Can I lose on 1700 cal/day???

MAJ8910
MAJ8910 Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
MFP says I should be netting no more than 1400 in order to lose a pound a week. I can't go that low. I'm willing to lose weight more slowly, in order not to be miserable each day not eating enough! I'm female, 39, 5'6 and 155 lbs.

Replies

  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    Don't forget that this is NET calories, so if you're exercising, you can eat more. If you're not exercising, or don't eat back your exercise calories, redo your profile and set it to a half pound per week.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Sure, I did, just keep under your calorie goal.
  • oarngesi
    oarngesi Posts: 73 Member
    Yes you can if you lose 1lb at 1400 at 1700 youll lose about half a pound.
  • Cathalain
    Cathalain Posts: 424 Member
    You sure can. My base is 1380 a day, but I often burn over 750, 1000 calories a day by walking, gym time and lifting, so my calorie goal is often over 2000. And, yes, I lose weight on that. The more you burn, the more you can eat. :)

    I also set mine to 1.5 pounds a week, even though I could do 2 pounds easily, I have that much to lose. But I'd rather not run the risk of being "hangry". Not worth it. :) I'll take slow and steady!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I would gain on 1700 a day, even if I exercised.

    Depends on the person.
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    Exercise and DO NOT go over 1700 (no cheat days, just factor in what you want to eat with the 1700 a day) and you should be fine. I varied my calories from 1300 to 1700 depending on how I felt. You could also try that. Some days eating a little more and some days eating a little less.
  • RedArizona5
    RedArizona5 Posts: 465 Member
    Exercise and DO NOT go over 1700 (no cheat days, just factor in what you want to eat with the 1700 a day) and you should be fine. I varied my calories from 1300 to 1700 depending on how I felt. You could also try that. Some days eating a little more and some days eating a little less.
    ^^^^^agreed
  • HanamiDango
    HanamiDango Posts: 456 Member
    Depends on various factors. How active are you during the day? Did you set MFP to Sedentary or to another activity level? The activity level is daily activity, not including exercise.

    Read these post too

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

    I am losing 1-1.4 lbs eating at 1700 net, so yes, I eat more and lose. I am 33, female, weight in at 152lbs, and 5'6. I also do have overage days close to or at my maintenance level. Everyone is different, the only way to know is to try.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    You sure can. I'm similar stats (5'6", 38 yo female). I've lost 19 lbs in almost 5 months, and I've (almost) never eaten less than 1,500 calories a day. My average daily intake over the whole period (yeah, I keep track on a spreadsheet) is almost 1,700.

    Activity wise, I get 10,000 steps in 6 days/week, plus 3 hrs a week of body weight training (calisthenics). That's it, but enough to allow a higher calorie intake while still losing at a nice pace.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Depending on how much you exercise, sure its possible.
  • arussell134
    arussell134 Posts: 463 Member
    I actually just bumped up my calories to 1700 after running a couple different TDEE scenarios. I am 5'6" and have less than 10 pounds to lose and like you, want to slow it down a bit (maybe .5 lb per week) as I'm weight training as well as doing a fair amount of running (about 15 miles per week). I'm going to give this a couple weeks and see what happens.
  • nikkylyn
    nikkylyn Posts: 325 Member
    I am your same exact height and weight ish. 153. Anyways. I have mine set to 1500 and I eat back a portion of my exercise calories. I normally eat between 1500 and 1800. Is slow but steady.
  • SuperHero_Girl
    SuperHero_Girl Posts: 72 Member
    You can absolutely lose on 1700 calories/day. I'm 5'2" and I've been losing on about 1730 net calories per day and I actually had to increase that from about 1580 because I reached a point where I was losing too fast.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Yes. I have pretty much your same height and weight (5'6", 156.5 last Sunday) and eat over 1700/day.
  • stephe1987
    stephe1987 Posts: 406 Member
    You can lose weight, but it won't be a pound a week unless you burn off the extra calories. The goal they give you is how many calories you need to have as your net (calories eaten - calories burned) to lose a pound a week. Also keep in mind that your calorie goal will slowly decrease as you get closer to your goal weight. For example, I used to be able to lose a pound a week at 1200 calories but now I only lose 0.9 lb/week if I choose that goal. But right now I have my goal set to lose 0.5 lb/week so I can go a little over 1200.
  • Daphnerose86
    Daphnerose86 Posts: 77 Member
    When I first started I thought 1400 was too low for me as well so I simply aimed for it but if I was hungry later I'd give myself a snack. I was eating between 1400-1600 the first week or so but now my stomach and appetite have changed because I'm eating healthier. I eat a lot more veggies and fruits, not so much processed foods and I'm less hungry through out the day. It's allowed me to get down to 1400 a day and not feel deprived. My metabolism is slow, I wouldn't be able to lose on 1700 even if most of that was just veggies and fruits. I'd say give 1700 a try and after a while you feel like you're not losing what you want add some more exercise or reduce it to 1600. Everyone's body is unique, it usually takes some fine tuning before you find what works best for you body. Good luck on your weight loss!!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,282 Member
    MFP says I should be netting no more than 1400 in order to lose a pound a week. I can't go that low. I'm willing to lose weight more slowly, in order not to be miserable each day not eating enough! I'm female, 39, 5'6 and 155 lbs.

    Simplest solution to me is to reset your stats to lose 1/2 lb per week - obviously this would take longer to reach your goal but if it is more sustainable for you, you will get there in the end - which of course is better than givng up part way on 1 lb week and a calorie level that doesnt fill you up.

    As others have said, this is the net level - excercising and eating back at least some of the excercise calories will let you eat more too.

    Another suggestin could be to look at the types of food you are eating and see if swapping some things for more filling but lower calorie alternatives would help.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    If you burn 2700 daily on average, you could lose 2 lbs weekly eating 1700 daily.

    And that doesn't mean burn in exercise, but in total. Non-exercise maintenance and exercise added.

    Look at your Goals page - what does MFP estimate you burn daily for maintenance.

    Take 500 off.

    How close to 1700 is it?

    Do enough exercise to raise it to 1700.

    Done.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I would gain on 1700 a day, even if I exercised.

    Depends on the person.

    Yes. My maintenance is 1700. I lose at 1400. It all depends on your current weight and daily calorie expenditure. And that's going to be different for everyone. If you can't tolerate 1400, then set it for 1/2 pound per week. It may take longer, but you'll get more calories. Also, don't forget you can earn more with exercise. :drinker:

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