How many Calories...

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Can anyone tell me how many calories I should be eating a day??? I usually don't eat over 1500 (that is the most). Is that to many??? I started using fitday a couple weeks ago, and now I worry about calories too...lol. I just don't have any idea how to figure out how many calories I should be eating so I countinue to lose weight. I am keeping track of my carbs and that number is still really low. I need to move it up, but I'm scared
Thanks in advance all

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

Re: How many Calories...

I *think* you're not supposed to worry about calories, just about the percentages. You don't want to go too low because you'll go in starvation mode.

I range from 1500-2000 a day.

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

You should always try to eat at least 1200 calories a day to prevent your body from going into starvation mode.

To figure out what caloric range you should be in, it's necessary to find your BMR, or basal metabolic rate. For a 5'8" 39-yr old woman who weighs 290, that is approximately 2052. Your BMR is what your body uses just staying alive; it's how many calories you burn if you were to do nothing but lie in bed all day.

Next you need to factor in your activity level and find your daily caloric needs using the Harris Benedict Equation. I'm not sure what your activity level is, so I'll let you do the handiwork:

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

It's important that you try not to dip below 1000 calories LOWER than your daily caloric needs.

To give you an example, I'm 5'8", 194, 25, female. My BMR is 1701. Factoring in my activity level (very active, exercising 5-6 times per week) I get the following formula:
BMR (1701) x Activity Level (1.725) = 2934

So, my daily caloric needs are 2934 calories. I can lose weight by dropping below this (though not more than 1000 calories) and to maintain, I'd simply try to eat 2934 calories per day.

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How many Calories...

I try not to worry
I just want a TINY LITTLE idea of what a good range would be.
I panic now when I hit 1500. I hit 1508 today and had a panic attack...lmao!!!
My carb intake is to low...I do know that. I have never gone over 20 and I try not to go over 15. I just feel comfortable staying under 20.
How have you been confused??? I'm glad you're here

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

I just wanted to add that sometimes it is important to keep an eye on calories not because you're consuming too many (appetite suppression will take care of that!) but because you're not consuming ENOUGH! If I eat less than 2000 for more than a couple days (even just 1700 or 1800 calories), my body will go into starvation mode!

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

Re: How many Calories...

Thanks. It's good to be here. I'm of course still learning and quadruple checking on what I think I know. Without this board, I wouldn't have done atkins, which means I'd be overweight and probably doing the starvation/working out nonstop route to get the weight off.

BTW, that cheesecake you made looked heavenly. What rung are you on? I'm living through you right now and knowing how excited you were to hit the 2's.

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How many Calories...

Thanks Julie!!!
So I should be okay if I stay between 1500-1800, but never go below 1200??? I really want to try and not go over 1500...is that okay do u think.
I think I'd be a wreck if I ate over 2000.
I had no idea how much food I have been eating all these years. When I go on fitday and put food in, and it is a PINCH of what I use to eat. It's scary. Everything adds up so fast!!!

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

It depends on your activity level. If I personally tried to stay below 1500, I would stop losing weight. 2000 a day is good for me, and I wonder if I'm STILL not eating enough...

The most important rule is "eat to feed your hunger"...just make sure you're eating ENOUGH...and make sure you don't eat TOO MUCH...scientific, huh?

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How many Calories...

I just wanted to add that sometimes it is important to keep an eye on calories not because you're consuming too many (appetite suppression will take care of that!) but because you're not consuming ENOUGH! If I eat less than 2000 for more than a couple days (even just 1700 or 1800 calories), my body will go into starvation mode!

Oh no!!! I wonder what mine is doing.
I haven't gone to the bathroom since last thursday Isn't that terrible!!! I have been eating flaxmeal today
I made some of those muffin tops with it and ate 2. Just thought I'd share

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

Drink your water! All that flax will need to soak up water before it can take an exit. A 1/4 cup of fiber can retain 2 pounds of water, I believe...it might even be less fiber than that. The best way to send it on it's way is to keep drinking that water, chica.

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

Re: How many Calories...

Wow! 2lbs?!

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

Yup! Another reason why water is our friend...gotta flush out the fiber.

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How many Calories...

Thanks. It's good to be here. I'm of course still learning and quadruple checking on what I think I know. Without this board, I wouldn't have done atkins, which means I'd be overweight and probably doing the starvation/working out nonstop route to get the weight off.

BTW, that cheesecake you made looked heavenly. What rung are you on? I'm living through you right now and knowing how excited you were to hit the 2's.

I was on induction for two weeks, and I have moved up a rung EVERY week I did extra veggies the 3rd week, dairy the 4th week, Nuts and Seed the 5th, Fruits the 6th...I am always adding things but I still stay under 20 carbs.
I consistantly lose 1.5 to 2.5 a week so I'm happy. At some point I will start adding in more carbs, but I want to lose more first. That's just me though

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How many Calories...

Yup! Another reason why water is our friend...gotta flush out the fiber.

I've been drinking lots of water

[julirama723]

Re: How many Calories...

Whoa nellie. You should be staying on each rung for AT LEAST 2 weeks, Nicole! Give your body a chance to adjust to each food group, chica. How many new foods have you added in? I must be a slow mover...

But if you think about it, you can only eat ONE new food at a time (like 1 new food a day), and you can only eat that new food 3x in the first week. If it causes you no problems, then you can eat it daily.