How many calories..

mandynicolem42818

How many calories should I start out at for a decent deficit? (500+ deficit) I’m 25, 5’2” and weigh 174 right now. I want to get down to 125. MFP says 1,200 calories a day but that is just not sustainable for the average person.. I work out pretty lightly, 2-3 times a week just cardio right now.

L1zardQueen

Try a 250 calorie deficit. Slow is easier.

mandynicolem42818

L1zardQueen wrote: »

Try a 250 calorie deficit. Slow is easier.

I’m so impatient though 😭 and that’d be 2,100 calories for me 🤭

lexusjade

Why not start around 1,500 and see how you feel after a couple of weeks. Not as drastic as 1,200 but less than 2,100.

daubna08

I think 1200 is more manageable than you think! Especially since you said you’re impatient lol But I agree that 1500 would be a good starting point. Just remember to log everything, drink a ton of water (I do at least 100 oz), and try to get in as much exercise as you can even if it’s just walking. Oh and also get a food scale if you’re just starting out! You’ll be amazing how much more accurately you’ll log. Feel free to add me it’s a friend! Best of luck! 🤗

kimny72

The MFP calorie goal is based on how many lbs per week you chose. If you go down a half lb or a lb, you'll get more calories.

Teabythesea_

Unless your elderly, short, and sedentary, you really dont need to eat that little to lose. Select a loss of 1-1.5 lb per week and itll give you more. MFP is also designed for you to eat back exercise calories, so logging those gives you more wiggle room too. Slow weightloss not only allows you to eat more, but better helps develop sustainable habits so that you can keep the weight off. Remember, it's not a race.

WinoGelato

What rate of loss did you choose?

Do you know with MFP you should eat back exercise calories, the 1200 is a NEAT goal.

I’m same height as you and set my first goal at 1400 then 1650 after about 6 months when I had only about 15 lbs left to lose.

jenilla1

L1zardQueen wrote: »

Try a 250 calorie deficit. Slow is easier.

I'd wait to do such a small deficit until you get closer to goal. A 250 calorie deficit will take forever when you have 50 pounds to lose. That's just my opinion, though. I did a 250 deficit when I had less than 10 pounds to lose and it took months - which was OK, because it was only 10 pounds, so not that big of a deal. I wasn't in a hurry. But where you are at to start, I'd set it to at least 500 calorie deficit just to get a bit more weight off at the beginning. Then slow it down as you get closer to goal. It could take you 2 years to lose 50 pounds at such a tiny deficit (250 calories.) I mean that's fine if you don't mind, but you could do it in a healthy way in half that time...

lynn_glenmont

mandynicolem42818 wrote: »

L1zardQueen wrote: »

Try a 250 calorie deficit. Slow is easier.

I’m so impatient though 😭 and that’d be 2,100 calories for me 🤭

If you know that for a fact, then a 500-calorie deficit would be 1850. Why are you asking us?