295lbs how many cals?

verityjane87

Hi all,

I am 295lbs and wanting to lose my excess weight but I can't imagine only eating 1400 cals that MFP recommends to lose 2lb a week

Any advice or personal experience ?

Thanks guys in advance

X

Branstin

MFP set your calories to 1400 because you indicated that you want to lose 2lbs. a week which may be a bit much to start. Try changing to 1 or 1.5 lbs a week. Also, remember that MFP give you exercise calories after you add your exercise which means the more you exercise, the more calories you will have to eat.

motivatedmartha

Agree with above - especially if you indicated you were sedentary - move more and eat back at least 50% of your exercise calories. Exercise also lifts the spirit and relieves boredom eating

TeaBea

3 things.......

1. 1400 calories is NET in MFPland. MFP created your calorie deficit based upon zero exercise. If you log exercise those calories are added to 1400. This merely gets you back to your original deficit. I like "earning" calories by working out. Be careful as MFP calorie "guesstimates" are generous. Many people eat back 50-60%

2. Does 2 pounds a week fall here

Pounds per week
75+ lbs to lose 2 lb range
Between 40 - 75 lbs to lose 1.5 lb range
Between 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lb range
Between 15-25 lbs to lose 1 -.50 lb range
Less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs range

3. Whole foods will give you quite a bit of food. Keep processed foods lower & the amount of food might surprise you.

You can always change your setting to something lower......do whatever is sustainable long term. Drastic changes are stressful, many people burn out when they try to do it all at once.

Good luck!

Pirate_chick

start out with a lower pounds per week lost ie 1.5 instead of 2 per week. Or exercise and eat your calories.

ETA: I started at 291...it's an adjustment for sure, but doable if you are dedicated to losing 2lbs per week.

diannethegeek

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

editorgrrl

MFP set your calories to 1400 because you indicated that you want to lose 2lbs. a week which may be a bit much to start. Try changing to 1 or 1.5 lbs a week. Also, remember that MFP give you exercise calories after you add your exercise which means the more you exercise, the more calories you will have to eat.

^^^This.

It will take trial & error to find what works for you. Try lowering your goal and learning to log everything you eat accurately & honestly.

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

KaysKidz

I'm 297 and I am averaging 1200-1400 calories a day. My normal day to day is pretty much sitting at a desk. I'm trying to exercise about 30min a day. I'm early in the process, so I'm afraid to push the limit and eat more. If I were hungry, I might go to 1600 on a splurge day, but on a day to day basis, I do well at 1400 calories or less. I feel satisfied, however, I am looking for ways to increase my lean protein and lower my carbs and sodium while staying at a reasonable calorie level that will help me lose weight. I'm hoping for 2lbs a week and so far I'm averaging about 1.5. I've only tracked for a week, and don't have a scale. So I may very well be eating more then the 1200-1400 I'm seeing on MFP.

deliacm

Look at the foods you are eating. I'm 291 right now and MFP calculated 1500 calories for me. I could stuff myself with veggies all day long and not hit 1400 calories, so it's really about changing the food choices.

I struggle most days to get over 1200 and I don't eat back any of my exercise calories (I spend about an hour a day exercising). Right now, I eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast with my coffee, a HUGE salad or a wrap with chips for lunch, a snack in the afternoon (fruit or veggies) and the same dinner as my family every night and I've never felt hungry during the day.

go2grrl

While everyone is indeed different, if 1400 cals seems too "diety" to you then do take the advice others are giving and eat the extra cals you get from logging exercise. I can't do large cuts or diets because it's entirely unsustainable. Before some health issues struck, I had lost and kept off nearly 130 pounds while averaging about 2400 cals per day and working out about 5 hours per week. Small changes that I could maintain were the key to my success.