conflicting information

das0802

Hello, I just set up my profile this morning and it said that I can consume 1280 cal a day. I already added breakfast, snack and lunch (which is from the Julian Michaels Ripped in 30 meal plan) and I only have about 100 calories left for dinner! Could my daily calorie intake be too low? I plan to do her 20 min HIIT workout 5 days a week and I want to lose 20 lbs. I am currently 132 lbs. Am I missing something? My second question is about red wine. Can and cant I have a glass of red wine in the evening if it is within my calorie guidelines? My weight is pretty much all in my belly and I heard that the sugar from the wine goes right to my belly but I was also told a glass of red wine is good for me.

omma_to_3

Once you do your workout, and record it, MFP will give you additional calories to eat. You will get people coming on here and telling you a goal of 1280 a day is too low. I disagree, especially given your size. But, you should be eating back your workout calories, being careful not to overestimate your calories burned. You're pretty small already (but perhaps you're quite short?) so it will likely be a slow moving process.

ETA: Regarding the wine, if it fits within your calorie limits, you'll be fine.

ldula88

It all depends on where you set your weight loss per week goal. With only 20 pounds to go, you should really aim for 1 pounds per week, or even .5 per week. If you have it set to 2 pounds a week, it's probably a bit too aggressive of a goal. Play with your settings and see if that makes a difference. And red wine is fine if it fits in your calories for the day. good luck!

diannethegeek

It's tough to say whether it's too low or not. As mentioned above, you'll get extra calories after you log your exercise and you're meant to eat them.

One thing I'd caution is to be sure you've set a realistic goal. With 20 pounds to lose that's 1 pound per week or less. Most people choose the most aggressive option MFP will allow (2 pounds/week) but that's just not feasible for most of us.

AmyRhubarb

You can have anything you want and if it fits in your calorie goals, it's fine.

As for your calorie goal - what did you choose for your weekly loss goal when you set up your account? With only 20lbs to lose, you should be at 1/2 to no more than a pound a week for your loss goal. If you set it to 2lbs a week, change it, and it will give you a higher daily calorie allowance.

Unless you are a very tiny person, 1280 probably isn't enough for you. But as omma said - you will get more cals added when you log your exercise. The daily goal you're given at MFP has you at a calorie deficit before exercise - you could eat to goal daily, do zero exercise and you'll lose. Burning off more through exercise creates a much larger deficit, which we don't want, so the cals are added back into your goal. your daily NET cals should be at or very near your goal at the end of the day.

farfromthetree

I have a friend who is SUPER skinny...her legs match her 6 year old daughters. She drinks red wine every night and a lot of it. Her stomach looks like she is 7 months pregnant. She also has high sugar. This is just a thought, but try cutting out the red wine during the week, or measuring the ounces. I know our typical "glass" is probably much more than one serving! Good luck!

cwolfman13

Hello, I just set up my profile this morning and it said that I can consume 1280 cal a day. I already added breakfast, snack and lunch (which is from the Julian Michaels Ripped in 30 meal plan) and I only have about 100 calories left for dinner! Could my daily calorie intake be too low? I plan to do her 20 min HIIT workout 5 days a week and I want to lose 20 lbs. I am currently 132 lbs. Am I missing something? My second question is about red wine. Can and cant I have a glass of red wine in the evening if it is within my calorie guidelines? My weight is pretty much all in my belly and I heard that the sugar from the wine goes right to my belly but I was also told a glass of red wine is good for me.

1 - your weight loss goal as per MFP is based on your stats (height/weight/age) and how much you told MFP you wanted to lose and your activity level. With 20 lbs to lose I would only select 1 Lb per week at most.

2 - as noted in #1, your calorie goal is directly correlated to your activity level...most people put sedentary even if they're not really sedentary...why people do this, I have no idea...it must be that people are absolutely clueless when it comes to understanding that their body's calorie requirements are directly correlated to their activity.

At anyrate, MFP works a bit differently than other calorie calculators in that your calorie goal is determined as per your NEAT (Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)...so your activity level does NOT include exercise. As such, exercise becomes an add'l activity that needs to be accounted for when you do it...thus you log it and get those calories to "eat back". You just have to be extremely careful not to overestimate your calorie burn which most people do because they think they burn a gazillion calories per hour doing what amounts to some recreational activity but they put "vigorous" effort. It is for this reason that I generally recommend people use the TDEE method if they're regularly performing their exercise and are consistent...that way everything is just rolled up into one gross figure and you don't have to really worry about your exercise burn.

das0802

I put in a goal of 1lb a week. I said I was slightly active because I work in the AM at a desk and I plan doing the Jullian Michaels 30 days to ripped which is a 20min hitt workout. A year ago when I was fit and skinny, I worked out 1 1/2 hr 5 days a week. Not possible now that I am working.

I am short and small boned but pear shaped. I am almost 5"4'. If it were not for my stomach and hips, I could wear a sz 4 top. I am only a 34B so defiantly petite. My bottom half though is a sz 8. Measuring the wine is a great idea. Maybe 6 oz a day? It is something I just got use to doing, pouring myself a glass of wine while I make dinner. My 2 daughters (8 and almost 6) were both diagnosed with ADHD recently and the older one has behavioral problems too and the wine helps me to relax. Maybe I need to find another way to relax? Hard to break bad habbits though!

omma_to_3

At nearly 5'4", 110 lbs is the very bottom of a healthy weight. Very close to being underweight. I suspect you're essentially trying to change your natural body shape (pear) by going super low in your weight. You're already at a healthy weight. You should likely focus on building muscle and reducing body fat, rather than worrying about weight. I still say the wine isn't an issue.