How many calories a day

[michealsmum1998]

Hi all.

Just like the title says are you tracking calories alongside WLI? If so how many calories a day are you eating?

Also I am finding I am only really eating 2 meals a day as I am not hungry until at least lunch time so am really not eating much in a day, is this normal?

It’s ‘normal’ in the sense you can do it and a lot of others do the same, it it’s absolutely not necessary or healthy to not eat much in a day.

i eat around 1500-1600 a day, sometimes more and occasionally less. I only take 2.5mg of MJ as it’s enough for me to maintain that balance I need.

It was hard over the first few weeks as I could barely eat and I hated it.

I track my calories but don't limit them. Depending on what I choose to eat I can end up anywhere between 900 and 1400 (more often closer to the higher end), that's pretty much always 3 meals, and at least 2 will have carbs.

I'm currently on 1400 a day. I don't always eat that much (usually on jab day and day after I eat less) but that's my max.
Just eating 1 or 2 meals a day doesn't mean much in terms of calories. I have a protein shake for breakfast now as I wasn't getting enough protein before and I struggle to eat in the morning.
If you work out your tdee you know how many calories you need and can track them. It really helped me.

I use tdeecalculator.net to work out my cutting calories to lose weight. It's 1030 for me, maintenance is 1530. But I only weigh 59kg currently.
I usually eat from 900 on weekend staying at home doing nothing to 1400 maintenance day. I lose better if I do low carbs and high protein, often have a protein shake or just coffee for breakfast. I track on myfitnesspal app.

Thanks all. I am tracking and most days seem to be between 700 and 1100 which seems too low. I am a long way from target obviously but and thinking that there is no way this will be sustainable long term.

I think I need to start looking at my protein levels as well as calories.

Just checked and my TDEE is 2155 but I think I put weight on at about 1900 so not sure that is right.

You don't have to track - I didn't, I find tracking calories soul destroying after so many failed diets in my life. However... as a result of that I do have a general idea of the calories in most foods, so I was aware of roughly how much I was having and not really flying blind. Also, I never had strong suppression so could happily eat meals, but MJ meant I was happy with less, and could cut out the crap without riotous food noise.

if you're up to it though, it's a good idea to track to make sure you're hitting nutritional goals (don't ignore protein, fibre is important, keep hydrated)!

Mj has enabled me to do 16:8 with no problems.
so I keep lunch higher protein and have a protein yogurt at some point.
my evening meal is just normal.

The weird thing is I didn't realise how much food noise I had until it stopped. What am I having for lunch, dinner, not realising that I was thirsty rather than hungry. Such a revelation!

Yeh those cals are too low and you don't want to eat too low and lose muscle mass.
Tdee calculators aren't fully accurate as we all have diff metabolisms, health conditions and activity levels. I use sedentary due to having an office job, but often I'm also on my feet helping out and do a lot of driving so that all burns calories. Also carbs cause water retention so if you reduce them, that will banish the excess water weight.

My allowance is 1235 a day now. It used to be a lot higher when I was 6 stone heavier! But I am short.

I eat around 12-1400 every day. I track most days loosely. I use nutracheck and ChatGPT sometimes.

I couldn't eat much in the early days but it passed soon enough. Now I happily eat my 3 meals and snacks.

I track and try to maximise protein. TDEE minus 500 and that’s my magic number where I lose weight. However I gain at TDEE which is annoying.

Longer term that’s too low. A relative was having around the same as you and she lost a lot of hair after a few months.

I’m tracking loosely via MFP, target 1200 a day, I’m usually between 1200 and 1350. Occasionally I’ll end up at 1500-1600 but that’s usually if wine is involved!
I focus on protein, veg, fruit and salad to make up the bulk of my meals, I usually only have rice, potatoes, pasta with one meal in the day and only a small amount (usually don’t want more). I barely eat bread any more which is weird because I used to love it but now I have maybe 1 slice of sourdough per week