How do you know how many calories you're having?

[guiltynetter]

Just started calorie counting, my fitness pal says I need 1200 a day, but Im struggling a bit to fit that in! I have done it and I lost 4lb last week but my tea in particular is always small and I often feel hungry afterwards. I follow some ladies on Instagram who seem the same size as me (often bigger sometimes) and they're having 1,700-1800 a day... How do i know how many to stick to or should I just trust in fitness pal? I don't do any exercise at the minute if that makes a difference.

So, set yourself a pound a week goal, eat normal food but swap out processed carbs for veg and small portions of unprocessed complex carbs as much as possible and see where that gets you. Your food will be more satisfying if it's based around plenty of fibre, healthy fats and protein and is generally nutrient dense.

And don't deprive yourself of things you enjoy. You need to eat like the 10 stone person you want to be. I am that 10 stone, 5'4 person (and also menopausal with everything that goes with it). I eat 3 meals a day, I have wine and crisps or nuts in the evening, I don't calorie count, at the moment and I don't eat low fat anything. What I don't tend to eat is sweet stuff. I've recognised that I don't really enjoy it and it makes me feel like shit and increases my appetite. I've even started picking the dates out of my muesli because I'm ravenous by lunchtime, if I don't.

OP, have you considered intermittent fasting?
I do 5:2. The 2 fast days are 600-800 calories. They can be harsh, but I find I can do anything for a day!!

@BikeRunSki

OP, have you considered intermittent fasting? I do 5:2. The 2 fast days are 600-800 calories. They can be harsh, but I find I can do anything for a day!!

I've heard it can be really good, I just can't imagine when I would have my fast days, I'm a nurse working 13 hour shifts so I just can't imagine it to be sustainable on those days, you need fuel 🙈 I will look into it a bit more.

Ah just read your post again I thought fast days were under 500 calories so 6-800 doesn't seem as harsh

We sound similar OP. I'm a midwife working shifts. I'm 5ft2" and overweight.

As I said upthread, I'd be really bloody miserable (and hungry) on 1200 a day.

There's no quick or easy fix. It's not a short term solution, then go back to eating 'normally' as you'll just immediately put all the weight you've lost back on, and then some because your body has been deprived of the calories you need for so long.

I know my body needs 1877 calories a day to maintain my current weight, so I've cut my intake to between 1500-1600. I eat 3 meals a day and a snack if I've got time. It's doable, it's just not instant. I've lost 1 lb this week, it doesn't sound much, but I know it'll stay off.
I also really recommend the nutria check app. I never pay for apps but I love this one and it's totally worth it, I prefer it to my fitness pal. I'll screenshot it so you can see.

I didn't go to the gym this day and also had a Starbucks which was full of sugar for about 400 cals, I still had calories left over at the end of the day.

Today I've had my normal breakfast at home, lunch at work, then a family brought in patisserie platters as a thank you and I've just sat and eaten a giant vanilla slice. Counted it on the app and I've still got 700 cals left for a proper tea later. It is really doable. If I fancy something I have it! I just count it.

Im really impatient, but slow and steady wins the race.

Nutracheck is a lot better than MyFitnessPal. You have to pay after the free trial but it's so much more reliable.

IMO 1200 is to little.

I cap at 1500. I know I burn about 2300 a day. I use my Fitbit, if you don't have one get one. It tracks my movements, workouts, and calories I burn just by being alive.

It helped me lose 3 stone last year!

@ripplestitchblank

I didn't go to the gym this day and also had a Starbucks which was full of sugar for about 400 cals, I still had calories left over at the end of the day.

Today I've had my normal breakfast at home, lunch at work, then a family brought in patisserie platters as a thank you and I've just sat and eaten a giant vanilla slice. Counted it on the app and I've still got 700 cals left for a proper tea later. It is really doable. If I fancy something I have it! I just count it.

Im really impatient, but slow and steady wins the race.

Tbf, that was a pretty shit day of food. Hardly an advert.

Also, how does a giant vanilla slice leave you with 700kcal unless that's all you have all say?