what the hell?? 1290 calories/day??

SolidShano
SolidShano Posts: 4
edited January 30 in Motivation and Support
I am a short (5'4") male. I recently started using this site to help trim down. I currently weigh 129 and would like to weigh 124. However, after putting my height/age/weight metrics and activity level into myfitnesspal, it recommended I eat 1290 calories/day.

1290 calories/day? Is this an error? How can it be so little? I ended up eating oatmeal for breakfast, and whey protein for lunch and chicken breast for dinner, and barely made quota. Other considerations:

-I run about 3 miles every other day
-hit the gym every other day, compound lifts; max lifts are deadlift 302 squat 210 bench 190 so I am compositionally muscular
-I want to maintain my muscularity and strength while cutting 5 pounds

Replies

  • SweetieMelissa
    SweetieMelissa Posts: 68 Member
    You can always set your own calorie goals and up it to 1400, if you want. After a couple of days, you will see what works for you :D
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Figure out your TDEE
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • SolidShano
    SolidShano Posts: 4
    1400? this website is trying to kill me. BRB posting from hospital bed with gravy IV to up my caloric intake.

    j/k will try this out for next few days. But it just doesnt feel like enough.
  • kmash32
    kmash32 Posts: 275 Member
    Remember this is before exercise points. Also I find there calorie goals are a little low on here you might want to compare it to another Site.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Personally I found Scooby's calculator to be a better fit than MFP's.

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Of course this is just a good guess. You'll need to make adjustments based on your activity level. I always eat back my cardio calories and just consider my post workout protein shake good enough for the strength training. You can manually adjust your settings here.

    Goals ->> Change Goals -->> Custom.


    For instance I have mine set at 2500 and if I burn 1,000 running I add it back in and have 3,500 for the day.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    at your level you should be more interested in BF% rather than scale weight.

    Pick a calorie level. (I'd say closer to BW x12-14)
    Eat that amount for 2 weeks
    Assess scale, measurements & pics.
    Determine if cal level needs to be adjusted up or down.
  • SolidShano
    SolidShano Posts: 4
    Figure out your TDEE
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    ahh, thanks. 1824 cals according to this. I can live with that!!
  • divemunkey
    divemunkey Posts: 288 Member
    Figure out your TDEE
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Yes, do this, otherwise you'll kill yourself trying to squat 150# in a week.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Do you mind my asking what is so important about losing 5 pounds exactly? You already look stellar, why are you hung up on an arbitrary number on a machine? Are you a wrestler trying to stay in a weight class?
  • SweetieMelissa
    SweetieMelissa Posts: 68 Member
    1400? this website is trying to kill me. BRB posting from hospital bed with gravy IV to up my caloric intake.

    j/k will try this out for next few days. But it just doesnt feel like enough.

    I don't know. It was just an example, honestly :) But it's good that you are asking around. figure out your TDEE. :)
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    did you pick sedentary as your activity level? Or pick a 1-2lb/week loss? If so, redo your numbers and pick the correct activity level and 0.5lb/week loss.

    Also be aware that MFP is designed for its users to log their exercise and eat back those calories. The formula can be found under the Goals page.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    You're supposed to add exercise calories on top of that 1290.
  • tootchute
    tootchute Posts: 392 Member
    I think your fine at 129, but that's me.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    did you pick sedentary as your activity level? Or pick a 1-2lb/week loss? If so, redo your numbers and pick the correct activity level and 0.5lb/week loss.

    Also be aware that MFP is designed for its users to log their exercise and eat back those calories. The formula can be found under the Goals page.

    This!
  • SolidShano
    SolidShano Posts: 4
    Thanks for the helpful replies everyone :D

    Going to up calories to 1800.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories