stay slimmer :)

However, on a serious note, eating shit isnt good for your heart - you may be slim on the outside but you may be a fattie on the inside so maybe for that reason alone you should think about changing your diet slightly (if you do eat shit that is and not 3000 cals of good stuff)

how old are you?
I wouldn't rely on being able to continue to eat like this and stay slim.

totem Idon't walk that much at the moment, about 2k a day and half an hour running, that's 500kcal max.
I don't think there are any low cal days, I counted cals for a week now, no variation. Also, I consistently eat 6 meals or more a day as I just get really shacky & dizzy if I don't eat for 2 or 3 hours.

mid 30s.

..and Choc changing the subject slightly maybe your DH isnt eating enough which is why he isnt loosing weight. If you dont eat enough your body goes into starvation mode and hangs onto all that fat and calories that are taken in........esp if he is exercising a lot. Maybe he needs to up his calorie intake :)

Sorry, just one more post: I suspect I'm eating too much, or too much "shit" as Betty put it, as I'm not lean - little belly, the start of bingo wings, etc. I feel better when I am 8 pounds or so lighter. Might try and reduce the "shit"...

Do you exercise Choc?

I do, 5k a day (or similar amount of exercise).

You are lucky Choc. I have to stick to around 1500 calories a day to stay 9 stone and a size 10. When I ate as much as you I was 13 and a half stone and a tight size 16!