Calorie increase

Kelstarr84

Morning Everyone,

So I have been a member of MFP since 2011 and I understand the basic science and logic behind how it works and but something that I have never really fully understood or known the answer is why calories increase after you have lost weight.

Apologies if this seems a really thick/dumb question to ask......so for example...you start your journey with your MFP allocated cals.....I think its every time you lose 10lbs or so MFP reviews your cals and gives you a new higher cal total. But as we get closer to our weight loss goals, weight naturally becomes harder to lose, so why would MFP suggest an increase? Is it to prepare us for maintenance? Shouldn't we stay at the first cal value to make it a little easier?

Some one explain the logic please

Lietchi

I'm not sure what you mean. When MFP adjusts my calorie goal after losing weight, the calorie goal goes down, not up. I've gone from a 1750 kcal goal when I weighed 94kg to 1600 kcal now, weighing 83kg. (In my case it doesn't adjust automatically, I have to confirm my weight, weight loss rate and activity level in the settings to force an update)

The only other possibility I see is: as you get closer to your goal weight, your deficit/weight loss rate should be less agressive for health reasons. Changing your weight loss rate from a more agressive to a less aggressive rate of loss, then yes, your calorie goal will go up.

Pipsqueak1965

That sounds wrong - the lighter you are, the less calories you need, so your calories should be revised down - unless as Lietchi says, you are going from losing loads every week to suddenly maintaining.

Kelstarr84

Thanks Peeps. I knew it wasn't right....I think it must revise my activity level too. I'll do it manually.

Have a nice day 😊