Activity levels and calorie allotment

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RosieS_1980
RosieS_1980 Posts: 61 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi

Just wondering if anyone can help/explain the calorie allotment and activity level on here.

I changed from sedentary to lightly active and it didn't increase the calorie allotment. I had to change to active before it gave me more calories, about 275...

Is there a reason that the calories stayed the same from sedentary to lightly active? I wouldn't really class myself as active!

It's not a massive problem, just curious!

Thanks!

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    The only way that would have happened is if both of them gave you 1200 calories, which is the lowest MFP will give out. What are your stats? You probably chose too aggressive a goal if this is the case.
  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
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    Were you told 1200 calories for sedentary and for lightly active? If so, that's why. And it probably suggests that you've chosen a weight loss goal that's too aggressive, so you may want to drop your expectations from 2 pounds/week to 1 pound/week.

    The way that MFP calculates your recommended calories is to estimate the calories that you burn in a day (based on your stats and activity level) then subtract 500 cals from that for 1 pound/week or 1000 cals from that for 2 pounds/week. But it absolutely will not go lower than 1200 calories as a recommendation for a woman. So, if it calculates that sedentary you burns 1600 calories and you pick 2 pounds/week, it subtracts 1600-1000 to get 600, says that's too low and reports 1200 instead. Then you change to lightly active, it calculates 1900, subtracts 1900-1000 to get 900, says that's still too low and reports 1200 instead.

    Rule of thumb: unless you're really small and really inactive, MFP telling you to eat 1200 is usually a sign that your weight loss goal is too aggressive and should be scaled back.
  • RosieS_1980
    RosieS_1980 Posts: 61 Member
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    My goal is 1lb a week, it's never been 2, and it's given me 1200 cals for both settings unless I change to active.

    I was never eating 1200, always more but I'm not really active, I sit on my bum all day at a computer! I do work out too, but when you read what the definition of active is, it's not me :)

    I'm 5.3 and currently 153lbs.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
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    Your BMR is ~1350 and sedentary would mean a daily calorie burn of about 1620-1685 (I'm not sure if MFP uses a .2 or .25 multiplier for sedentary). For a 1 pound per week deficit, this takes you below 1200.

    If you believe you are truly sedentary, then 1 pound per week may not be a real option for you. Because a sedentary woman of 5'3" and 136 pounds does not use a significant amount of energy in the day. Change to .5 pounds per week, but know with such a small deficit that accuracy is important. ANY estimation in your food log and you'll maintain.

    Or make it an effort to become more active.

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