Calorie restriction

deblake93
deblake93 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, my calorie goal on MFP is 2500 to lose weight. Is 1200 too much of a deficit if the foods I am eating are high nutritional value. Thanks

Replies

  • deblake93
    deblake93 Posts: 3 Member
    Should add that I am 320, 38% body fat.
  • SueSueDio
    SueSueDio Posts: 4,796 Member
    Eat what MFP tells you to - 1200 is WAY too low for a man, and way too low for someone of your weight.

    Trust the process - it works. Even if it does sound like a lot of calories! (If you have trouble meeting your goal, there's a thread in one of the stickied posts about calorie-dense foods. Don't be scared of things like cheese, nuts and peanut butter.)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,219 Member
    Still not enough information. What weight loss per week did you tell MFP to get the 2500 goal? Or alternatively, what is your TDEE or your NEAT?
  • sksk1026
    sksk1026 Posts: 215 Member
    Eat the higher recommended calorie allowance. Deprivation can lead to you abandoning your plan. There's a saying on the forum: he who eats the most and loses, wins. So eat as much as mfp allows.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    deblake93 wrote: »
    Hi, my calorie goal on MFP is 2500 to lose weight. Is 1200 too much of a deficit if the foods I am eating are high nutritional value. Thanks

    How long have you eaten 2500 cals before determining that it's too much?
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,889 Member
    edited December 2017
    The 2500 calories target sounds correct; 1200 is possibly an optimal deficit at your current weight - later you'll have to reduce the deficit and lose more slowly. A well rounded diet is recommended regardless of goal - losing, maintaining or gaining weight.

    (Edited for clarity - I hope.)
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    edited December 2017
    The 2500 calories target sounds correct; 1200 is possibly an optimal deficit at your current weight - later you'll have to reduce the deficit and lose more slowly. A well rounded diet is recommended regardless of goal - losing, maintaining or gaining weight.

    hes 320 pounds and a male he doesnt need to eat 1200 2500 is his deficit so i hope thats not what he means
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,889 Member
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    The 2500 calories target sounds correct; 1200 is possibly an optimal deficit at your current weight - later you'll have to reduce the deficit and lose more slowly. A well rounded diet is recommended regardless of goal - losing, maintaining or gaining weight.

    hes 320 pounds and a male he doesnt need to eat 1200 2500 is his deficit so i hope thats not what he means
    I read it the other way around and hope that is what he means.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,808 Member
    deblake93 wrote: »
    Hi, my calorie goal on MFP is 2500 to lose weight. Is 1200 too much of a deficit if the foods I am eating are high nutritional value. Thanks

    Maybe look at it another way - will you be able to stick to 2500 (plus exercise calories) and the food choices you are making for the long term?
    At 320lbs sustainability and adherence IMHO are more important than initial rate of weight loss.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    With a reasonable amount of exercise activity and resistance training, and with correct macros, a 2000 calorie/ day intake should work for now.
  • DmaMfz
    DmaMfz Posts: 125 Member
    edited December 2017
    He asked if 1200 was too much of a deficit, and he currently eats 2500 cals. Just for clarification, for those who may have understood it the other way around.
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    DmaMfz wrote: »
    He asked if 1200 was too much of a deficit, and he currently eats 2500 cals. Just for clarification, for those who may have understood it the other way around.

    E.g., maintenance calories of 3700?
  • Rickster1967
    Rickster1967 Posts: 485 Member
    Listen up

    I started at 292, ate 2000 cals a day, did a bit of exercise and lost 63lbs in 21 weeks without being hungry. Still got 73 to go

    There is absolutely no need to cut so drastically. Try say 2300 to begin and eat filling foods. Swap out high calorie nutrient poor food and replace with less calorie dense more nutritious ones

    For example. Venison or rabbit for beef, pork, lamb. Get a larger portion for same calories = less hungry and more likely to succeed.

    After 15 to 20 weeks of diligent logging, regular weigh ins and recording your exercise you'll have a great understanding of how this all works.
  • Rickster1967
    Rickster1967 Posts: 485 Member
    Ah right now I see

    1200 deficit is fine, you could always do some exercise and eat those back.
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