Eating close to maintenance

MandyCMN
MandyCMN Posts: 17 Member
in Getting Started
My maintenance calories are just over 1800 and I’m trying to eat around 1400 but I’m finding it difficult. Would it be fair to say that as long as I don’t go over 1800 I would lose weight even if it was at a really slow rate?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,736 Member
    Yes, if the 1800-something is accurate.

    MFP, a TDEE calculator, even a fitness tracker - they just give you a statistical estimate, basically an average for people who are demographically similar to you. Most people are close to average, but in a minority of cases, the estimate may be meaningfully high or low. Reasons might not be obvious.

    If you follow a calorie goal for 4-6 weeks (whole menstrual cycle, if that applies to you), results on the scale will give you a hint about how average you are.

    With the strategy you are considering, it could take longer than that to be sure, since very slow fat loss can be masked on the scale longer by normal several-pound daily fluctuations in water retention and digestive contents on their way to becoming waste.

    That's not necessarily a problem, as long as you understand and accept it.

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