How many calories should a male consume to lose weight?

PeasantPounds
PeasantPounds Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey I am new hear, been on MFP for about a week and 2 days. So far I have lost 3 pounds in one week. I am 28 years old, 5'10 and I weight 210, but my goal is 170. On MFP app I wanted to lose 2 pounds a week. So it gave me a calorie count of 1430. Is that enough calories for a male? I do 20 minutes workouts of kettle-bell about 6 days a week, other then that I am sedentary or I might go for a walk. Should I increase my calories by 200-300? When I signed up for MFP online instead of on my phone, I entered the same info, but it gave me 1700 carolies a day? What would you guys suggest?

Replies

  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Males should eat enough that they are eating at a deficit, but still netting a healthy amount.
    Your calories are so low because your weight loss goal is high.
    I would recommend calculating your TDEE, as many people have mentioned on this forum. I personally don't use that method, but it's highly recommended by many members here. I'm sure someone can better explain it, or provide a link to how to calculate/use it.

    You should also eat back some of your exercise calories as well, if you're dipping too low for a healthy netted amount. 1,400 seems way too low. I would personally recommend that you make your goal lower- around 1lb or 1/2lb per week. I was miserable trying to do 2lbs per week two summers ago, because I could only eat 1,200 a day. I upped mine to 1,700, and I've had a consistent loss, and feel a lot better knowing I can have my intake be anywhere from 1,200-1,700, depending on my activity level that day.
  • Murph1908
    Murph1908 Posts: 125 Member
    The TDEE system that PP is talking about takes your lifestyle (sendentary) and adds in your exercise to get you a calorie daily calorie goal. I don't do that system either, since my exercise isn't consistent.

    I do the 'eating back your exercise' method.

    If MFP is telling you 1400 a day, that sounds right to lose 2 a week. Mine is 1610 to lose 2, but I am at a higher weight than you. By staying under my goal and eating back a portion of the calories I burn working out, I've averaged about 2.5 lost a week.

    Use MFP to determine how many calories you are burning doing your exercise. But as many on this site suggest, don't eat back everything it says. It is widely believed MFP overestimates these burns.

    Works for me.

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