Minimum Calorie Intake

grewmullins

I recently adjusted my calorie intake goal so that I could work towards losing two pounds a week from one and a half pounds per week. Basically, from 1,500 calories to 1,250. I did this because I was frustrated with my weight loss aftter 30 days and thought that would help spur some additional weight loss. I read somewhere that guys should consume no less than 1,500 calories per day. Thoughts?

mdgivens

Have you figured out your BMR?

loulamb7

Hey Mullins,

Check out this link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read

Read the stuff under "Setting Your Calorie and Macro Targets". Minimum caloric intake is based on multiple variables, such as height, weight, activity level, metabolic rate, age, etc. I would assume the 1500 caloric intake is based on some averages. I used the MFP data, TDEE data and Fat2fitradio data to set my caloric levels. Overtime I've adjusted my numbers to get to a point where I'm losing about a pound a week.

AllanMisner

So, I'm assuming you don't care what your body looks like so long as the scale validates your eating. Is that right?

If you don't feed your body, it won't be able to work to better your health.

18guyhornet

First - determine what your goal is. Do you just want to loose weight or are you wanting to tone up, add muscle, etc?

If it's the latter then you WILL need to consume more than 1250 a day. You can not build muscle at that level especially not knowing what your BMR is if you haven't figured that out.

EVERYONE will loose weight when eating at such a large deficit but it is short lived and you'll notice that your not loosing any weight again. I did this and had to "reset" myself. Now I'm eating about 2000 a day and loosing body fat while building muscle. It's a slow process but it works. My body fat went from nearly 30% to 16% but the scale wouldn't tell me that. You need to focus on measurements and NOT just the scale.

I truly understand the frustration with the scale not moving but don't fall prey to myth that scale is the best indicator of fitness or health. . . it's just one number, taken alone, is deceptive and misleading.

loulamb7

...don't fall prey to myth that scale is the best indicator of fitness or health. . . it's just one number, taken alone, is deceptive and misleading.

Agree with this statement. Keep track of NSV also. I've had weeks where my weight has stayed the same or slightly increased, however my measurements (neck, chest, waist) have gone down.