How many calories do i need to eat to lose weight.

skssks2

I have my BMR done and have the calories I need just to exist. But how do I know how many calories to eat to lose weight? I cannot locate a formula finder on this web site. any suggestions?

mimieon

Hope this helps :
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

skssks2

wow that's a lot of info but thank you! I have used MFP to determine my caloric needs and it seems to low (1420). I have mostly been using 1420 as my daily goal but in two weeks I have not lost anything. I am working out. I guess I will try another two weeks on 1420. It is trying my patience. thanks again

bwogilvie

If you're not losing at 1420 calories, it might be water retention. But you're probably eating more calories than you think:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

That's not an insult. My records for my first 6 months of weight loss indicate that I was netting almost 200 calories more per day than I thought I was, probably a combination of overestimating my activity level and underestimating what I ate. One study showed that even trained dietitians underestimated their calorie consumption by over 200 calories; for the general public, it was over 400. Per day. It's really hard to accurately estimate the calories you consume and expend.

The best solution is to do the best you can, and if after a few more weeks, you're still not losing weight, then cut back by a couple hundred calories.

skssks2

Thanks for that reply...I'm scarily accurate about recording ..borderline neurotic (ha) so I am wondering since I do a lot of exercise (I "earned" 700 calories today) if perhaps my calorie count is too low and I'm throwing myself into "starvation mode"...I'm pretty tall...but yeah I guess just do 1420 and not eat the "earned points" from exercise..It is hard to be patient and wait and wait for results. The only comfort in this journey is I am doing myself healthy and developing a great lifestyle. I do know I will fight for this and the reward will be very sweet.

mimieon

How are you calculating how many calories you have burned with exercise?

RunMyOregonBunsOff

If you google a TDEE calculator that will tell you your approximate burn so you want to eat somewhere between below that but above your BMR. After that and you have had a chance to get good at logging everything (weigh & measure) then you can out more research into all the more detailed stuff to meet your particular goals. I think for beginners all the macro/micro, clean eating, lift heavy, don't lift heavy stuff can feel overwhelming so dive into all that as you feel ready for it. If you feel like you can tackle all that now, go for it!

Chairless

Thanks for that reply...I'm scarily accurate about recording ..borderline neurotic (ha) so I am wondering since I do a lot of exercise (I "earned" 700 calories today) if perhaps my calorie count is too low and I'm throwing myself into "starvation mode"...I'm pretty tall...but yeah I guess just do 1420 and not eat the "earned points" from exercise..It is hard to be patient and wait and wait for results. The only comfort in this journey is I am doing myself healthy and developing a great lifestyle. I do know I will fight for this and the reward will be very sweet.

Starvation mode as a mechanism that will stop you losing weight is a myth, just concentrate on ensuring your numbers are as accurate as you can make them.

melaniecheeks

As others have said, eat between your BMR and your TDEE and you should lose weight.

The tricky bit comes in measuring your TDEE - all the calcualtions are estimates, so there'll be some trial and adjustment required.

skssks2

I input my age and weight on the elliptical machine. for strength training I input the reps and sets...and somehow magically MFP comes up with extra food calories?

skssks2

Yes I am working on being very accountable...I just am a bit frustrated on picking a number of calories so I can commence with taking off weight. My attitude is great and I am highly motivated...just need that magical number to hit every day to ensure I approach this correctly.

skssks2

I'm sorry...what is TDEE? I will google that...

skssks2

Ok I will google a TDEE calculator. I was surmising from the info people are giving me that I should figure out my BMR and thought I should be above that calorie wise since I am also exercising. So I hope the TDEE gives me that magic number I am looking for. It would be a shame to be so diligent and determined and hopeful to lose weight and be doing the wrong calories. I eat super healthy so it has to be my number of calories that is preventing me from losing weight?

yarwell

BMR is also an estimate, +/- 10% and quite a few people are outside that.

There's no law or logic requiring that you eat at or above your BMR while losing weight but if exercising a lot and active you'll probably end up there with a sensible deficit.

If you have a deficit and don't lose you may need to examine what you're eating, an open diary helps others comment.

skssks2

oK I see...my bmr is 1397 and TDEE is 1937...so somewhere in there I guess? Maybe I will pick 1500 calories. When I exercise MFP seems to indicate I should eat those extra calories it gives me?... I don't know. I just want to do this right and not waste all my effort doing things incorrectly since I am approaching this very scientifically

skssks2

I didn't realize you could post open diaries..would anyone actually have the time or interest to go that extra step for me? I think that's asking too much. It is a lot of work to continually journal calories and input exercises and all that!

Vailara

I like the calculators at http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ . If you know your body fat % you can get all four calculations and go with whatever one seems most likely, or average them out. (Personally I go with Katch-McArdle or Mifflin St-Jeor).

I also found the Road Map useful ( http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet and http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13 ).

If you're following MFP's system, yes, you would eat back your exercise calories. If you're calculating your TDEE and subtracting an amount (usually around 20%), then you wouldn't eat back your exercise calories, as you've included exercise in your TDEE.

If you wanted to subtract 20%, Scooby's Workshop will do it for you, or you can multiply by 0.8. For a TDEE of 1937, that would give you 1549. You might want to eat more than that if you're closer to goal. What I would do if using that method is set my goal on MFP to 1549, then not put exercise into MFP at all. Some people prefer to log their exercise but enter it as 1 calorie, so it doesn't affect their goal.

I have no knowledge and have had to look everything up, but this method has worked for me (although I've mixed it up in various ways along the "journey" ).

melaniecheeks

Try 1500 for a while and see how that works for you.

Lots of us are very adept at reading a diary quickly and being able to spot patterns, so dont be afriad to set yours to public!

skssks2

Excellent very helpful!

willdb76

I didn't realize you could post open diaries..would anyone actually have the time or interest to go that extra step for me? I think that's asking too much. It is a lot of work to continually journal calories and input exercises and all that!

I think the idea of an open diary is that people can read it and comment, rather than help you fill it out!

Re excercise, when comparing how many calories the elliptical trainer says I have burned, compared to what MFP tells me it should be, I have come to the conclusion that MFP seriously overestimates calories burned. So I would not eat back *all* the supposed calories burned.

KetosisTina

I know MFP is all about the NUMBER of calorie... but more important is the quality of calories. If you opened up your diary we could see what your are eating.

I mean your body will not treat 200 calories of donuts the same as 200 calories of spinach. The donuts will spike your blood sugar and cause insulin to be released and cause you to be hungry again in just a short time. 200 calories of spinach (besides being a HUGE about of food - about 28 cups) would not do this.

So many folks on here say to eat at a deficit to lose weight. It's better to each large quantities of healthier SANE food so you don't have room for the bad stuff.

Lehk290

So many folks on here say to eat at a deficit to lose weight. It's better to each large quantities of healthier SANE food so you don't have room for the bad stuff.

I loved see the SANE food comment! I love Bailor.. he makes so much sense and has been very helpful in picking and chosing what I eat and how to exercise!

I am at a level of 1200 calories a day. A pound is 3000/calories, so you need a deficient obviously to loose weight. Just make sure your calories are not junk, its high nutrient value and you will tell your energy will increase, you can eat more so your not hungry because your food is actually lower in calories than processed junk and less sodium that retains water.

I have cut out all junk food, processed food and anything not natural. All Whole grains (limited), fresh fruits and veggies and good lean proteins and nuts, etc. I also began drinking lemon water at work (about 6-8 cups) and in the first 2 days I could tell an improvement on my fluid levels and my tummy is not so bloated.
I am only in the beginning.. but this is just my opinion of what is working for me.

skssks2

hahaha no I didn't mean people would fill out my journal (impossible)...I simply meant I thought it would be time consuming for them to review my diary entries. I only use the calories on the machines I work on and never tried MFP ones so thanks for the heads up!

skssks2

I don't eat processed or junk food. I am 100% vegan. I eat unprocessed quality organic legumes, fresh greens, vegies, fruit and a reasonable amount of nuts. I also try to hit a decent amount of protein, sometimes using a complete pea protein powder. So my mystery lies elsewhere as I eat extremely clean and balanced. I think with all the input from everyone I will eventually figure it out. In the meantime, I will continue journaling and exercising ..and yeah crossing my fingers.

skssks2

This is why I am sooooooooooooooo confused! I eat so sooooo clean and healthy. filtered water, glass jars, organic vegies and fruit...so clean! My bloodwork is amazing too. That is why I am so confounded. I wish wish wish I ate doughnuts and pizza etc etc because that would be an easy fix! So I will try 1500 and give it a couple of weeks. I have been journaling since mid December and I am so freaked out with no weight loss. But thanks for all the good info.

skssks2

and I only drink water and/or lemon water and lots of it.

deboraheaton2012

Hi, it works it out for you on here with your height and weight. It does work but for me 1500 seems to be doing the trick.

BokBagok

I input my age and weight on the elliptical machine. for strength training I input the reps and sets...and somehow magically MFP comes up with extra food calories?

Haven't seen this addressed yet - you may want to look into picking up a decent HRM (the polar ft4 is a great beginner hrm), it will allow you to more accurately calculate the cals that you burn. I wouldn't be surprised if mfp and the machines were overestimating your workout calories.

Dan_Druff

1400 - 72 and add you exercise calories.

KetosisTina

I look at folks diaries all the time. if they are posting every day it really only takes a few days to see trends.. good and bad.

Vailara

I input my age and weight on the elliptical machine. for strength training I input the reps and sets...and somehow magically MFP comes up with extra food calories?

You do need to enter your exercise under "cardiovascular" (even if it's strength training) for MFP to calculate the calories, but yes, it should do that and change your total for the day.