need more calories, I think?!?

truetarot1988

According to my chart, I'm eating too few calories, too much fat and carbs and it's telling me I'm eating too few calories to lose. My food diary is open (unless it's just for my friends, idk) but I'm willing to open it if I can figure out how. I'm still holding onto that one bottle of Dew, can't seem to shake it. I'm 5'2, 174 lbs. goal weight is around 130 or so, 38 yrs. old. I'm just doing the treadmill right now (no access to a gym or pool and I have arthritis in my foot and ankle, but I can stand the treadmill for now) I keep getting such overwhelming support on MFP, so thanks in advance for any pointers. Please let me know if you need anymore info.

laurelthistle

I can't see your diary. You need to go into Settings > Diary Settings, then at the bottom make your diary public.

editorgrrl

I use MFP's protein & fiber goals as minimums & ignore fat & carbs. But if you ask 100 MFPers, you'll get 100 different opinions. Everybody's different, and it will take trial & error to find what works for you.

Log everything you eat accurately & honestly. Find reliable database entries. (There's a lot of incorrect data in there.) Weigh your food. Log your exercise, and eat back your exercise calories. If you're still not losing, eat back half your exercise calories.

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

19TaraLynn84

Don't worry about the fat and carbs so much right now. I think it's easier for us newbies to just get the calorie deficit down before worrying about macros. (Just my opinion) you may very well be eating too few calories. Luckily, that's an easy problem to solve! You can find calorie-dense foods that are perfectly healthy. And keep at it! I went almost 2 months before I started seeing the pounds go. My 6 pounds lost has all been in the last 3-4 weeks. It just takes longer for some to find their magic calorie number and get used to hitting that. Good luck!

ETA: I am 5'2", as well, started at 151 pounds. I tried the 1200 calories, 1320 calories, and then 1440. 1440 is working for me.

truetarot1988

I think it's open now (thank you) I didn't know you could eat over 1200 calories, I'm gonna try to up it, maybe. I'm not sure how to calculate how many to have, is there a way to do that, or just trial and error?

19TaraLynn84

I think it's open now (thank you) I didn't know you could eat over 1200 calories, I'm gonna try to up it, maybe. I'm not sure how to calculate how many to have, is there a way to do that, or just trial and error?

You can definitely eat more than 1200!! Just change your fitness goals. If you set it to lose 2 pounds per week, MFP automatically gives you a goal of 1200. Just change it to lose 1 pound or even .5 pound per week, and your calorie allowance will go up. The amount of weight you will lose will vary from week to week. But the weight WILL drop if you stick to your deficit.

editorgrrl

I think it's open now (thank you) I didn't know you could eat over 1200 calories, I'm gonna try to up it, maybe. I'm not sure how to calculate how many to have, is there a way to do that, or just trial and error?

With only 33 lb., to lose, you goal should be set no higher than 1 lb. per week. The closer you are to goal, the more slowly you lose.

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

MarKayDee

I just focus on my weekly macros. Today I'm way over on my carbs and fat, because I had a chicken thigh and a little pasta for lunch. A few days ago my fat and carbs were super low because I stuck to mostly veggies that day. I check my macros for the week and I'm almost right on track maybe a percent or two off.
Don't worry too much about day to day macros if you even out at the end of the week.