Calories

Scylermcf
Scylermcf Posts: 25 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I just started MFP and I believe I was 330 pounds my gfs scale says im 304 but idk. MFP says I need to eat 2700calories a day to lose 1pound a week. Is that correct? I'm also 6'4 Im not active other than just starting the gym 2weeks ago but when im home im just sitting. Should I keep it at 2700 or go lower?

Replies

  • Scylermcf
    Scylermcf Posts: 25 Member
    Anybody?
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Weight loss takes a whole lot of trial & error to find what works for you. Eat 2,700 calories for a minimum of two weeks, then reevaluate. If you haven't lost, lower your calories.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    Probably yes. I'm 5'9" and when I started I was 340 pounds, sedentary, and female (I get fewer calories even if all other stats are the same because of that D:). I lost weight starting at 2200 calories, 1.5 pounds a week goal, so 2700 seems reasonable considering your extra height and that you're male.
  • Scylermcf
    Scylermcf Posts: 25 Member
    And have you been losing weight? I cut down a ton when I started 2 weeks ago and I dropped too much too fast imo so im trying this to watch what im eating. I guess ill attempt to eat 2700 it feels lile a lot but meh. And also when it says 2700 that means it already has the -500 for the weight lose or do I need to eat 500 less?
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Your MFP calorie goal has your deficit built in.

    Read the Sexypants link.
  • MSLUC
    MSLUC Posts: 30
    suggest you read up on the "starvation mode" your body goes into if you don't consume enough calories. Lack of calories alone do not a thin person make.
  • Scylermcf
    Scylermcf Posts: 25 Member
    I know about starvation mode but I didn't know how many calories I was eating or needed so that's why I started with this. I'll try the 2700 though I'm not very good with knowing calories and sizes of stuff but I'm going to try.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    suggest you read up on the "starvation mode" your body goes into if you don't consume enough calories. Lack of calories alone do not a thin person make.

    starvation mode is a myth...your body does not suddenly hold onto fat or create it from a deficet...

    The 2700 is probably good but try it and see if it works.

    If you aren't good with knowing portions buy a food scale they are invaluable for weight loss.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I'm not very good with knowing calories and sizes of stuff but I'm going to try.
    Get a food scale. You can't be sure you're eating at a deficit if you guesstimate your portions.
  • Scylermcf
    Scylermcf Posts: 25 Member
    How do you know on the scale what a portion size is?
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    I posted somthing similar when I first joined. I started at 308lbs and am a 5'3 female. I had been on so many low calorie diets before that the goal mfp gave me seemed far to high to expect weight loss from it. I got given 2100 to lose 1lb a week. I usually lost between 1-2lbs a week doing this and am still losing this much eating 2000 calories now I am down to 225lbs.

    Go with the calorie goal it gives you. Try it for 2 weeks or so and see what your losses are like. If you dont seem to be making progress cut it down slowly until you reach a point where you are losing 1-2lbs a week. Its a bit trial and error sometimes.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    How do you know on the scale what a portion size is?

    well if you have calories to eat...lets say 150grams of chicken you put chicken on the scale until it says 150grams
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    And have you been losing weight? I cut down a ton when I started 2 weeks ago and I dropped too much too fast imo so im trying this to watch what im eating. I guess ill attempt to eat 2700 it feels lile a lot but meh. And also when it says 2700 that means it already has the -500 for the weight lose or do I need to eat 500 less?

    I've lost 75 pounds so far. On sedentary I'm at 1800 calories now, but my activity level has increased since I started. It feels like a lot, but enjoy that. See if it works and if it doesn't, change. Or if it feels like it's not fast enough, so for a higher calorie goal. Listen to you're own body and your needs. Don't make it needlessly difficult on yourself. You'll eat all the calories they give you; the deficit is already built in.

    As far as portions on a food scale, that varies depending on what you're eating. A lot of foods will have a measurement and a weight on there. Example: Shredded cheddar - 1/4 cup (28g). For fruits and vegetables and whatnot, I wouldn't worry so much about what an official serving is, but rather what amount is a good amount of calories or seems like plenty of food. For most meats it's 3 or 4 oz.
  • Meushichan
    Meushichan Posts: 82 Member
    I found the BMR and TDEE-20% to work better for me (and it seems to work for people who are 50+ overweight).

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide

    2700 probably is a pretty solid number to start with, but you could always check it with the calculators and see if it is basically in the same range.

    ((Also, the sexypants link is good, but it was confusing as all hell to me XD)

Categories