Eating maintenance calories of goal weight

briteyes

I was just playing with a calorie calculator and at my current weight I get 1650 cals to maintain my current weight, and am only consuming 1200 net... But what would happen if I consumed 1380 - my maintenance cals at my goal weight... One thing, I would get used to eating that amount so maintenance would be easy...

Any thoughts on this?

erickirb

You would get used to it but it may also take years to reach your goal at that rate, which is not a bad thing. As you get closer to your goal weight your caloric deficit will be smaller making it take longer to lose each pound, and the last few are hard to lose anyway.

At first it will take 12.5 days to lose 1 pound and each pound would take slightly longer than the last. And your very last pound would take 350 days (3500 cals divided by 10 cals) 10 cals would be your deficit/day when you are 1 pound from the goal weight.

Amarillo_NDN

the bottom line is, no matter what weight you are. if you eat the same amount of calories say 1500 a day, and that is with no outside activities, you will eventually reach the weight that is associated with the age and weight for 1500. But then we all know that every day is different, we work a little harder maybe, walk a little more or sleep in all day.

A simple goal is to pick your idea weight and calulate the cals for that weight. Then any outside excerise other than normal daily activity add to your intake. In theroy you will reach and maintain that idea weight.

briteyes

Ok well I don't want to "eventualy" lose the weight.... Lol

what I want to do is make sure I'm losing weight as efficiently as possible in a realistic manner.

Since my maint cals is only 1650, could I instead net 1150 cals instead of the 1200 mfp recommends??? I read that women should not go below 1000 cals...

jillybeanruns

Slow and steady wins the race. My net was set at 1400 when I was losing and I lost my 27 pounds in 5 months. I was barely overweight to begin with, but I averaged around 1100-1400 net (it was hard for me to eat 1200 net on days where I burned 1000+). You don't want to aim to eat less than 1200 net, it will happen for various reasons, but don't make that your goal.

And honestly, there's no rush to get to maintenance. I have to eat 1580 + my exercise cals and I just keep losing. It's a hard balance to find. Stick with your 1200 and you'll get there.

cutmd

I checked 2 different sites since our stats are similar and I get 1690 for 130 and 1600 for 105 (your goal weight, right?). Both were for light activity. What site did you use? If my sites are correct it's shocking how little the difference is...

amysj303

I am at maintenance for 110lbs/sedentary and it is 1490 cals without exercise.

eveunderground

You definitely could eat at the maintenance calories for your goal weight, and you will reach your goal weight that way. In my opinion that is the healthiest approach, but as mentioned above it will take you slightly longer to reach your goal since you'll be operating at a smaller deficit. I'd suggest you keep 1200 as your target since that is the most efficient way to get to your goal as quickly as possible without compromising your health. Eating below that (or generally operating at a very large deficit) for an extended period of time can be unhealthy and will be difficult to maintain, you'll be more likely to end up overeating/binging at some point which will leave you in a worse position than if you just stick with a more reasonable number to begin with. I'd say target net 1200, try not to go below that too often, and if you go above occasionally and are closer to the 1380 it's fine too, as you mentioned that's roughly what you'll be maintaining on.