Too many calories allowed?

KPMP1992
KPMP1992 Posts: 66
in Health and Weight Loss
Supposedly, I can have (net) 1650 calories a day to lose a pound a week, with exercise 20 min a day/5 days a week. I am female, 5'6 and 148 lbs. (trying to get to 138). This seems like too many calories to lose?

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Have you tried it at all? Or just assuming it won't work? You don't have to starve to lose weight. Give it a month and see what happens.
  • mebepiglet123
    mebepiglet123 Posts: 327 Member
    Actually it works...don't knock it till you try it
  • nicoleisback
    nicoleisback Posts: 184
    It really depends on your lifestyle (I am assuming you put active?). Personally as a person with a desk job (and I am a lot shorter and bigger than you) I would never lose weight on this allowance, and believe me I have tried, but if I had a far more active job it wouldn't be an issue.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Sounds like you made a mistake in your calculations.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    If you added your exercise in the calculation, then it's not net calories. But 1650 sounds about right, but I doubt that is net with only 20 minutes of exercise. If it was an hour, then 1800-1900 total could be about right... see exhibit A below.


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/506349-women-who-eat-more-than-1800-calories-a-day


    edit - based on my math, I would have put you at 1550 total calories with only 20 minutes of exercise unless you have an active job (nurse, stay at home mom). But you could try 1650 for one month and measure results.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'm 5'5" and 142 lbs and been losing eating 1600, but that's including exercise calories, not net.
  • chickenz
    chickenz Posts: 101 Member
    If you put yourself as "sedentary" lifestyle it should reduce your calories
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    I'm 5'5" and 142 lbs and been losing eating 1600, but that's including exercise calories, not net.

    Wait...now I'm confused... i thought calorie goal + exercise earned calories = net? Have I had this wrong all along?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    I'm 5'5" and 142 lbs and been losing eating 1600, but that's including exercise calories, not net.

    Wait...now I'm confused... i thought calorie goal + exercise earned calories = net? Have I had this wrong all along?

    It depends on how you set up your calorie goal. If you include exercise, it's total calories (TDEE method). If you use MFP the ways it's designed where you do not include exercise in your lifestyle, then it's net calories as you add in exercise.
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    That is what I am at.. I started with 1800 cals I believe..it might have even been higher since my starting weight was over 200lbs.. Any how..I was down 50lbs at one point following it...so it does work.. trust the plan..
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Assuming you were honest with activity level then I can't imagine why it'd be too much. I'm 5'3", 141 pounds and eat no less than 1750 a day for 1-.5 pounds of loss. That's not including working out; yesterday I ate 1950 and still had a projected 500 calorie deficit.

    Basically different people are different.
  • KnM0107
    KnM0107 Posts: 355 Member
    If you chose the right activity level, you should be fine. At least give it a try.

    I am 5'6" 140lbs and I lose weight on 2500 to 2750 calories, but I am VERY active.
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    I am 5'1" and lose weight on 1600 calories a day... so no, that isn't too many allowed.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Sounds like you made a mistake in your calculations.

    Not necessarily...I eat 1600 a day and set to lose .8lbs a week.

    That is my TDEE-20% so I don't worry about exercise.
  • seeingthelight
    seeingthelight Posts: 78 Member
    I need to be taller and younger!!! I'm 5'2" and 156# and 65 years old and need to exercise 30 min and eat 1200 calories to lose less than !# a week. I set my lifestyle at sedentary because there are days that I am sedentary. Also I usually exercise more than 30 min. I use a HRM and add in my calories and usually I eat between 1200-1400 calories based on my exercise. I'm new to mfp so I will have to see how it works here. I've used LS in the past and it worked well there. Everyone is different so trial and error are the only ways to figure out exactly what works for you!

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