Calorie count

kaysie_ly

how do I determine how many calories I should be eating?

NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner

Hi!

If you enter your current stats into MFP and set an achievable weight loss goal per week, it will give you a calorie allowance.

terbusha

Trial and error is the best way to find out what is right for you. What I do and what I recommend to people is to eat at a calorie level that allows you to make good progress towards your goal. If you are trying to lose weight, eat so you drop 1-2 lbs/week. This assumes an average calorie burn from you getting in all of your workouts. This will be different for everyone, so you'll have to do some trial and error to figure it out. I'd start ~1600 cal/day. Hit this goal, along with your macros and getting in your workouts, for 2 weeks. If you lose 1-2 lbs/week, you're good to go. If you lose too much, increase your intake and repeat. If you don't lose enough, reduce your intake a bit and repeat. After a few cycles, you'll figure out what works for you in your situation.

Liftng4Lis

You enter all your stats and goals in and MFP will figure it for you.

ercarroll311

I've found the best way is to use a TDEE calculator (http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html) and take the number it gives you, and eat about 80% of that (multiply it by .8, and that's your calories). It's not a perfect system, but sometimes the numbers MFP gives you can be a little off and less sustainable.

TeaBea

2 options:

1. Enter your stats in MFP it will give you an estimate BEFORE exercise. Then you eat those calories + earned exercise* .....just be careful because estimates are generous

2. Enter your stats here: http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
This will include exercise. Then take a cut from this number....500 calories for 1 pound a week, 750 calories for 1.5 pounds a week. This is a great option if exercise will be your regular thing.

Differences in the 2 are .....pounds per week choices and exercise included...not included.