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myfitnesspal added 500 extra calories to my diet? Why?

lostreaction
lostreaction Posts: 7
edited February 8 in Food and Nutrition
I have been doing just fine on 1,200 a day. I have had no problems at all it's been going great and i have been feeling proud of my accomplishment of not eating over 1,200 but then i noticed my weight setting were wrong i believe it was set that i currently weight 130 and wish to lose weight with a goal of 200... that doesn't even make sense. lol So i fixed it and changed it to the correct numbers saying that im 6ft and weigh 250 with a goal of weighing 200. I was worried it would take away a ton of calories but it added 540! So instead of my goal of 1,200 its now set to 1,740! I have been doing so awesome on 1,200 i don't want to start eating more... i barely even exercise. (10 minutes of sit ups and pushups a day) and that's really just to gain a little muscle. Apparently if i eat 1,740 a day and exercise 10 minutes a day i will lose 10 pounds by January 8. That's still awesome but im now questioning how accurate this is.

Can i just stick with my 1,200 a day and be happy? Or am i doing something wrong? I can't image eating 500 extra calories after i trained myself to be happy with 1,200.

Any input on this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
«1

Replies

  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    You can do whatever you want.

    However, in my humble opinion, 1,200 calories is ludicrously low for a 250lb male. The odds of you falling off the wagon are ridiculously high and at best you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass.

    But I support your right to do whatever the heck you want. :flowerforyou:
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    It did that to me once. I had only about 4 pounds left to lose, then all the sudden my ticker was not only reset but said I had 60 pounds to lose! (I was 135 pounds, -60 is CRAZY!)
    I just reset everything.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    1200 calories is very low for a 6' tall male. I'm a 5'6" female at 176 pounds and I eat 1700 calories a day.
    There's no need to create a larger deficit than you need to. My personal opinion is that it's always better to eat the maximum amount of calories that will allow you to reach your goals. Not only do more calories mean it's easier to get enough nutrition from the foods you eat, but it will also be easier to transition into maintenance once you reach a weight you're happy at.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    10 minutes of sit ups and pushups a day) and that's really just to gain a little muscle.

    But a few little push ups while eating at a drastic caloric deficit will not give you any muscle.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    You can do whatever you want.

    However, in my humble opinion, 1,200 calories is ludicrously low for a 250lb male. The odds of you falling off the wagon are ridiculously high and at best you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass.

    But I support your right to do whatever the heck you want. :flowerforyou:

    ^^^ so this. Why would you want to lose weight on 1200 calories if you can eat more and still lose? The goal is to lose weight on as many calories as possible. Even 1700 seems very low for a 250 lb man. I eat more than that and lost weight...
  • SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish
    SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish Posts: 831 Member
    A 6' male should eat about that much to lose weight at a reasonable pace and keep his lean body mass constant. If you stay at 1200 cals per day you will lose faster, but you will lose lean body mass (muscle) and you may stress your body to use calories more efficiently, leading to increased weight gain later when you are off your "diet". Really if I were you I'd add 30mins of weight training 3x/week (or bodyweight training) minimum.

    For example here, the calorie range 1740 is just barely above mine, and I'm about the same height and weight (I weigh less but I'm probably more active than you then). But I dont eat just 1740 calories, usually 2400 calories to 3300 calories and have been losing weight well (until thanksgiving week). My reduced weight loss for Thanksgiving is because I could not exercise much, and did not want to reduce my food intake any.
  • lostreaction
    lostreaction Posts: 7
    "you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass. "

    That's the exact opposite of what i want... ugh. So i guess this isn't what i want then. I guess ill figure out how to add 500 extra calories to my diet. Can't be that hard actually. lol
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    You can do whatever you want.

    However, in my humble opinion, 1,200 calories is ludicrously low for a 250lb male. The odds of you falling off the wagon are ridiculously high and at best you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass.

    But I support your right to do whatever the heck you want. :flowerforyou:

    This.
    But a few little push ups while eating at a drastic caloric deficit will not give you any muscle.

    And this.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    "you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass. "

    That's the exact opposite of what i want... ugh. So i guess this isn't what i want then. I guess ill figure out how to add 500 extra calories to my diet. Can't be that hard actually. lol

    It really isn't. If you're eating anything low-fat or diet, stop that. Eat full fat dairy, peanut butter, avocados, lots of protein-- you can add 500 calories easily.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    "you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass. "

    That's the exact opposite of what i want... ugh. So i guess this isn't what i want then. I guess ill figure out how to add 500 extra calories to my diet. Can't be that hard actually. lol

    And I suggest you add some sort of strength training (which will also make the 500 calories go down easier)
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    However, in my humble opinion, 1,200 calories is ludicrously low for a 250lb male. The odds of you falling off the wagon are ridiculously high and at best you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass.

    Not at that weight and (assumed) physical condition. Assuming an already-sedentary lifestyle, there won't be much lean loss as there is a crap load of fat stores to draw energy from. For someone considerably leaner, and more athletic to begin with - absolutely yes, I would agree that LBM loss would be significant.

    Worse, there is no evidence that falling off the wagon happens any less for slow-losers vs fast-losers - recidivism rates are extremely high for both camps.

    Personally I would jump off a bridge trying to survive on 1200 calories a day, but hey, there are many paths to enlightenment...if it were me I'd raise it to 1500-1600 at least, assuming exercise calories will be eaten back as well.
  • SkimFlatWhite68
    SkimFlatWhite68 Posts: 1,254 Member
    When I first looked at the OP, I thought his name was "lost erection" and I was about to reply that the 1200 calories might be the cause... but on second look I see I was wrong.

    It does seem very very low for a 250lb man... I eat more than that and I'm a 61kg woman.
  • aphroditesmaiden
    aphroditesmaiden Posts: 45 Member
    I'm a 5'4'' female and I lost weight the quickest at 1500 calories a day, no exercise. I slowed down at 1200. 1200 is the bare minimum that your body needs not to screech your metabolism to a halt. If I were you, I would slowly increase to 1700 and see how you do. You might lose weight in a quicker, healthier manner. You'd be surprised at how little 1700 is. I'm down to 121-122lbs (depending on the week) and I maintain at 2000 calories. And again, 5'4''. I would definitely up your calories if you can.

    But if not do what you want, I'm not here to judge man. ;)
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    OP, you are getting some great advice in here. (And it sounds like you're listening to it.:happy: )

    BTW I'm 6'1", 180 lbs and while sedentary* maintain my weight at about 2400 a day.

    (*meaning sitting in a recliner all day recovering from surgery.)
  • lostreaction
    lostreaction Posts: 7
    "Assuming an already-sedentary lifestyle, there won't be much lean loss as there is a crap load of fat stores to draw energy from."

    I mean, i don't do much intentional exercise. According to google maps my daily walking commute is just under a mile. But i doubt that is even worth calculating. I really got into weight lifting in my sophomore year but i stopped because i started getting stretch marks on my arms so that scared me away from doing it anymore. I'm now a senior in highschool and don't really do much exercise anymore and im usually too tired to do anything after school and work in the evenings.

    Maybe i will meet in the middle and add 250 calories to my diet. I would feel better about that.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    "Assuming an already-sedentary lifestyle, there won't be much lean loss as there is a crap load of fat stores to draw energy from."

    I mean, i don't do much intentional exercise. According to google maps my daily walking commute is just under a mile. But i doubt that is even worth calculating. I really got into weight lifting in my sophomore year but i stopped because i started getting stretch marks on my arms so that scared me away from doing it anymore. I'm now a senior in highschool and don't really do much exercise anymore and im usually too tired to do anything after school and work in the evenings.

    Maybe i will meet in the middle and add 250 calories to my diet. I would feel better about that.

    You're still growing. I didn't realize you were so young. In that case I'd definitely suggest eating more. You want (imo) to eat as much as you can while still losing weight. That way if you stall you have something to cut from. If you're already eating the bare minimum and you stall your options are limited.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I'm a 5'2" female, and half your weight, and *I* don't eat as low as 1200 to lose weight. Dude - you can do what you want, but I would advise against that course of action.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    However, in my humble opinion, 1,200 calories is ludicrously low for a 250lb male. The odds of you falling off the wagon are ridiculously high and at best you're going to lose a ton of muscle mass.

    Not at that weight and (assumed) physical condition. Assuming an already-sedentary lifestyle, there won't be much lean loss as there is a crap load of fat stores to draw energy from. For someone considerably leaner, and more athletic to begin with - absolutely yes, I would agree that LBM loss would be significant.

    Worse, there is no evidence that falling off the wagon happens any less for slow-losers vs fast-losers - recidivism rates are extremely high for both camps.

    Personally I would jump off a bridge trying to survive on 1200 calories a day, but hey, there are many paths to enlightenment...if it were me I'd raise it to 1500-1600 at least, assuming exercise calories will be eaten back as well.

    I disagree, I think that he is more at risk of losing LBM due to being sedentary and eating so low. Eating 1,200 calories means he likely isn't getting adequate protein and if he isn't doing regular strength training, his body has no reason to hold on to the muscle mass he currently has.

    I've seen you (or another) post that about slow-losers vs high-losers before. Do you have a study or anything backing it up? If so, could you PM it to me? It seems counter intuitive as I consider deprivation an increased factor in binging.
  • lostreaction
    lostreaction Posts: 7
    "I'd definitely suggest eating more. You want (imo) to eat as much as you can while still losing weight. That way if you stall you have something to cut from. If you're already eating the bare minimum and you stall your options are limited. "

    I turned 18 last month actually. If you guys really think i can do just as good with 1740 a day i'll start eating more. It would be nice to eat something a little more for breakfast than a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. haha

    Thanks for the advice and i will definitely take it as you guys have much more experience at this than i do.

    Much appreciated!
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    "I'd definitely suggest eating more. You want (imo) to eat as much as you can while still losing weight. That way if you stall you have something to cut from. If you're already eating the bare minimum and you stall your options are limited. "

    I turned 18 last month actually. If you guys really think i can do just as good with 1740 a day i'll start eating more. It would be nice to eat something a little more for breakfast than a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. haha

    Thanks for the advice and i will definitely take it as you guys have much more experience at this than i do.

    Much appreciated!

    Fair warning, when you increase your calories you may see the number on the scale go up temporarily as your body readjusts.
  • lostreaction
    lostreaction Posts: 7
    That's really good to know! i would have panicked otherwise. haha
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Yeah, even though I know better, I still get temporarily freaked out when I see increases due to increased activity, sodium intake, etc. Hahahaha.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Solid thread
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep

    Same. Keep up the hard work and the great attitude OP!
  • lostreaction
    lostreaction Posts: 7
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep


    Same. Keep up the hard work and the great attitude OP!

    Thanks! You guys are sooo much more helpful than the folks over at the bodybuilding.com forums.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep


    Same. Keep up the hard work and the great attitude OP!

    Thanks! You guys are sooo much more helpful than the folks over at the bodybuilding.com forums.

    Quoted for prosperity!! :bigsmile:

    Also, here are some great links. It's a lot of reading, but I know they've helped me understand the ins and outs of things a lot better :smile:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1144679-kiss


    I highly suggest checking out and joining this group:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep


    Same. Keep up the hard work and the great attitude OP!

    Thanks! You guys are sooo much more helpful than the folks over at the bodybuilding.com forums.

    Quoted for posterity!! :bigsmile:

    Also, here are some great links. It's a lot of reading, but I know they've helped me understand the ins and outs of things a lot better :smile:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1144679-kiss


    I highly suggest checking out and joining this group:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

    ftfy :P
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Solid thread

    Yeah...not often that the OP is receptive to advice. It is refreshing.
    yep


    Same. Keep up the hard work and the great attitude OP!

    Thanks! You guys are sooo much more helpful than the folks over at the bodybuilding.com forums.

    Quoted for posterity!! :bigsmile:

    Also, here are some great links. It's a lot of reading, but I know they've helped me understand the ins and outs of things a lot better :smile:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1144679-kiss


    I highly suggest checking out and joining this group:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

    ftfy :P

    SMDH. Thank you!!! I'm always doing that! :grumble: :grumble:
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