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How many calories do you eat?

218 replies

blaisealex · 08/06/2021 19:56

How many calories a day do you eat?

How old are you and what is your height and weight?

I'm 25 with a BMI of 37 at 15st 7. I was consuming at a guess 3000+ a day.
Currently dieting with calorie counting and reducing intake.

I'm having around 1000 calories a day now but really, I'm wondering, once I get to a weight I'm happy with, how many calories I should then be having to maintain.

So it would be interesting to hear how many calories people have daily.

OP posts:
FairyDusting · 08/06/2021 21:32

You need to work out your BMR, you’re under eating massively which will not work out well in the long run.

I’m 5’9, 11 stone and eat around 2200 calories. I work out 5 x a week and lift HEAVY weights. I don’t look my weight though because I carry a lot of muscle, I’m a size 8. For context pre gym I was 10.7 stone, size 10-12 and eating around 1200 calories a day. You need to adjust what you’re eating to your routine.

partyatthepalace · 08/06/2021 21:33

My BMI is a bit higher than yours (😬), in my 40s. I am loosing pretty well on around 1700 - 1900 calories a day, keeping carbs under 100g. Am using the very cheap nutracheck app. You get a bit extra allowance for excercise but I am only v moderately active.

roarfeckingroarr · 08/06/2021 21:34

About 3,000. I have a BMI of 20.5 and v fortunate genes.

shivawn · 08/06/2021 21:35

No idea to be honest, I've never counted calories. I suspect it's a good bit more than recommended but I could be wrong. I'm quite an active person and I've always had a great metabolism so I don't worry about it.

FairyDusting · 08/06/2021 21:35

Just to add, eating that little was unsustainable for me. It led to me constantly binging and then going back to restricting.

Fernando072020 · 08/06/2021 21:36

Hi op,
Please have a look at rh fitness on Facebook. They are fantastic and explain everything really well, teach you how to eat properly and why eating 800-1000 calories is actually very unhealthy and bad for you.

They really are awesome people and keep their prices very low x

SandrasAnnoyingFriend · 08/06/2021 21:36

I'm 40, 10stone, 5'8 and probably eat around 2200 on average. Less during the week and more at weekends.
I'm happy eating salads, fruit, veg etc. But I love all food and won't compromise on copious butter or double cream.
I don't have a massive sweet tooth so don't regularly eat cakes, chocolate or biscuits.
Try to eat minimal amounts of carbs and make the ones that I do eat worthwhile.

socalledfriend · 08/06/2021 21:36

5 ft 5, 11 stone 10, 55 years old. Disabled.

My BMR is 1300 Sad so if I have more than that I gain.

It's shit.

Snoken · 08/06/2021 21:37

Early/Mid-40's, exercise quite a lot and eat 1700-1800 calories a day. I calorie count off and on, currently on. I am pretty much in the middle of the normal weight bmi span, but I'm not thin, just quite strong if that makes sense.

purplesequins · 08/06/2021 21:39

@cherrybonbons

Also remember, the goal isn't to eat a little as you can. It's to eat as MUCH as you can whilst maintaining a calorie deficit (if you want to lose weight) too little calories and you'll feel awful and it's not sustainable
I love this. very sensible
HelenHywater · 08/06/2021 21:41

What are macros @Chesneyhawkes1 and how do I work mine out?

I'm new (at age 51!) to the world of calories, but probably need around 1000 or possibly 1200 to lose weight. I would gain on 1800 a day. Possibly due to fucking my diet up over years. Or maybe just not knowing anything about macros.

i'm very active though and not especially overweight, would just like to lose a few kilo.

hamstersarse · 08/06/2021 21:41

46, BMI of 20, 5’6, just under 9 stone

Eat about 2000 calories a day

Used to calorie count for years and was heavier when I tortured myself with 1200 calories a day

I only eat proper food now, no junk, and never any refined carbs. I also basically do 18/6 every day.

Holidaystuff · 08/06/2021 21:42

I looked up a BMI calculator and then BMR calculator (to work out how many calories needed at rest and then did the Harris Benedict formula.

So assuming:
Goal weight: 10 stone
Height: 5ft 7
You'd need around 1738 calories to maintain.

blaisealex · 08/06/2021 21:43

Apparently my BMR for my current weight is 1752. This seems like too much though for weight loss. I can't see myself losing much at 1752.

OP posts:
purplesequins · 08/06/2021 21:43

'macros' is a fancy word for the main energy sources: carbohydrates, protein, fat.

Holidaystuff · 08/06/2021 21:43

This is for someone 25, if you're over 30 then your BMR/Harris Benedict formula would be lower!

TaylorStan · 08/06/2021 21:45

I'm 39, 5ft 8, 10.5 stone.

Weekdays I eat max 1200. Often only 90/1000. Weekends I don't count but suspect it's around the 3000 calories a day mark with alcohol included. On weekdays I follow 16:8 and only eat between 11am and 7pm.

I run about 15k a week, do one Zumba class a week and try to walk a lot.

I lost 3 stone in the last couple of years which is why I'm now so strict in the week. I find doing it this way means I maintain my weight and can still have a good social life and enjoy my weekends.

AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet · 08/06/2021 21:45

I used to eat 1,200 when losing weight a few years ago (used MyfitnessPal)
Looking back, I was always hungry. I can't imagine eating so little now, and definitely not as little as 1,000. I'd guess that I eat around 1500 a day now, more at weekends . And I have maintained my weight

I'm 5ft 3 and 9 stone, sometimes fluctuates by 2 or 3 pounds.

If I ate 2,000 calories per day, I'd pile on weight in no time.

blaisealex · 08/06/2021 21:46

@Holidaystuff

I looked up a BMI calculator and then BMR calculator (to work out how many calories needed at rest and then did the Harris Benedict formula.

So assuming:
Goal weight: 10 stone
Height: 5ft 7
You'd need around 1738 calories to maintain.

Wish I was 5ft 7! 5ft 4 over here. Sad And I'd be happy to be 12 stone right now, 10 stone seems a far fetched fantasty!
OP posts:
LaProcureure · 08/06/2021 21:46

Late 30s, 5’8”, 63kg/ 10stone. My maintenance calories for a sedentary day is only about 1700, but I run about 3-4 hours a week so that means I can eat more like 2000- 2500 on running days. I find I can maintain pretty well like that. I love eating, without the exercise I would have to eat far too little!

blaisealex · 08/06/2021 21:47

I've had 1007 calories today and that'll be it until lunch time tomorrow now.

OP posts:
Thenthatsthatthen · 08/06/2021 21:48

5'3, 11st8lb (down from 15st last October), and eat 800-1000 a day with a takeaway/meal out once a week. Been loosing 1lb a week average. I Always have 7-10 portions of fruit/veg a day, plenty of fibre and 60g+ of protein (trying to up this) so I'm not to concerned about a lack of nutrition. I tried dropping the takeaway and uppping to 1,400 which the TDEE calculator says I should be eating to loose weight but I gained 4lb Hmm everything is weighed religiously and recorded. I have PCOS and a knee injury which limits my exercise. I can't see me ever eating the 1751 the calculator suggests for maintenance without gaining.

Holidaystuff · 08/06/2021 21:50

According to the Diabetes UK calculator your current BMR is 2872 but that's to maintain.

To lose weight it's:

2372 for 1lbs each week (deduct 500 cals per day to make a 3500 calorie deficit each week)

1872 for 2lbs

1622 for 2.5lbs

CorianderBee · 08/06/2021 21:51

I'm 26, 5'4, BMI 24, eat between 1600 and 1800 usually according to my app. Goes up at the weekend due to booze lol.

I'm a big foodie and am trying to exercise more to get down from 10st to 9st.

Holidaystuff · 08/06/2021 21:51

Oh sorry! How did I misread 5ft 7! Ignore the above!