I know there was a previous thread about this issue but I need some guidance and support. I really am trying to figure out how many calories I need a day. I decide I need about 1400-1500 calories a day but always end up around 1800-1880 calories a day. I feel like I will never meet my goals if I do not get my calories under control. Does anyone have any good advice on this? I have been looking at pictures posted and am extremely impressed. How many calories do you guys try to stick to a day? I really need some advice on how to get this in check. I want to lean out some more and feel that I just am keeping my calories too high.
I know there was a previous thread about this but need guidance
- Thread starter babyd
- Start date
Hi Babyd
I am no expert on calories but I would suggest looking at how and when you are eating and what you are currently doing exericse wise.
Remember to deduct from you daily calories the calories you burned whilst exercising. You could try fitday.com which allows you to keep a food journal to work out what you are currently eating and where you may need to make adjustments.
I would also look at when you are eating and what you are eating you may need to add some allowed snacks to your daily food plan to make sure you are not getting too hungry between meals. Also go for filling foods lots of veg (if you can) and drink plenty of water. One suggestion someone made to me was if I feel hungry or like having a snack drink a glass of water slowly and wait 10 mins this well help you decide if you are actually hungry or just bored.
Keep lots of healthy snacks around or near you so that if you are hungry and you want something to eat you won't be tempted to say go and get some sweets or cakes.
Also remember that you need to settle on a calorie level that is good for you I would not recommend personally going lower than 1200 calories. And tweaking may include focusing on eating more and healthier rather than eating less (which is what most people tend to do). The goal is to get your body to burn fat not muscle and it will only do this with a constant and good supply of foods don't starve yourself it will not in the long run do you any good.
Oh and check you workouts to see if they may need tweaking as well are you working as hard as you can.
Just a suggestion.
Babs
I am no expert on calories but I would suggest looking at how and when you are eating and what you are currently doing exericse wise.
Remember to deduct from you daily calories the calories you burned whilst exercising. You could try fitday.com which allows you to keep a food journal to work out what you are currently eating and where you may need to make adjustments.
I would also look at when you are eating and what you are eating you may need to add some allowed snacks to your daily food plan to make sure you are not getting too hungry between meals. Also go for filling foods lots of veg (if you can) and drink plenty of water. One suggestion someone made to me was if I feel hungry or like having a snack drink a glass of water slowly and wait 10 mins this well help you decide if you are actually hungry or just bored.
Keep lots of healthy snacks around or near you so that if you are hungry and you want something to eat you won't be tempted to say go and get some sweets or cakes.
Also remember that you need to settle on a calorie level that is good for you I would not recommend personally going lower than 1200 calories. And tweaking may include focusing on eating more and healthier rather than eating less (which is what most people tend to do). The goal is to get your body to burn fat not muscle and it will only do this with a constant and good supply of foods don't starve yourself it will not in the long run do you any good.
Oh and check you workouts to see if they may need tweaking as well are you working as hard as you can.
Just a suggestion.
Babs
Babs,
Thank you for the reply. You have some very good strategies and tips. I wonder still though-I hear a lot of people talking about how they would never eat more than 1500-1800 calories a day because that is too much ( even if they workout) and I eat more than this!!! I can not get past this for some weird reason. I need to learn to focus on myself and not what others do I think.
Thank you for the reply. You have some very good strategies and tips. I wonder still though-I hear a lot of people talking about how they would never eat more than 1500-1800 calories a day because that is too much ( even if they workout) and I eat more than this!!! I can not get past this for some weird reason. I need to learn to focus on myself and not what others do I think.
Babyd
It is hard particularly when you can see the progress they are making but we need to take time to allow our bodies to adjust and it will. I am finding now that I am eating less at lunch time as I feel really full especially if I go to the gym.
But I make sure and have an energy bar on the way home so that when I get in I don't over eat. I am not really counting calories because I am trying to eat more healthy (a bit hit and miss) I am eating more fruits and veg and cutting down on salt.
Also remember sometimes (I know I do) I resent having cut down and adjust but just focus on what your body wants and needs once it gets used to your eating plan it will improve.
And on long winter nights I always want to eat lots (but I am getting better at curbing my apetite and drinking water and eating fruit).
Babs
It is hard particularly when you can see the progress they are making but we need to take time to allow our bodies to adjust and it will. I am finding now that I am eating less at lunch time as I feel really full especially if I go to the gym.
But I make sure and have an energy bar on the way home so that when I get in I don't over eat. I am not really counting calories because I am trying to eat more healthy (a bit hit and miss) I am eating more fruits and veg and cutting down on salt.
Also remember sometimes (I know I do) I resent having cut down and adjust but just focus on what your body wants and needs once it gets used to your eating plan it will improve.
And on long winter nights I always want to eat lots (but I am getting better at curbing my apetite and drinking water and eating fruit).
Babs
Hi Babyd,
Have you checked this site: http://www.musclespot.com/bmr.html
to calculate your calorie need and Basal Metabolic Rate?
At the end of that article there is an email where you can contact if you have any questions.
Hopefully that might answer some of your questions.
Bita
Have you checked this site: http://www.musclespot.com/bmr.html
to calculate your calorie need and Basal Metabolic Rate?
At the end of that article there is an email where you can contact if you have any questions.
Hopefully that might answer some of your questions.
Bita