Please Help- question about changing goals/TDEE

MissItalianPrincess

Hi everyone!
So I'm thinking that one of the reasons that I haven't not long-term succeeded in the past is what caloric intake my goal is set towards. I originally went with MFP gave me - 1200 calories, scared to eat back exercise calories (yes, I know, shame on me and I'm admitting it, and want to change it, so please forgive me :-), and would lose 5-7 pounds fairly quickly and then come to a halt, never reaching goal, getting frustrated , going off program, and gaining more weight back- yes, typical story, but.....

I know I need to up the calories, but what to exactly? My BMR is 1357, my TDEE for lightly active to lose a pound a week is 1800 or so (I will be working out average of 5 times a week), but does that seem high/low/just right? I'm only 5'1" and I have almost 20-30 pounds to lose. Please do not throw tomatoes at me for asking this silly question (well, maybe, I do love me some tomatoes!), but from someone who has experience in losing with my similar stats or someone in the training realm, what should I set my calories to? Btw, I changed my macros to 40-30-30, too. Today is day one back and yes, please note, that I realize I have been doing it wrong and I am completely ready to change and do it in a more logical, effective manner. Thanks in advance for any advice! :-)

natmadc

Not to promote this website but I calculated all of that information using this :http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I followed the number that was given at TDEE-15% (I like to eat, so I figured I would do 15% rather than 20% :happy: ) I eat at a minimum my BMR and I have seen consistent weight loss (of course complimented by consistent exercise)

MissItalianPrincess

That's a great website- thank you so much! It's just seems a little intimating to see the number increase so much from what I was eating when I was trying to lose weight! :-) I like to eat too and I think this just seems more realistic in the long run. I'm going to try it out- I mean, what do I really have to lose, besides some weight??

wendimlee

I'm in the same boat! I just raised my calorie goal to TDEE -15%, after realizing that maintaining on 1200 or so calories a day wasn't a great way to live (and not consistently eating back exercise calories). I weigh in for the first time on Thursday (I weigh myself every week), a little nervous, but I feel a lot better! Good luck!

clobern

I use a Bodybugg that gives me my daily TDEE and go from there... right now I am eating quite a bit below my TDEE because I have a lot to lose. As I get closer to my goal, I will decrease the percentage under my TDEE I am eating until I start maintaining.