Why did MFP just adjust my calories up?

10BlueDoves
10BlueDoves Posts: 33 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
When I entered my weight for today, MFP asked me to update my goals. I didn't change anything other than adding 5 lbs to my goal weight. I left my activity level and weekly weight loss goal the same. I have been steadily losing 2 lbs a week. But MFP just adjusted my calories up 40 calories from 1260 to 1300. Why would it do that? I would have thought, if anything, it would have gone down a bit since my weight is less.

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Actually, as you lose weight MFP adjusts the calories up. It actually does this in preparation for maintenance, even though you aren't there yet. That way, when you get to maintenance, all you do is bump up 50 or so calories instead up increasing up 300 in a shot. Hope that makes sense.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    No and no.

    You probably entered something wrong the first time.
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.


    I sure hope this is the way it works! Something to look forward too! Because of my height 5 foot 2 I am at 1200 calories a day. Needless to say I work out hard to get a few extra calories. So jealous of tall women and men, looking at others who have over a 1600 calorie a day. Wow, what I could do with that many calories lol
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.


    I sure hope this is the way it works! Something to look forward too! Because of my height 5 foot 2 I am at 1200 calories a day. Needless to say I work out hard to get a few extra calories. So jealous of tall women and men, looking at others who have over a 1600 calorie a day. Wow, what I could do with that many calories lol

    I'm 5'1" and am on 1750 (maintenance) :wink: Don't have to be tall... you can get there too!
  • sixout
    sixout Posts: 3,128 Member
    Word of advice would be, don't ever trust MFP's goals. Study, and create your own.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.


    I sure hope this is the way it works! Something to look forward too! Because of my height 5 foot 2 I am at 1200 calories a day. Needless to say I work out hard to get a few extra calories. So jealous of tall women and men, looking at others who have over a 1600 calorie a day. Wow, what I could do with that many calories lol

    It's not. Sorry!
  • 10BlueDoves
    10BlueDoves Posts: 33 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.
    Actually, as you lose weight MFP adjusts the calories up. It actually does this in preparation for maintenance, even though you aren't there yet. That way, when you get to maintenance, all you do is bump up 50 or so calories instead up increasing up 300 in a shot. Hope that makes sense.

    But I have still have 100+ lbs to lose with a goal of 2lbs per week, so my end weight shouldn't be making any difference at this point with over a year to go.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    you just added 5lbs to your goal...so that is 17,500 more calories you can eat....hence the extra 40calories a day.
    Actually, as you lose weight MFP adjusts the calories up. It actually does this in preparation for maintenance, even though you aren't there yet. That way, when you get to maintenance, all you do is bump up 50 or so calories instead up increasing up 300 in a shot. Hope that makes sense.

    But I have still have 100+ lbs to lose with a goal of 2lbs per week, so my end weight shouldn't be making any difference at this point with over a year to go.

    Just go in and manually adjust your calories back down to 1260 if that will work better for you. I've used the custom settings for the last year and have had much more success that way than with the generic recommendations from MFP.
  • zoodocgirl
    zoodocgirl Posts: 163 Member
    It's simply because you changed your goal.

    Less weight to lose = smaller calorie deficit needed to get there.

    Look around the forums for the TDEE discussions. Even if you don't completely use that method, it's interesting to use the different calculators to see what your BMR and TDEE calorie levels are. It helped me with the understanding of where my calorie goals should be and how they can change.

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