Cut off for “not enough calories”

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Replies

  • GrizzledSquirrel
    GrizzledSquirrel Posts: 120 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    GrizzledSquirrel wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Whatsthemotive wrote: »
    Thank you. My calorie budget is 1290, and I’m trying to come in below that every day. I have a very narrow range to fit into. :)

    Why are you trying to come in below a target goal?

    Can’t speak for the OP, but I always try to beat my “targets”. You’re right that this is semantically nonsensical - but it pushes my dopamine buttons.

    You get your jollies from undereating?

    You don’t know what my targets are. 😊. For example, I might set my target to aim for a weight loss of 1/2 lb oer week, but I try for more. Doesn’t mean I under eat.

    I set my steps for 10k a say but as soon as I do, I NEED to smash that target by 50%.

    Just how my mind works.
  • gmonge7807
    gmonge7807 Posts: 1 Member
    My caloric goal is 2200, but I reach my macros at near 2000. Which should I choose?
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    gmonge7807 wrote: »
    My caloric goal is 2200, but I reach my macros at near 2000. Which should I choose?

    The 2200.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,943 Member
    gmonge7807 wrote: »
    My caloric goal is 2200, but I reach my macros at near 2000. Which should I choose?

    That's not possible as there's no food that does not consist of either carbs, protein or fat (leaving out alcohol here), and each gram of protein or carbs come in at 4 calories and each gram of fat at 9 calories. It's quite likely you've chosen wrong database entries
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,225 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    gmonge7807 wrote: »
    My caloric goal is 2200, but I reach my macros at near 2000. Which should I choose?

    That's not possible as there's no food that does not consist of either carbs, protein or fat (leaving out alcohol here), and each gram of protein or carbs come in at 4 calories and each gram of fat at 9 calories. It's quite likely you've chosen wrong database entries

    Not necessarily. Depends how a person sets the goals. Personally, I target macros in grams, specifically a minimum of 100g protein and 50g fats daily, in maintenance. (I don't target percents, nor do I care about carbs one way or the other). So, if I could eat "pure" protein and fats, I'd need about 850 calories to hit my meaningful macro targets. If I did target carbs, I'd probably pick 250g, which would take me to 1850 calories (but I don't care about carbs, really). On 1850 ignoring exercise, in maintenance, I lose weight very slowly. With exercise, I'd lose weight at a bit under a pound a week.

    The implication is that I have on average around 350-400 calories left daily, maybe more with the "don't care about carbs", after I hit reasonable macros, if I want to hold my weight steady. The further implication is that (if I want to) I can have any macro at all, or even - if I don't let it get out of hand in other respects - alcohol, which is not officially a macro at all, but costs around 7 calories per gram.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,943 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    gmonge7807 wrote: »
    My caloric goal is 2200, but I reach my macros at near 2000. Which should I choose?

    That's not possible as there's no food that does not consist of either carbs, protein or fat (leaving out alcohol here), and each gram of protein or carbs come in at 4 calories and each gram of fat at 9 calories. It's quite likely you've chosen wrong database entries

    Not necessarily. Depends how a person sets the goals. Personally, I target macros in grams, specifically a minimum of 100g protein and 50g fats daily, in maintenance. (I don't target percents, nor do I care about carbs one way or the other). So, if I could eat "pure" protein and fats, I'd need about 850 calories to hit my meaningful macro targets. If I did target carbs, I'd probably pick 250g, which would take me to 1850 calories (but I don't care about carbs, really). On 1850 ignoring exercise, in maintenance, I lose weight very slowly. With exercise, I'd lose weight at a bit under a pound a week.

    The implication is that I have on average around 350-400 calories left daily, maybe more with the "don't care about carbs", after I hit reasonable macros, if I want to hold my weight steady. The further implication is that (if I want to) I can have any macro at all, or even - if I don't let it get out of hand in other respects - alcohol, which is not officially a macro at all, but costs around 7 calories per gram.

    Yes, that's another explanation :smile:
  • Kaysmile012015
    Kaysmile012015 Posts: 68 Member
    It won't let you "Complete your day" (which gives your projected weight in 5weeks) If your under 1200 calories, however, it will allow you to log-it
    AND on the flip side..
    -It will "Complete the day" with a High deficit(over the reccomended)if the deficit is from exercise.
    Be well, Good luck:)
  • wunderkindking
    wunderkindking Posts: 1,615 Member
    Yeah, you may have to manually adjusted for your individual metabolism. Track your weight loss and calories for a month but if you're losing too fast you can get health problems in a pretty serious way - especially if you lose super fast a nd have even a hint of gallbladder issues.

    MFP gives me (at 5'5" and sedentary) about 1750 calories to maintain 162 pounds, or 1500 to lose half pound a week, which means a little over 1200 if I wanted to lose 1lb/week. ...Yeah no. I lose about a 1.25 a week at the 1500, and a little under a pound with 1750 or so.

    Some of this is, undoubtely, that while still sedentary I've built more muscle. Some of it's just that in spite of being allergic to most exercise, middle aged, and female, my metabolism just doesn't perfectly fit the calculator. I suspect most people's don't.
  • gigius72
    gigius72 Posts: 183 Member
    edited January 2021
    Why you losing weight? To look good or health? If it is for health remember weight is not the only thing that keeps you healthy. Food gives you nutrients: vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients. By targeting a very low calorie daily income you will have to restrict and eliminate some foods.
    Check on cronometer.com all the nutrients you are getting (it's a more complete spectrum of this app).
  • luceegj
    luceegj Posts: 246 Member
    edited January 2021
    The MFP calculator is VERY VERY inaccurate. First of all, work out your BMR then you want to take the BMR and x by (depending on how much you train per week):
    1-3 session a week - BMRx 1.375
    4-5 sessions a week -BMR x 1.55
    5-6 sessions a week BMR x1.725

    This will give you your maintenance calories. I personally would then take 300 away from that for a cutting phase calories and 300 if you're in a gaining phase.

    When it comes to your macros you want to be looking at a 40/40/ 20 split (Protein, Carbs, Fats ) Ensure you're eating sufficient protein from good sources. You then need to adjust your fats and carbs depending on how you're progressing.

    I hope this helps.

    [Edited by MFP Staff]
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,840 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    luceegj wrote: »
    The MFP calculator is VERY VERY inaccurate. First of all, work out your BMR then you want to take the BMR and x by (depending on how much you train per week):
    1-3 session a week - BMRx 1.375
    4-5 sessions a week -BMR x 1.55
    5-6 sessions a week BMR x1.725

    This will give you your maintenance calories. I personally would then take 300 away from that for a cutting phase calories and 300 if you're in a gaining phase.

    When it comes to your macros you want to be looking at a 40/40/ 20 split (Protein, Carbs, Fats ) Ensure you're eating sufficient protein from good sources. You then need to adjust your fats and carbs depending on how you're progressing.

    I hope this helps.

    Lucy
    LGX Coaching

    "Session" is such a generic term, I don't know how it can be a guide to how many calories one needs. Are you talking about resistance training? Is cardio included?

    Not to mention that it doesn't take into account the wildly differing activity levels between individuals outside of exercise (deskjob versus construction worker, lots of chores around the house or not etc.)
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Whatsthemotive wrote: »
    Thank you. I was confused partly because I get a post saying my diary was under the calorie goal, so I thought that was a good thing. I lost a pound and a half last week so I’m not looking for or getting a rapid weight loss.

    if you are using MFP method then you want to hit the goal they gave you every day.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    luceegj wrote: »
    The MFP calculator is VERY VERY inaccurate. First of all, work out your BMR then you want to take the BMR and x by (depending on how much you train per week):
    1-3 session a week - BMRx 1.375
    4-5 sessions a week -BMR x 1.55
    5-6 sessions a week BMR x1.725

    This will give you your maintenance calories. I personally would then take 300 away from that for a cutting phase calories and 300 if you're in a gaining phase.

    When it comes to your macros you want to be looking at a 40/40/ 20 split (Protein, Carbs, Fats ) Ensure you're eating sufficient protein from good sources. You then need to adjust your fats and carbs depending on how you're progressing.

    I hope this helps.

    Lucy
    LGX Coaching

    "Session" is such a generic term, I don't know how it can be a guide to how many calories one needs. Are you talking about resistance training? Is cardio included?

    sounds like a massively confusing formula..

    why not just calculate TDEE and go from there..

    but hey, I am a simple person ..
  • Whatsthemotive
    Whatsthemotive Posts: 145 Member
    I've been doing fine with my method. I count calories every day. I exercise almost every day and count those calories (tending to count them as less rather than more, since many apps and websites overcount calories for exercise). I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I try to come out close to but under the calorie goal. I've lost 18 pounds in 10 weeks.

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