Is this ap's daily calorie intake suggestion accurate/safe?

aaliyahsemone
aaliyahsemone Posts: 2 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I get so many mixed reviews about calorie counting, whether I'm aiming too low or too high, or if I'm crazy for counting them at all.

I'm 5'1 and currently 110 lbs. I started out at 130 and steadily lost the 20 lbs in just over a year.

Now I want to maintain, but the app still suggests my calorie intake to be 1200 per day. I lost this weight eating 1500 per day PLUS cheat days on Friday night and Saturdays (I also do circuit training 30 min. each morning and walk another 30 min-1hr in the afternoon, 4 days per week).

Does the app estimate too low, or is this a safe calorie intake for me, being as small as I am?

Replies

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Don't know your age. But as someone who started maintenance in her mid 50's at 5'1 and 107 lbs, MFP's 1200 cals plus about 200 cals per hour exercised was correct for me.

    Try the cals you have been given, eat back your exercise calories, and if you are still losing after 4-6 weeks up your calories by 100. Do this every few weeks until you are maintaining.

    Cheers, h.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    It's an estimate based on formulas, assumptions, and averages. For most, it's a good starting point. Most end up doing some tweaking as they gain experience/perspective on the process. 1200 cals + exercise doesn't seem out of the realm of reasonability for 5'1" and 110lbs.
  • thebaztard
    thebaztard Posts: 7 Member
    Yeah, it does need a little massaging to work for you. I was set at 1980 cals for weight loss, but, with the addition of my work out calories ( burned cals off of a stationary bike can be significantly off ) I was maintaining weight, so I decreased my intake by 200 cals and started losing. I will adjust again as the losing slows down and my calorie intake catches up with my weight loss.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,173 Member
    +1 to the so-called "calculators" being good (only) for a starting estimate. I'd be in a hospital bed by now - if I was lucky! - if I ate MFP's calorie estimate for maintenance. It's close for most, high/low for some, crazy high/low for a few (like me: +/- 30% off!).
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    it gives you estimates assuming you're not doing any additional exercise. If you log your circuit training, you'll get additional calories. But as others have said, they are just estimates and you'll need to find what works for you.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    MFP estimates. You know how many cals you can eat to lose, so you'll know from that what your maintenance cals are.

    (Mfp gives me 1650 and that's it set to lightly active which I count myself to be, but I maintain on 1950-2000 - I'm 5ft 2/48/125lbs)
  • Suerhv
    Suerhv Posts: 61 Member
    lol if I am ever to get to maintenance I hope it is on more than 1200 calories...
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    I'm sure it depends on the person. This app gives me 1600 cals to maintain but I've been maintaining for 8 months eating about 1900 per day plus at least one cheat meal every week.

Categories