Are My Calories Too Low?

x_Samtastic

Hello, everyone!
My name is Samantha, I am new to MFP (although I had joined a few years back for school).
I have a general question in regards to if I am consuming enough calories as I have seen some people had to bump up their numbers because they just weren't eating enough.

Right now I am a freshman in college and I do a lot of walking to and from different class buildings on campus, and I generally have to walk to get almost everywhere (such as Walgreens, the gym, dining halls, etc..). I put my activity level at lightly active for these reasons. My goal is to ultimately lose 30lbs at 2lbs/week through working out for an hour 5 days/week. MFP put my net caloric intake at 1250, and for the past two days I have gone to the gym and have either been at or below my net amount. Today is my "rest" day from the gym and I have noticed that at almost all times I feel slightly hungry. Not hungry enough where I am getting stomach pains or stomach growls, but just enough for me to constantly be aware of it.

Is this feeling normal in the beginning? Any advice?

Thanks!

YorriaRaine

2 pound per week weight loss is fairly extreme unless your morbidly obese.

Here is the guideline I see all the time on these forums if your using mfp default method:

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
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

Also, the days you work out you should aim to eat back your exercise calories, at least 50% of them. If your using mfp to determine calories burned be careful because they overestimate some calories burned, underestimate others.

sunshine1082

How tall are you, Samantha? Are you trying to lose 30 lbs total? If you just have 30 lbs to lose, aiming for a 2 lb/week loss is probably creating way too high of a deficit for you, which is why you're feeling hungry. I think you would be better off trying to lose 1 lb/week (therefore increasing your calories). It will be more sustainable for you over the long run.

x_Samtastic

I am 5'7 and 180lbs, shooting for 150 or whatever works out best once I start seeing the numbers creep down!
I do try to eat back some of my exercise calories, and I was fine yesterday with that, but it'd probably be best if I did change my goal to 1lb/week.

Thanks!

raindawg

I feel what you describe when I'm in calarie deficit mode. I'm on the 1 1/2 lbs per week allotment at 1280 net calories. I've done MFP off and on a couple different times and it works great for me. I am currently shedding the 13 lbs of weight I packed on over the holiday season. I also notice I'm a bit weaker during exercise when in deficit mode. Might not be appropriate to say but for me (and I'm not advocating this for others) I'd rather get it off in a shorter amount of time and get to maintaining sooner. Like you I'd describe it as a slightly hungry feeling. I'd also say I've done this enough to know when I'm over doing it and I'll kick up the calaries if I feel overly hungry or sapped of energy.

sunshine1082

I am 5'7 and 180lbs, shooting for 150 or whatever works out best once I start seeing the numbers creep down!
I do try to eat back some of my exercise calories, and I was fine yesterday with that, but it'd probably be best if I did change my goal to 1lb/week.

Thanks!

I'm 5'7" also, and my starting weight/weight loss goal was pretty similar to yours. It does sound like 1 lb/week will be the best course for you right now. That's what I aimed for, and I'm amazed at how quickly the time has passed! Plus, by not restricting my calories too much, I usually have room left over for ice cream