Would love some input on calorie intake...

tarapin

Hey y'all! I started using MFP regularly in July.

I figured at my starting weight of 315 lbs (UGH) I had a BMR of 2166, once I figured that I needed 2787 calories to maintain my weight with activity I set a limit of 1740 calories here on MFP to deduct 1000 cals a day right off the bat in hopes of losing 2 lbs a week. I am now 33lbs lighter and am wondering if I should now lower my caloric intake or stay the path. When I go by MFP calculations they actually added 10 calories for my current short term goal of 220...which I don't think I've seen in 20 years.

I drink the 8 glasses of water a day, exercise 3-5 times a week, taking additional fiber and usually cut my daily calories a day by 200-400 anyway but I'm wondering if not eating ALL the calories is a problem as well. Thanks for any input you think might help!

JDMPWR

To understand how the body works you need X amount of calories a day to substain. People figure that as you drop in weight you need less cals. Thats not true. Your body becomes more efficient because it's ratio of muscle to fat has gone up. The more fat and the less muscle the less cals you need as the body mass goes up and the fat goes down you need to substain or raise your caloric intake but if you are trying to lose those last 100 lbs I tell people to fluctuate and see what works but scientifically speaking you need to maintain your caloric intake if not raise it.

Hopefully this explains why skinny people stay skinny. Fast metabolism. Fast metabolism because there mass to fat ratio is top heavy on the mass side and low on the fat side so their metabolism is like a race engine idling but eagerly waiting for someone to rev the engine(feed your stomach/metabolism.)

Hope this helps.

Amarillo_NDN

If it working for you, just go with what you are doing. Everyone is different and has the find the "Sweet Spot" in the calorie balance.

sallyLunn

I think that if you are loosing weight, you shouldn't over think it, just stay the course for now. At some point, you will plateau. That's when you start worrying about how to mix it up.

ashlee954

As long as you make sure you are eating 1200 NET calories then you are ok. Obviuosly the less you consume the faster you will lose (as long as you're eating 1200 cals on top of anything burned through exercise). You don't want to drop below the 1200 NET unless a doctor specifically directs you to, as you risk slowing your metabolism and going into starvation mode. This makes losing weight difficult. Find what works best for you and good luck!

sharonuk10

Just want to add. IF you lower too much your weight loss may stall. I am saying this due to mine. It slowed to nearly 1 pound a week loss the stalled completely for two weeks. I was having under 1400 calories. I upped my cals to 1600 a day. I eat anywhere between 1400-1600 on non-exercise days and 1600-1800 on exercise days. My body seems to like this. I think you really need to find what suits your body then to go by what others say. So if the 1740 or whatever is working I would stick with that until your weight loss stalls and then adjust as needed.

championnfl

To add to all the other posts....This is a healthy lifestyle change....put it on slow..take it off slow! Try to eat like you will eat after reaching your goal....all members replying gave great advice! Make short term goals, DON'T look long term[have to lose 100 lbs]?Make 5 lbs a goal every month and before you know it 20 months will be gone[thats 20[5]=100 lbs...FEB.2012 You will do this...be patient....

ganesha303

What jtuner77 said.

tarapin

All great advice....thank you!!! I know it took 40 years to get like this and it won't happen overnight, just really excited and want to stay on a positive course!