Help, dont understand

RoxieDawn

Echoing that if you are estimating your food intake everyday you really do not know how many calories you are consuming. Doing this at least in the beginning of weight loss will help you gauge that you are eating enough and vice versa.

There is a thread that details why eating enough is a bad idea to answer your initial question in the OP.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10569458/why-eating-too-little-calories-is-a-bad-idea/p1

RunnerGrl1982

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

Also should mention I have hypothyroidism, which I read somewhere you need less calories

Hey there! Just to clarify, this is false. Have you been diagnosed with hypo? If so, your hypothyroidism should be monitored and regulated by the care of a doctor if this is not already the case. Most all with hypothyroidism can lose weight normally just like everyone else. I have it myself and have had my thyroid regulated for over a decade now and haven't had any issues with weight loss or having to eat less calories.

Just something to keep in mind.

briittanyxxoo

RunnerGrl1982 wrote: »

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

Also should mention I have hypothyroidism, which I read somewhere you need less calories

Hey there! Just to clarify, this is false. Have you been diagnosed with hypo? If so, your hypothyroidism should be monitored and regulated by the care of a doctor if this is not already the case. Most all with hypothyroidism can lose weight normally just like everyone else. I have it myself and have had my thyroid regulated for over a decade now and haven't had any issues with weight loss or having to eat less calories.

Just something to keep in mind.

Yes I am diagnosed. Monitored. And medicated.

kshama2001

If you use MFP to set your calorie goal, exercise, but don't eat back any exercise calories, you are not using MFP the way it was designed.

Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1

PAV8888

I am confused.

OP is about whether eating too little is bad.

Then it turns out that calories in are measured via rough guesstimating.

So the only clue we have as to the ACTUAL caloric balance is a loss representing a deficit of about 1100 Cal a day.

Assuming the weight trend has been measured correctly which, by itself, is an open question.

So I can only tell the OP my personal experience.

I started logging on MFP well after I started losing weight but while I was still substantially more obese than the OP at a BMI of 36.5

My first year on MFP I averaged a deficit of 695 Cal a day and ended the year at a BMI of 25.5

It was definitely fast enough.

Your brain and body need time to adjust and learn.

Your goal is not to lose weight fast.

Your goal is to lose weight. Permanently.

The foundations for your future maintenance are as important as achieving the loss in the first place.

You don't exercise/you should not be exercising primarily for weight loss.

Exercising and moving is good for your health. Independently of your weight.

As an aside 10,000 to 15000 steps a day for most people would correspond to the higher-end of MFP "active" assuming any exercise was rolled into the activity level. Which as many people have pointed out above is not how MFP is normally set up, but which I personally find convenient since walking is an exercise that does approximate daily living activity to a large degree.

CSARdiver

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

Also should mention I have hypothyroidism, which I read somewhere you need less calories

This is patently false. The only weight gain associated with hypothyroidism is water weight and temporary.

There are several experienced people here with thyroid disorders who have been in maintenance for years.

The overwhelming objective evidence supports that weight management is an output of behavior. If something isn't working as desired, then look to your behavior and change this. Focus on what matters - caloric intake primarily, then output.

Think of this in long term - marathon over sprint. Long term success requires implementation of change that you can live with. Small changes will have a dramatic impact over time.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

yirara wrote: »

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

TavistockToad wrote: »

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

TavistockToad wrote: »

briittanyxxoo wrote: »

Maxxitt wrote: »

Losing at that rate, you're averaging about an 1100 calorie deficit a day. That level of deficit will not be sustainable much longer without health consequences. Eat a bit more and make sure you are hitting your protein macro, aiming for .8 g x goal weight assuming goal is within a healthy range.

I do hit my macros every day.

what is your protein goal?

20

how many grams?

60 to 90g. But I also don't weigh my food I just guesstimate

So you don't know how much you're actually eating. Your workouts are a rough estimate and your intake as well. If you're full on so little food then there's any chance that you're eating a lot more, and burn less calories from your workout. I suggest you get a foodscale and weigh everything.

I mentioned this on the first page that she was eating more than she thought due to the numbers not adding up shes only in a 1125 calorie deficit on average.shes losing about 2.25 lbs a week. so its not the 400-800 net we were led to believe and her BMR according to MFP said it was 1818. so yeah shes not undereating which is a good thing