Ideal amount of calories dilemma

tryingtostayslim321
tryingtostayslim321 Posts: 3 Member
edited December 2024 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I have been on maintenance for a couple of months. According to MFP I need approx 1800 calories per day. I can't get through that many, largely because I have cut down on my alcohol calories. I'm currently at 1200 per day and finding approx with some treats thrown in for good measure and seem to be doing ok. Am wondering if this should stay as my ideal daily intake?

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Accurate tracking of food intake and body weight over a few weeks will give you your real maintenance calories. If what you are doing, is working, there's no reason to try to fix it. I don't count calories anymore, but stick to a rough meal plan and have some extra treats now and then. Coupled with daily weigh-ins, I have no trouble maintaining.
  • tryingtostayslim321
    tryingtostayslim321 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks @kommodevaran that's really helpful :)
  • BurnWithBarn2015
    BurnWithBarn2015 Posts: 1,026 Member
    When you are maintaining weight than it is working.
    When you gain...cut back a bit
    When you lose...add a bit
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    You haven't said what your weight is doing, does "doing ok" mean you are maintaining in your goal weight range?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    I read: "I have been on maintenance for a couple a months" but you did not state that you are neither loosing weight or gaining weight, I have to presume that your method of maintaining is meeting your goals.

    So... doing ok? to me means yes.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    tryingtostayslim321 wrote: »
    I have been on maintenance for a couple of months. According to MFP I need approx 1800 calories per day. I can't get through that many, largely because I have cut down on my alcohol calories. I'm currently at 1200 per day and finding approx with some treats thrown in for good measure and seem to be doing ok. Am wondering if this should stay as my ideal daily intake?

    Sometimes the TDEE is off depending on the individual, like most things it's an estimate. Although, if you're not logging everything you can't really know if you hit that mark of 1800. You say you throw in treats, those should be added to your totals calories no matter what, never be embarrassed of what you eat. I have a saying "There is no failing in trying, only failure in excuses." Gratz on cutting down the alcohol by the way, you're on the right track.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I think people have their own patterns of logging as well as their own bodies. If you're maintaining you are fine. If you start losing, increase calorie density in a few items. Congratulations!
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    If you aren't hungry at the end of the day and not gaining weight back, continue what you are doing.
  • xbowhunter
    xbowhunter Posts: 1,322 Member
    I started to maintain last week & yesterday I was up +3lbs. Must have been too much consumption on the weekend... :) I will cut back a bit this week to get a handle on my situation...
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    RoxieDawn wrote: »
    I read: "I have been on maintenance for a couple a months" but you did not state that you are neither loosing weight or gaining weight, I have to presume that your method of maintaining is meeting your goals.

    So... doing ok? to me means yes.

    @RoxieDawn
    That was my assumption too but then it made the post slightly strange - essentially "I'm doing OK, am I doing OK?"

    I was thinking of using the expression "we all know what assume means" but in MFP'land that would come back as "it makes an *kitten* of u & me." :)
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