Thread: Caloric Intake???!!!!Help!!

Originally Posted by summer

Hello everyone,

I am 5'3'' and 22 years old. I love working out at the gym (well, not for the past 3 weeks, Ive been in a non-work-out slump!!) I work out 5 days a week, usually 3 days cardio (45 minute sessions) and 2 days weight training (60 minute classes). I am not overweight by any means, but I believe I could lose a healthy 5 lbs or so. I have always been confused on caloric intake, I have searched the internet for "caloric intake" calculators....but one will say I should consume around 1,200 and another will say over 2,000 calories!!! I understand to gain or lose a lb.....I would have to consume or burn an access 3,500 calories....which is why I would love to know what my body needs and what it burns so that I can properly maintain/lose weight in a healthy way!!! Please let me know if anyone has any information regarding my issue!! THanks

Hi, I know for a fact that if you want to lose weight healthfully, and keep it off, you must eat a minimum of 1800 calories/day, or your body will go into starvation mode, and hold onto every calorie you put into your body. Trust me, I used to have severe anorexia, and I know what works and what doesn't work. I've seen a lot of dieticians, and all have said the same thing. I'm now healthy, but of course I haven't forgotten what helped me lose weight when I was sick. If you only need to lose 5 lbs., which is hardly anything, DO NOT screw yourself by cutting calories extremely. You'll only end up gaining it all back and more. The best advice I can give you as a nurse and someone who knows how to healthfully lose weight: LIFT WEIGHTS, ESPECIALLY TRY TO BUILD YOUR LARGE MUSCLES, like your legs. That will help you to keep burning excess calories easily even after you've lost the 5 lbs. Do NOT skip breakfast. If you do, your body is going into and out of starvation mode, and starvation mode causes your body to hold onto calories when you do eat, because it knows that between, for example, 11 p.m. and noon, when you finally eat again, it ain't gettin' nothin'. Eat frequent, small meals, lift weights, eat no less than 1800 calories/day, don't skip meals, and above all, don't sabotage yourself by cutting off all your favorite treats. If you do, you'll just end up craving them more, and eating more than you would've had you just had a little bit to satisfy your craving. Above all, it's only 5 POUNDS! Love yourself just as you are, and make your goal HEALTH and good self-care, NOT the number on the scale. Throw the **** thing out! The weight of your WORTH is not measured in pounds. Hope that helps!

Thank you for the response!!! I had nooooo idea I had to at least eat 1800 calories a day! Wow....that explains alot! I eat breakfast every morning (its my favorite meal of the day) so I know thats important but yah I guess I should increase my caloric intake by some!!Thanks for the advice

You Seem To Know Alot..do You Know Anything About This Monavie Stuff?everyone I Talked To Does Not Know About This Yet.but I See A Lot Of Stickers On Cars Now.someone Out There Had To Take This.i Don't Want Just The Seller To Tell Me How Good It Is...thank You.

You are so right. I was going to a nutritionist and she said anything less then 1500 is crazy. Even for someone who had hugh amount of weight to lose. She was also stressing that need to make sure you are getting 20 to 25 grams of fiber a day. This will help to burn the calories you consume and help with weight loss. Other thing she taught me was having balanced meals, including the different food groups.

When determining calorie intake it depends on your weight, your activity level, and your intensity level. Once you have figured those out, your goal would be to cut 500 calories less to reach your goal but you wouldn't want to go less than 1800 calories which i do agree on with everyone else. Or maybe some other factors could change such as your routine. Im not sure how you work your pattern but maybe it needs some change to get those muscles pumping up again like jumping on that elipitcal for an hour. That's 600 or so calories right there to get burned.