Calorie intake

Hi all,

I am curious as what everyone is consuming calorie wise.

I log my food daily on my phone, and i'd say I average around 1500-1600 calories a day. Some of my co workers and friends think i'm consuming to little. I feel good, I do sometimes binge eat and go over.

I'm 6-1, and bouncing between 190-195, it will be 2 years on July 24th (rny)

Curious if this is normal calories.

Thanks

Vito

I would say it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish right now. If you're trying to lose a few more pounds, I think you are eating a reasonable amount. If you are trying to maintain your current weight, you might be eating a bit too little.

But we also have to take into consideration the binge behavior. You say you are bouncing between 190 and 195 while eating 1500-1600 calories a day with occasional binges. 1600 calories a day should be well below your caloric needs, meaning that when you binge, it is either often enough or the binge is large enough that you completely undo any weight loss progress accomplished when you stick to the 1600 calories.

Regardless of if you want to lose any more weight, I think the most important thing for you to tackle right now is the binges. You certainly won't be able to lose anymore while bingeing and it'll become increasing difficult to maintain this weight because binges generally get worse if left unchecked.

For some reference, I am also trying to deal with binge behavior (I developed this behavior about 5 months ago and am still struggling with it). I am 5' 5" and 130 pounds and am trying to eat between 1700 - 1800 calories a day so that I maintain my current weight.

Thanks Haley,

For me, i'm at my weight I want to be, so its more about maintaining my weight. I'm not overly concerned with Binge eating, as I do this usually on my weekends home (every other weekend). Its good to hear my calorie intake isn't overly high, according to my food loggin app, it shows me just over 2k calories for the day (my apple watch shows my burn rate over 2k for the day)

Some of us that used to be MO, have messed up metabolism. If he maintains the weight the current calories he eats look like enough to maintain.

In theory, we need app 10cal for every lb of weight, so 140 lbs body would need 1400 calories to maintain.

In theory.

in practice, since everyone is different and we are on different diet (type of food we eat) it can be as little as 6-7 cal per pound, to 15-+ per pound of body weight.

That means that the person who is 140 lbs, may need only 900 calories to maintain, or .. close to 2,000 calories.

From my personal experience (testing sample - 1 person) how many calories I need to eat to maintain depends what I eat, how often, what time I eat, plus other cir****tances (healthy, sick, recovering from a surgery, or what season it is) I may gain on just 1000 calories, or lose and maintain eating over 2000 calories. And that without regular exercise.

How much to eat to maintain; enough to stop losing, but not too much so would not start gaining.

I have mentioned this before but wondered if there was a connection in mini binges and bypass patients. mine started about maybe 6 months post and I'm just now really trying to get a handle on it, 3 years 7 months out. stress, anxiety, lack of sleep and boredom cause it for me.

Looks like you're eating at a maintenance level.

How much to eat to maintain; enough to stop losing, but not too much so would not start gaining.

From my personal experience (testing sample - 1 person) how many calories I need to eat to maintain depends what I eat, how often, what time I eat, plus other cir****tances (healthy, sick, recovering from a surgery, or what season it is) I may gain on just 1000 calories, or lose and maintain eating over 2000 calories. And that without regular exercises, getting on average 7,000 steps per day. .

That is very interesting, I didn't know about the 10cal per pound, but that would make sense, and I realize everyone is different.

I like my current weight, and not looking to lose anymore, so just holding a maintenance level.

Can see from my log, I rarely go over 1600 net calories.

what do you mean "net calories"?

I hope you don't allow more food because you exercise.

A lot of programs grossly overstates calories burns during exercise. Unless person is an athlete, working out extremely hard 6-10 hours a day in the gym, the most you should be able to allow yourself to "add" exercise is app 10% of your BMR.

BMR - is often estimated as 10 cal x # pounds. Most males, specially younger males (under 50) may add an additional 10% for just the fact they are males. Not every male, but it is true for some due to testosterone.

If you are interested to know more - there are a lot of bodybuilders websites that discuss the metabolism and diet, to build muscles but not gain fat.

If you see my log, only one day I went over 1600 calories. The calories burnt is exercise based off my apple watch exercise app, and I believe that number, if you ever did a high intense spin class you would agree.

The calories burnt is exercise based off my apple watch exercise app, and I believe that number, if you ever did a high intense spin class you would agree

I did. And hiked the mountains above tree line, and did many other things, like horseback riding, skiing, etc etc etc.. No, i don't believe the "used calories number" . Good luck.