MFP Lowered my calories again... getting low...

Kabiti

I just lowered my calories... is 1500 too low for a male-bodied 5'11" person at (just under) 200 lbs?

I was eating 1500-1700 (goal was 1660) and now I'm down about 100 calories for the day. I can do it, but I hover around 500 calories per meal, which makes it tough. I guess I'll have to cut down on meat and cheese on my salads!

KarenJanine

For your height that sounds like not enough food. How is you profile set up? If you've set it to lose 2lb per week try changing it to 1lb or 0.5 lb per week.

Are you exercising? If so then remember that MFP will allow you more calories when you've exercised.

TavistockToad

I just lowered my calories... is 1500 too low for a male-bodied 5'11" person at (just under) 200 lbs?

I was eating 1500-1700 (goal was 1660) and now I'm down about 100 calories for the day. I can do it, but I hover around 500 calories per meal, which makes it tough. I guess I'll have to cut down on meat and cheese on my salads!

presumably thats with a goal of losing 2lb per week?

with 20lb to lose you hsould be aiming for 1lb per week, not more.

MinnieInMaine

Yes, that is too low - I'm pretty sure 1500 is the minimum for men (like 1200 is for women). Something not everyone knows is that as you get closer to goal, you should also adjust your weekly weight loss goal. With only 20 pounds left to lose, you should be at 1/2 a pound per week, 1 pound per week at the very most. Also, if you're active, make sure you're eating back at least half of your exercise calories. It's not necessary to starve yourself to lose weight!

OtiWanKenobi

Absolutely! Do you also exercise? It seems to me you don't have a lot to lose. I'm not sure how you have MFP goals set up but it sounds like you might have it to lose 2 lbs a week. Might want to scale back and set it to lose 1/2 lb - 1 lb a week.

No man should eat less than 1800 or even 2000 cals a day.

Good luck!

Mokey41

As the others said, move your goal per week up to no more than 1 lb. You may still lose more but you won't be depriving yourself of the food you need. 1800 is the minimum for an adult male to be eating.

LessthanKris

Something not everyone knows is that as you get closer to goal, you should also adjust your weekly weight loss goal.

How do you determine the adjustment? I have about 39 left to go. Right now I think MFP has me at 1.3 because I am already at 1200 (I am a shorty). At what targets do you adjust?

MinnieInMaine

Something not everyone knows is that as you get closer to goal, you should also adjust your weekly weight loss goal.

How do you determine the adjustment? I have about 39 left to go. Right now I think MFP has me at 1.3 because I am already at 1200 (I am a shorty). At what targets do you adjust?

Quoted as this was not my creation:

Here is a great guideline for setting weekly weight loss goals:
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.

Kabiti

Thanks

I've been eating 16-1700 very successfully. It sounds like I should stay around there and just lose more slowly. I'm not hungry and my micronutrients are fine (I supplement). My diet is (and will remain) heavy on salads with protein.

I've been trying to increase exercise as well, which is successful. I'm stretching and working abs and legs (bodyweight only). I do not want to increase muscle, and some decrease would be very acceptable, so I'm not sure if the standard "men should never eat less than...." directly applies to me ~ I've never really understood that one (male vs. female of the same height).

TavistockToad

so I'm not sure if the standard "men should never eat less than...." directly applies to me ~ I've never really understood that one (male vs. female of the same height).

at the same height, the average man will have more muscle mass than the average woman, its just genetics, so the man would maintain on more calories.

Kabiti

so I'm not sure if the standard "men should never eat less than...." directly applies to me ~ I've never really understood that one (male vs. female of the same height).

at the same height, the average man will have more muscle mass than the average woman, its just genetics, so the man would maintain on more calories.

So if my muscle mass is decreasing and/or low, somewhere in the middle makes sense? (Sorry, my situation is complicated).

TavistockToad

so I'm not sure if the standard "men should never eat less than...." directly applies to me ~ I've never really understood that one (male vs. female of the same height).

at the same height, the average man will have more muscle mass than the average woman, its just genetics, so the man would maintain on more calories.

So if my muscle mass is decreasing and/or low, somewhere in the middle makes sense? (Sorry, my situation is complicated).

as i said in my previous post, IMO you should be aiming for 1lb loss per week with only 20lb to lose, this is advice i would give regardless of muscle mass or gender.

Kabiti

Thanks!!

Francl27

You're supposed to eat back any exercise calories too, so you should probably eat 1800 minimum unless you're totally sedentary.