Calorie in-take!?

Noradun

I am 5ft 5 and hit my max weight at 292 lbs. I have dropped 8 lbs in about a week. My question is for opinions on making sure I am eating enough calories. I have three issues which cause my weight gain. #1 I have PCOS #2 I regularly skip meals and eat under 1,000 calories in a 24 hr period, and #3 About once or twice a month I pig out because I am an emotional eater. So when I get stressed I get junk food and a beer and I chow down. So anyway, Myfitnesspal has my goal at 1800 calories. I am working hard to do 1300 and to avoid my emotional eating during the occasional stressful situation. Is 1300 calories enough though for my height and weight. I had some success on WW a few years back but found out then I just wasn't eating enough. They told me to make sure I hate all of my points. Which seemed to really help me drop pounds. Myfitnesspal seems to sort of make you feel like you are doing good if you stay under your allotted calories. Should I really be trying to eat 1800 calories which is my goal, or is 1300 ok? I just want to make sure I am being healthy. But I also want success. Thanks

somrok

Personally I would think 1300 is way too few calories if you are supposed to eat 1800. You want to keep up your metabolism and it will slow down- if you eat too few calories.
Start making a plan for when you get stressed out. Things like writing in a journal, punching a pillow or punching bag, talking to a friend,exercise...get rid of junk food from your house so you only have healthy food to choose from. Find healthier versions of your comfort foods. Just a few ideas.

amyepdx

I’m 5’5” also and started at 267. Setting my cals for 1 lb a week was 1760 cals. Your 1800 already takes into account your 500 cal a day deficit so you need to eat to that and exercise cals on top of that. I logged my cardio & walking but not weight training which gave me another 1/2 lb week loss back then.
Now I’m at 175 and 1 lb a week is 1240 so I’m doing 1/2 lb.
The point is, you will miss those calories when they’re gone so eat them now to fuel your activity and prevent binges.

AnnPT77

If it tells you to eat 1800, eat 1800, or close to it (little above, little below, don't obsess, but try to average right around goal).

You've learned that it isn't healthful or helpful to eat too little . . . so don't. Stick close to goal for 4-6 weeks. If you feel fatigued, weak, or have other significant negative health effects along the way, eat a little more.

Otherwise, stick close to 1800, and at the end of that, look back at the average weekly loss and adjust at that point if necessary.

Best wishes!

ladyhusker39

Goals are meant to be achieved. If you fall short you haven't achieved the goal. MFP give you a calorie goal. You should be working to meet that goal.

Make sense?

CharlieBeansmomTracey

Noradun wrote: »

I am 5ft 5 and hit my max weight at 292 lbs. I have dropped 8 lbs in about a week. My question is for opinions on making sure I am eating enough calories. I have three issues which cause my weight gain. #1 I have PCOS #2 I regularly skip meals and eat under 1,000 calories in a 24 hr period, and #3 About once or twice a month I pig out because I am an emotional eater. So when I get stressed I get junk food and a beer and I chow down. So anyway, Myfitnesspal has my goal at 1800 calories. I am working hard to do 1300 and to avoid my emotional eating during the occasional stressful situation. Is 1300 calories enough though for my height and weight. I had some success on WW a few years back but found out then I just wasn't eating enough. They told me to make sure I hate all of my points. Which seemed to really help me drop pounds. Myfitnesspal seems to sort of make you feel like you are doing good if you stay under your allotted calories. Should I really be trying to eat 1800 calories which is my goal, or is 1300 ok? I just want to make sure I am being healthy. But I also want success. Thanks

with mfp you eat your calories it gives you. not under it.although being under once in awhile is fine. if you pig out it could be a lot worse when you dont eat enough calories,so it may make you want to "pig out" more. if you are having a hard time with 1300 how did you get to the point to need to lose weight? you gain weight from eating more calories than you burn,I know as thats how I became overweight,plus being less active. less than 1000 calories is not healthy and you are not getting the nutrients your body needs and for energy it will take from whatever it can including lean mass/muscle.