1140 calories

marisanne

I used a TDEE calculator to determine my deficit. It said I should have 1140 calories a day. Everywhere I see don't go below 1200 but is that really that big of a deal?

summerfisher55

That's extremely low for cals. I'm counting
Macros and at 1600 cals a day avg 2 lb weight loss a week. What's your activity like?

deannalfisher

that sounds more like BMR than TDEE - what calculator did you use?

Linnaea27

I agree with the person above-- check to see if that is your basic calorie requirement to just exist (BMR) or if it's a net calorie amount factoring in your activity (TDEE).

Once you know-- it IS possible it's the amount you could eat if you are very petite and not very active (MFP's "sedentary"). But 1200 is so close (60 calories one way or another isn't a really big deal even for petite people) that it would probably be fine to go with that. I think my own BMR is somewhere around 1150ish as I'm a small person, but I'm always at least somewhat active so the lowest MFP calorie goal I've used is 1200, always with exercise included. And I didn't stay with such a low net calorie goal for more than a few weeks as it was difficult for me to stick to.

dragon_girl26

What is your current height/weight? How much weight do you want to lose?
What did you set as your goal to lose per week? If you chose an unrealistic goal (like trying to lose 2 lbs/wk if you are close to the healthy weight range only need to lose 20 lbs, for example..) , then that would be the reason it gave you such a low amount as a goal.

TavistockToad

marisanne wrote: »

I used a TDEE calculator to determine my deficit. It said I should have 1140 calories a day. Everywhere I see don't go below 1200 but is that really that big of a deal?

What are your stats?

lemurcat12

deannalfisher wrote: »

that sounds more like BMR than TDEE - what calculator did you use?

Yeah, same question.

farrell16

That is way too low... anything south of 1400 calories is not healthy for you long term.

In fact I have previously seen the MyFitnessPal moderators flag and close threads where calories that low are suggested as it violates one of there terms and conditions I believe (Not that you are suggesting it, you are actually questioning it which I'm sure is fine). But goes to show you its likely not a good idea to be that low.

The last time I saw a moderator flag it was when someone was discussing a really low calorie diet they posted this reference:

Under section 3 of the community guidelines:
b) Profiles, groups, messages, posts, or wall comments that encourage anorexia, bulimia, or very low calorie diets of any kind will be removed, and may be grounds for account deletion. This includes positive references to ana/mia, purging, or self-starving. Our goal is to provide users with the tools to achieve their weight management goals at a steady, sustainable rate. Use of the site to promote, glamorize, or achieve dangerously low levels of eating is not permitted.

Again obviously I'm not suggesting you are promoting 1140 calories but thought its a good way to illustrate too low is not good.

cruisin99

marisanne wrote: »

I used a TDEE calculator to determine my deficit. It said I should have 1140 calories a day. Everywhere I see don't go below 1200 but is that really that big of a deal?

Keep things simple, add in one apple a day and your good to go!

marisanne

I disappeared on y'all ha. I didn't mean to. When I looked this up I just google searched TDEE calculator. I it said 1640 and my deficit to lose weight would be 1140. I am 5'1 and 150 lbs

marisanne

SusanMFindlay

marisanne wrote: »

I disappeared on y'all ha. I didn't mean to. When I looked this up I just google searched TDEE calculator. I it said 1640 and my deficit to lose weight would be 1140. I am 5'1 and 150 lbs

Are you also in your late 40s? I only get a TDEE that low for your stats if you're over 45 and sedentary. In which case, I would advise raising your activity level rather than eating below 1200.

marisanne

SusanMFindlay wrote: »

marisanne wrote: »

I disappeared on y'all ha. I didn't mean to. When I looked this up I just google searched TDEE calculator. I it said 1640 and my deficit to lose weight would be 1140. I am 5'1 and 150 lbs

Are you also in your late 40s? I only get a TDEE that low for your stats if you're over 45 and sedentary. In which case, I would advise raising your activity level rather than eating below 1200.

I'm 26 but sedentary. I work a desk job and don't work out much

SusanMFindlay

marisanne wrote: »

SusanMFindlay wrote: »

marisanne wrote: »

I disappeared on y'all ha. I didn't mean to. When I looked this up I just google searched TDEE calculator. I it said 1640 and my deficit to lose weight would be 1140. I am 5'1 and 150 lbs

Are you also in your late 40s? I only get a TDEE that low for your stats if you're over 45 and sedentary. In which case, I would advise raising your activity level rather than eating below 1200.

I'm 26 but sedentary. I work a desk job and don't work out much

Then this TDEE calculator (which is a very good one) puts your sedentary TDEE at 1759 cals/day. http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

So, you could have a 500 calorie deficit by eating 1260 cals/day.

successgal1

You'll lose weight at anything below your tdee, just not as fast. I'm 50, 163 lbs, 5'5" and would have to be at 1140 or so to lose 2lb a week. So I'm at 1.5.lbs and 1200. If I exercise I can eat more.

briannadunn

I would love to eat like the scooby way, alas I gain weight, even at over 250lbs.

TavistockToad

marisanne wrote: »

SusanMFindlay wrote: »

marisanne wrote: »

I disappeared on y'all ha. I didn't mean to. When I looked this up I just google searched TDEE calculator. I it said 1640 and my deficit to lose weight would be 1140. I am 5'1 and 150 lbs

Are you also in your late 40s? I only get a TDEE that low for your stats if you're over 45 and sedentary. In which case, I would advise raising your activity level rather than eating below 1200.

I'm 26 but sedentary. I work a desk job and don't work out much

You'll soon get sick of eating so little so working on increasing your activity level might be a good idea.

Rocknut53

briannadunn wrote: »

I would love to eat like the scooby way, alas I gain weight, even at over 250lbs.

If you are weighing and measuring your foods and eating at a deficit you will lose weight, not gain. Inaccurate calorie intake will sabotage you every time.

cerise_noir

briannadunn wrote: »

I would love to eat like the scooby way, alas I gain weight, even at over 250lbs.

Rocknut53 wrote: »

briannadunn wrote: »

I would love to eat like the scooby way, alas I gain weight, even at over 250lbs.

If you are weighing and measuring your foods and eating at a deficit you will lose weight, not gain. Inaccurate calorie intake will sabotage you every time.

^This. Also, scooby's calculations include exercise, so if you're adding exercise calories, you'd be double dipping.

deannalfisher

for reference - I'm 5'3" and 151lbs...my TDEE is 1900 (I'm not sedentary) and losing steadily at avg about 1800cal a day (I use a cycle of calories to break up the monotony) - I'm focusing on performance rather than specific cutting