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

[PaddleBoardingMomma]

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!

I am 176 cm and 70 kg, and it is about 1450 calories both according to the fitbit logic and my own experience with calorie counting.

It is hugely height and weight dependent I think. I am a bit over 5'9" and have a BMR of 1500 and need 1800 to maintain when completely sedentary. My maintenance level with moderate normal activity is over 2000 with my fitbit registering several hundred beyond that most days. But I am tall compared to average and need tall women's clothes. My best friend is over 6' and she needs much more than I do.

I agree that it is high in recommendations. I would have thought it more helpful to base it on 5'4" which I think is the average uk woman's height and then everyone would have an understanding if they are taller or smaller how to adjust.

2000 would be too much for me. I’m 5ft 3, run a few times a week, am on my feet all day at work/at home and average (roughly) around 1500 calories a day. Looking back over the last month I’ve not got anywhere near 2000 calories, I would definitely put on weight if I were eating that much. The maintenance calculator is saying I need approx 1900 to maintain. I don’t agree.

My Fitbit usually says I've burned over 2000 a day but I think that's optimistic!

I’m 6ft1. I can lose weight eating 2000 calories (but not much). My watch says even doing minimal exercise, I burn 2200 calories on average a day. If I do an exercise class, I can burn over 3000.

2000 isn't enough for me. I maintain my weight on about 2300-2400 per day - I'm 5'9", size 8 and quite active. Mid-thirties.

I'm 44 and 5'2 and maintain at about 1400 - 1500 calories a day. I'm not sure of my weight but think it's around 7.5 to 8 stone. I think it's hugely dependent on height and current weight. If I weighed more, I could eat more calories to maintain that higher weight.

2000 is just an average. Diet is far more complex than we think. Carbs cause me to balloon for a number of reasons so I cut them right back and refined carbs are completely out. My colleague is the opposite. My intake is around 1500 and probably needs to come down a bit. I have to choose carefully what that intake is made from. I'm in my 50's 5ft and 57.5 kg, bmi around 26. I'm slowly losing weight I gained when off sick and very inactive, I make sure I eat slowly and when I feel full I stop no matter how little I've eaten. I would focus more on a clean diet , enjoyment and how you feel when eating .

Came from the 1950s when everyone was far more active than they are now.

2000 is about right for me I think at 5 foot 4 and around 9 stone, moderatly active - dog walking daily with exercise (swimming/biking/running) two to three times a week.

Edderkot
You have done well to remain at 9 stone at 5ft 4 even factoring in your exercise. I was last 9 stone age 15/16 and I was classed as skinny.

At 5ft 8 I am aiming for 10st which will mean a more slender physique than my current 11st 5lb.

I'm actually lighter now than I was at 15/16. I don't drink as much anymore :-)

I feel like lots of us were sold a lie. I gain on 2000/ 3 meals a day.

Maintenance is around 1600 for me I think, and I lose consistently around 1200. Two meals a day works much better for me in terms of hitting that so I tend to just have lunch and dinner now. I exercise hard 4 times a week and walk the dogs most days for an hour or so.

I'm under 5' tall so mines low. I'm always wishing I could lose weight but the recommendation for me to lose is to only have 1200 and find it very difficult to keep my calories that low. I hate salad and love unhealthy food too much....

I’m 5’5 and I think I can only get to 11st 7 or 12st without having to eat less than 1200 calories so I will have to stop there

I am already eating 1300-1400 at 13st 10 and struggling to meet weight off. After eating 1200 all week I had 1900 on the weekend set me right back!

you Can’t trust exercise calories and watches they have been proven to be very inaccurate

2000 isn't enough for me and it drives me beserk as it costs more and I'm not hungry a lot of the time so have to force it. Having said that I have extended periods where it's significantly below that so maybe that's the reason why I have to go above that (for it to average out). I cannot sit still so I don't know if that comes into it, I probably get up 200 times a day, lol :/.

Anyone saying 1100 to 1300 isn't counting what they eat properly or is playing into the mumsnet competitive under eating.

I don’t really count. I guess some days I eat less and some days more than the 2000 recommended.

you just kind of get to know what your body needs. I’m mid 30s 5ft3.5 and nearish the top of my healthy weight bracket, but not over weight. I tend to stay with in about a 5lb range. I have an active job and do try and run a couple of times a week, although that is hit and miss.

not much help am I.

I don’t really count calories but definitely more than 2k. I’m 5’8 and 9st4 and in the gym doing hard cardio and/or heavy weights most days. I think having a low body fat % makes a huge difference.

I reckon about 1700-1800 if i am not doing lots of exercise - i'm 5ft 4 and 55 kg

Yes. The more lean muscle mass the more calories needed at rest.

I'm on 1200 in my 40s losing weight slowly. I reckon my maintenance will probably be not much more than 1200 esp if not exercising. Menopause sucks

Yes, something doesn’t add up here. The average basal metabolic rate (what you burn even if you don’t get out of bed) is 1400-1500 kcal for most women. A BMR of <1200 is really unusual unless you are very small or very old.

and sometimes you are obese and track everything you eat desperately trying to lose some weight

I’ve been tracking since early this year. For me it is so completely pointless and a waste of time if I am not honest with what I eat. It’s really tricky trying to find a good level. I have lost 1st 7 and have 2.5 stone more to lose and I still won’t be ‘thin’ 🤣 (I will still have a BMI of 26/27) there is no way I can eat less than 1200 calories but I have tried 1500-1600 and I lose nothing so I have had to settle at 1300-1400 and try to up my exercise and it’s still going to take me a year to do it. I can see why people consider surgery because it is not a fun journey it’s bloody hard

My BMR is apparently 1546 and 2126 if light exercise so I am cutting off 500 from this to lose weight and this seems to work. If I eat 1600, I don’t lose weight

this goes up to 2396 if I was very active. It is hard to be active when you spend virtually all day in a car or at a desk to work. I am sometimes out walking at 10pm to get in 10k steps. Can’t afford a gym. I just bought a cheap 2nd hand manual treadmill for when the weather is horrible or it’s late. No I can’t have a standing desk. Yes I do walk on my break if I am lucky enough to get one. I am out walking as I type this.

I intend to eat at maintenance when I get to my end goal