maintenance calories only 1340???

tammylee57

i'm trying to gain a few lbs..but afterwards want to maintain. When I put my maintenance weight into MFP ..it takes me from 1560 that I had to "lose"..... to 1340 to maintain????

keefmac

If your lighter there's less of you to maintain..

nxd10

It's true. One of the depressing things about losing weight is that you lose calories every time you enter your new lower weight and recalculate. You won't NEED as much though, and won't be as hungry. Big people need a lot of calories just to keep going. That's why it's easier to lose weight quickly when you are very overweight.

But remember, that's NET calories. If you exercise and log it, you will EAT more. My maintenance calories are 1440 (I'm 5"10" but 55), but with my normal exercise, I could eat 1700-2100 a day.

Francl27

That doesn't sound right that you'd have less calories than to lose... you must have entered something wrong at some point.

But yes, it doesn't include exercise. You can use http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to get a maintenance number that includes exercise.

nxd10

That doesn't sound right that you'd have less calories than to lose... you must have entered something wrong at some point.

But yes, it doesn't include exercise. You can use http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to get a maintenance number that includes exercise.

You could be right about the recalculation, but my husband, who is my height, and my sister and brother-in-law, are all on MFP and get 1000 calories more than me. We're all about the same height, but they're a lot heavier. But they are all successfully lowering their calories as they get thin.

williams969

Now, sometimes MFP can give you lower calories than *your* body actually needs. Question, were you still losing weight (recently) eating the 1,560? If so, your maintenance will certainly be higher than that.

You may have to set a custom goal, just need to do a little math. For example, if over the last 4 weeks, you averaged 1/2 lb a week, your maintenance will be about 250 cal/day ABOVE that 1,560 number--so around 1,800. If your weight loss was slower than that, shoot for around 1,700. If it was faster losses recently, maybe 1,900 is a number to consider.

cwolfman13

I think you miscalculated something. While it is true that you need less calories (exclusive of exercise) as you get smaller, I've never seen anyone's maintenance calories dip below what they required to lose weight.

You messed something up in you inputs. Also, exercise more...then you get to eat more. That's how it works...the more active you are, the more calories your body requires...if you're just a sloth and sedentary than yeah...you don't need too many calories to get by.

Sizethree4Ever

i'm trying to gain a few lbs..but afterwards want to maintain. When I put my maintenance weight into MFP ..it takes me from 1560 that I had to "lose"..... to 1340 to maintain????

I am 5`0 113-lb and 46 yrs old. I have the same maintenance calories. When I started I also had 1560 cal -day, but as we lose weight, our smaller bodies needs less calories to maintain.

Edit to add: Usually I am full eating around 1300 cal-day, but there are times when I eat out, or other occasion I eat more, I just make sure that I hit the gym, and burn 500-700 cal..

SomeNights246

The only way I can imagine that being right is if you're older (metabolism changes with age sometimes), if you weigh like 100 lbs, if you're short, or a combination of those three things.

Assuming none of those describe you, you calculated something wrong.

kelleybean1

How tall are you?? I know that getting older lowers your calories. If you gave us your height and current weight, some of us number nerds could check it for you.

iheartinsanity

IMO maintenance for me was my BMR (I'm 5'4, and in the 140's...I'm slightly under 1400 - that's for basic organ function, BTW) plus a couple hundred more (only if I exercised). I've heard of people doing this but I'm absolutely miserable to be around if I eat less than 1500.

gypsy_spirit

I'm also 56. The way to be able to eat more is to make your body more efficient at calorie burning. I do this by lifting weights 3x a week. It takes a lot more food/energy to maintain lean body mass (muscle) than to maintain fat. Of course, it's not for everybody but the benefits to women are undeniable. I am not bulky. I am getting fit, my bones are staying strong, and I am able to lose weight on 1600 -1700 cals a day. My balance is so much better and I have great energy.

I also agree that you should recalculate your numbers, just to make sure there was no error.

WaterBunnie

Sounds ridiculously low to me. NHS guidelines say the average woman needs around 2000 calories and 2500 for the average man. I really can't see how even anyone at goal wouldn't continue to lose on so little.

margannmks

You said your trying to gain first then maintain, why are you saying its giving you a lower number to maintain than to "lose" when your trying to gain. Something isnt adding up. Your calories will be higher for gaining than maintaining.

paulandrachelk

Am 72. 5ft 6in and weigh 120. Sedentary lifestyle. Maintenance is 1343. Works.

kelleybean1

Sounds ridiculously low to me. NHS guidelines say the average woman needs around 2000 calories and 2500 for the average man. I really can't see how even anyone at goal wouldn't continue to lose on so little.

Well,, you are 20 years younger than the OP and we still don't know about any height differences. These can make a huge difference. If you are small and older you will have a much lower maintenance amount. It's a bummer, but that's just the way it is.

doodledaze

In your initial post you stated you are trying to GAIN a few pounds, right? Then it makes sense that your calories during the gaining period would be higher than maintenance.

I don't know if MFP would still, by default, label your desired change as a negative "loss". I've never been in a position to enter a goal weight that is higher than my current weight.

If that is, in fact, your actual maintenance number, make sure that you have your daily activity set accurately (not sedentary unless you're sedentary) and eat those exercise calories!

killimanjar0

Online calorie calculators are often inaccurate. Borrow a copy of "Sports Nutrition" by Nancy Clark, or another nutrition book and use that to calculate. It will be much more accurate.

Essentially,
the amount of calories your body needs ONLY TO EXIST all day (breathing, brain function, etc etc...) is your healthy goal weight times 10.
Ex: 150 x 10 = 1500 calories only for organ function and existence

Then, you would do some math to figure out the percentage of that you must INCREASE by to account for NON-WORKOUT/"purposeful exercise" you do on a daily basis. The Clark book says 50% should be added if you lead a moderately active lifestyle, 20-40% if you are sedentary and then 60% if you are very active--again, NOT INCLUDING WORKOUTS/"PURPOSEFUL EXERCISE".

Last, you would add yet ANOTHER chunk of calories to match what you have burned that day through purposeful exercise.

So, according to Clark and all of the research she cites in her book, 1340 is FAR too few calories to maintain your weight.

I recommend you look beyond the internet for additional resources. Again, online calorie calculators are often not correct.

TavistockToad

i'm trying to gain a few lbs..but afterwards want to maintain. When I put my maintenance weight into MFP ..it takes me from 1560 that I had to "lose"..... to 1340 to maintain????

That makes no sense... You don't need more calories to lose than you do to maintain....