Is it just me...

LoneWolfRunner

...or are the calorie limits on MFP a wee bit on the low side? I know I'm not big guy (5'7", 155 lbs), but telling me 1350 calories a day if I'm not working out seems rather Spartan... if I knock a ten mile run, they give me an extra 1,000.... but still...

paperpudding

It also depends on the loss rate you select.

That does seem low to me - have you selected 2lb/week when 1lb or even 1/2 lb would be more appropriate?
Have you told it you are sedentary when you are not?

Me as a 50 year old 5 ft 4 in woman got told 1460 calories, more than it has told you.
But that was for 1/2 lb /week and lightly active.

Try changing your settings and I'm sure it will give you a more realistic amount.

And also eat back at least some of your exercise calories.

QueenBishOTUniverse

Yes, I'm guessing the issue is the rate of loss you selected. At 5'7" and 155lbs you're already in a healthy weight range so I would keep it to a half pound a week, one pound a week tops.

Using a different calculator and running your numbers I see 1350 or so might actually be accurate for a pound a week, but I'd still say half a pound a week is better. Honestly, I might recommend a recomp for you instead since you're already in a healthy weight range.

MinMin97

You could set your calories higher, and see if you still lose weight after a few weeks.

Colorfan

That seems really off.

Most males will need around 2200-3000 calories to maintain.

RodaRose

That number you have is very wrong. Try this:

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

In addition MFP probably goes a little low on daily calories and high on the amount of exercise calories.

bidimus

I set mine to lose 1 lbs a week. I also have a sedentary lifestyle when I'm not running. I figure if I lose more than that then bonus. It puts me at just over 1800 calories and I try to stay close to or under that. I also don't eat back workout calories as a rule of thumb. I may go over the 1800 a little on a run day but never by much so I end up with huge deficits when I run. I'm not a whole lot taller, so ya, that seems pretty low from what you're describing.

LoneWolfRunner

Thanks guys... that helped.... I made MFP recalculate... and I said lose a 1/2 pound a week... I'm not really trying to lose weight per se, but I have my first 50 mile race coming up in October and I think it would help if I could do it about ten pounds lighter... MFP, however, seemed bent on turning me into a skinny *****, so I'm glad you all helped me set it straight...:happy:

MKEgal

I'm not big guy (5'7", 155 lbs), but telling me 1350 calories a day if I'm not working out

As someone else already mentioned, you're in a healthy weight range (at the top end, but still in the green), so if you want to lose more do it gradually.
http://www.shapeup.org/bmi/bmi6.pdf

For losing weight, my doctor & nutritionist say to multiply your healthy goal weight by 10 to get calories.
So if you wanted to be 140, which is in the middle of the healthy range, that's 1400.

Harvard Medical School says to maintain weight, multiply by 15.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HB_web/calorie-counting-made-easy.htm
So if you wanted to be 140, which is in the middle of the healthy range, that's 2100.

Somewhere between those 2 you'll find a good point for you, where you're losing maybe 1/2 pound per week but don't feel deprived of food, shaky, hungry, etc.

My doctor also told me to ignore net calories, treat exercise as a bonus toward weight loss.
If I'm really hungry at the end of the day, I'll have 1/3 to 1/2 of what I burned in exercise, but not the whole amount.
Seems to be working so far.