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Original poster

To ask your maintenance calories as a 30-something woman?

85 replies

PaddleBoardingMomma · 29/05/2022 22:40

I know I know, I'm sure it varies by height and weight etc, but I can't help thinking the 2000 calories advised is a little on the high side for the average person? I'm desperately trying to know my own body better and at 2000 calories a day I'd certainly gain weight, and I'm not particularly inactive, I get in my 10-15,000 steps a day and have two kids to run around after.

Does the 2000 guideline suit you? Do you need more / less to maintain a weight you're happy with?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 30/05/2022 07:14

About 1700 to maintain less than 1500 to lose weight. It is meant to be an average.

Scienceteacher1986 · 30/05/2022 07:22

I don't know mine off the top of my head but I know it's pretty low, about the 1400 mark 😭 I exercise a lot and eat plenty but if ever, like just now, I'm not exercising I start to gain quickly

RazorstormUnicorn · 30/05/2022 07:27

I eat about 1600 to lose and 1800 to maintain.

I have a desk job but active at the weekends and gym 5-6 days a week.

I think 2000 is too high for most people and this thread supports that as only about two people so far have said thats right for them.

A few girls at the gym are eating 2000 plus but they are training twice a day which isn't the case for most of us.

TibetanTerrah · 30/05/2022 07:31

I'm 34, 5ft6 and 9st1. I've just looked at my fitbit (as a guide obviously) and Thursday I didn't work out, and burned 1728 calories, still did 7k steps just doing stuff I needed around the house.

Every other day last week I've got varying amount of time with an intense workout, I have to do at least half an hour to push me over 2k calories a day.

Its so misleading saying 2k for women. My poor DM who is short, very slim and in her 60s, her fitbit says she only burns 1000 calories on weekends when she's chilling and not moving as much! Sad

I really think the 2k on food packets should be looked at again, anyone watching their weight will know that we tend to underestimate the calories we intake, fitbits overestimate the calories we burn, and if you think you've got 2k to play with on top of that, really it's no wonder people struggle with their weight

Coulddowithanap · 30/05/2022 07:32

I have between 2000-2500 calories per day. 5"10 and 11 stone. Also have a physical job.

Zazdar · 30/05/2022 07:33

2000 is too high for me even though I am (usually) very active. 1800 is more realistic. Less if I am not exercising so frequently for any reason.

WisteriaHysteria22 · 30/05/2022 07:35

Way too much for me has to come in under 1500 at least 5 days a week.

TheAverageUser · 30/05/2022 07:36

About 1700 maintenance and 1500 to lose weight depending on my exercise levels.

If I ate 2000 I'd be gaining weight for sure.

WisteriaHysteria22 · 30/05/2022 07:36

I agree @TibetanTerrah

Talkingtopigeons · 30/05/2022 07:37

I haven't tracked for a while but around 1800-2000 for me. I'm short (5ft 2) and 9 stone. I know the number is higher because i do weight training although that's only two days a week (I do another sport on other days)

I think we've become a lot more sedentary and that has a massive effect. Ten years ago (before I took up weights) I would gain if I went above 1500.

Louise0701 · 30/05/2022 07:37

I maintain on around 1500

5foot 4
9 stone 8

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 30/05/2022 07:41

I'm 5ft4 and it's around 2100 if I want to maintain, at the moment I'm on 2500 to gain, if I wanted to lose I'd go for around 1900. I hit the gym 5 times a week although I do have a desk job.

Floydthebarber · 30/05/2022 07:44

I'm trying to lose weight at the moment 5'5, 13 stone, 37) and 2000 calories is way too much for me. I'm doing it very slowly. But I know that when I was a better weight, 2000 calories was also too much. Although I'm not massively active apart from walking most days.

hobbledyhoy · 30/05/2022 07:45

I'm 5ft 9 and 11st 10lbs so I'm around 1700-1800 to maintain and then cut by 500 calories daily to lose. If I eat 2000 calories I definitely put on weight.
It also makes a difference as to how those calories are made up, so bread any processed foods etc and the weight comes whacking on.
It's a tightrope Spud.

Ponoka7 · 30/05/2022 08:01

1700 to maintain. I eat around a 1000 calories a day through the week and don't count the weekend. We eat out and I have a drink. I'm losing at the moment. My DD needs around 2000 a day, she goes up to 3000 on the days when she is weight lifting. She's down to 17/18 % body fat, I think at that level when it's through exercise your body works completely differently and burns fat more efficiently. What you eat does make a difference. 2000 was probably right, thinking back to the early 80's when we had less processed food and more activity.

MrsJBaptiste · 30/05/2022 08:01

I'm 45, 5' 8" and 10 stone 7.

My TDEE is 2000 but I stick to 1500 a day to try and lose a pound a week. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week and burn 600-800 calories a session (although I know this isn't exact)

I do lapse at the weekend though with wine and crisps... but I'm more active at the weekends and often do a long walk as well as the gym so hope this balances things out!

LaBellina · 30/05/2022 08:03

I’m 5”7 and around 2000 calories is what I can eat and not gain weight. I loss weight once I get below 1800.

TheMoth · 30/05/2022 08:13

Early 40s. Tall. 1800 to maintain, 1500 to lose.
I eat well. If I could just cut out the alcohol, weekend tv crisps and cake, I'd easily eat enough to not be hungry on 1500. But life's too miserable as it is not to have nice things.

LazyJayne · 30/05/2022 08:14

Around 1200 to lose weight, 1400/1500 to maintain. 2000 would see me gaining weight pretty rapidly. I’m 5ft.

CirreltheSquirrel · 30/05/2022 08:32

I'm a bit older (almost 44) and I set mfp at 1900 + exercise. Even just going for a walk means I rarely go below 2200 or so, and on days when I do a long bike ride I can eat over 4000.

174cm/63kg

Camomila · 30/05/2022 08:38

I have no idea how many calories I eat, as I've always tended to lose weight more easily than gain it (eg, if I have the flu and don't eat well for a few days I will lose weight) but I just wanted to say the 2000 calories for women thing isn't universal...Italian food packets say 1750 for women and 2250 for men, or at least they did last time I look (We do tend to be shorter than Northern Europeans/Americans though. I have lots of female cousins and I'm one of the taller ones at 5'3")

LapinR0se · 30/05/2022 08:41

I’m 42 yrs old, 5’5” and about 54kg. For me what makes a difference is the composition of the calories. If I eat 1500 kcal with lots of carbs I gain weight fast. 1500 made up of protein, veg and good fats keeps me at a stable weight.

Carrotten · 30/05/2022 08:47

I'm 5'7 and 10st7 and 2000 is about spot on for me. I wouldn't gain weight eating that

I am moderately active, no gym bunny by any means but on my feet a lot throughout the day

TibetanTerrah · 30/05/2022 09:12

Italian food packets say 1750 for women and 2250 for men

This is really interesting.

forinborin · 30/05/2022 09:25

My poor DM who is short, very slim and in her 60s, her fitbit says she only burns 1000 calories on weekends when she's chilling and not moving as much!
Fitbit doesn't actually track calories burned, but works out based on the simple formula of the heart rate + weight + age and sex. Which is calibrated to an average human, so will give unreliable results for both extremes (short/slim and tall/obese).