Weight loss cals vs maintenance

KrystalKween
KrystalKween Posts: 5 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For the past few months I have been losing weight slowly but surely. This Novemember I figured out what my overall TDEE is to maintain at 150-ish and what I need to lose.

My TDEE is 2,100 - 2,200 calories a day to maintain at my current weight and to lose I'm trying to eat around 1,600 calories.

I always see that when people get to maintenance it only adds about 500 calories to their total. But if added that back (when I get that point) wouldn't I gain weight?

Am I just overthinking it? Are the calories I'm eating now what I'm going to be eating at goal weight? Or should I just wait and see, haha.

Replies

  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    You'll have a smaller body at your goal weight. It takes less energy to run a smaller body.

    People who get to maintenance can only add back their deficit calories. 500 calories would mean that they were losing one pound per week right up until they switched to maintenance.
  • ladyhusker39
    ladyhusker39 Posts: 1,406 Member
    You post is confusing, but if you're trying to understand how many calories you will be able to eat at maintenance just figure out your TDEE at that weight. That's what you'll be able to eat.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited December 2017
    Your TDEE will drop a bit as you lose weight but you can 'worry' about that when the time comes and adjust intake as necessary.

    Forget about numbers you've seen others add when they reach maintenance, it differs from person to person.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    edited December 2017
    You’re overthinking it. If your number come from your personal experiencing logging calorie intake, output, and weight changes, those are going to be the most accurate numbers for you. The calculators are just estimates, and other people’s experiences might show what’s common, but not what’s right for you.

    ETA: that said, if 150 if not your goal weight, that number will go down some unless you end up using more energy as you get smaller (which could happen if you increase your activity).
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited December 2017
    I used to think that my maintenance calories would be no more than 1800 when I reached my goal, it turns out because I'm a bit more active than I once was that I can actually maintain on almost 2000 cals (not bad for being only 5ft 2 and in late 40s). So take heart, don't over think things, the great news is that our TDEE is a moving number depending on how active/inactive we are which we can increase should we want to.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Overthinking it.
    You aren't living in a vacuum and your TDEE is influenced by many things and will change as you change. There will be factors and behaviours which reduce it and factors and behaviours which increase it.

    My maintenance level when I got to goal weight was higher than before I lost my weight.
    My maintenance level went up again when I retired.

    The feedback loop of adjusting based on results is sensible whether you are trying to lose, maintain or gain.

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