Confused about calorie level that MFP sets

Polydactylkat

Hi all! I’ve been logging my foods as best as I can, just how I’ve been eating (I’m just starting on here) and it’s coming up to about 2100/day. I’ve been maintaining my (too heavy) weight for a while now. But to lose 1/2 lb a week, MFP has me at 1570 ... my understanding is that a 3500 per week (about 500 per day) calorie deficit is ideal to lose 1 lb per week. So why does my calorie goal seem so low? That is, comparatively. I don’t plan on continuing to eat so much, but it’s discouraging/confusing when I’m in the red but still less than I’d normally eat and MFP says I will gain ... I’m confused ...

Duck_Puddle

Your mfp calorie goal is based on an estimate of how much you burn without any exercise - according to your weight, gender, age and activity level then subtracting out for the deficit needed to lose however much you want to lose.

So in your case; MFP thinks you will maintain your current weight on 1820 (PLUS any exercise). It then subtracted out 250 calories per day (the daily deficit for 1/2 lb per week) to give you a goal of 1570.

Mfp intends for you to log your exercise and eat those calories in addition to the 1570.

If you’ve been maintaining on 2100, then your total calorie burn for the day (which would include any exercise) is 2100. So...that means you’re doing about 280 calories worth of exercise (which you should still be logging and eating). Or, you’re more active than you think you are (perhaps you set yourself as sedentary but you’re really lightly active).

Also-everything is an estimate. You might burn a little more or a little less than “average”. Using your actual numbers is always the best option.

Regardless, being in the red doesn’t mean you’ll gain necessarily. It means you’re eating more than will result in the rate of loss you selected. If you’re eating less than 2100, you’re still going to lose.

Polydactylkat

Thanks, that was helpful. So essentially I’m not quite as sedentary as the ‘sedentary’ mfp setting accounts for?

I raised my calorie goal a bit, if I can get down as low as it recommends I will eventually, but I don’t want to start so much lower than I’m used to because I don’t want to get discouraged. It’s a mental thing

I would just log whatever activity it is that is burning those ‘extra’ calories, but I think it’s just me moving around during the day and not a specific activity or exercise.

Thanks again!!