How much of a deficit?

alexwalper

I feel like this has probably been asked an infinite amount of times, but cannot find anything for the life of me..:blushing: Anyway..

I can't figure out how much of a deficit I should be at. I'm 5'9", have a larger frame, and currently weigh 187. I have no clue as to what my perfect weight will be since I have been obese since childhood, so I'm not too sure when I'm getting closer to my "goal weight" and should be upping my calorie intake... It's been driving me rather crazy pondering it so often ha.

Any ideas? Or anyone been near those numbers and have experience to share? I would greatly appreciate it, if only for my poor sanity's sake .

carmenstop1

Try this link, hope it helps!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/225765-how-mfp-works

aippolito1

Just see how many exercise calories you can LEAVE and still lose weight..once it stops working for you (you stop losing weight), eat a couple hundred of those exercise calories, and keep moving up as you need to.

xraychick77

google BMR calculator. it'll walk you through it.

from there you can subtract however many cals to lose weight..the general consensus is 3500 cals = 1 lb of fat. most people deficit by the week..meaning they'll subtract 500 cals a day from their BMR (maintenance cals)..so each week they'll lose 1 lb..of course if you subtract more you'll (in theory) lose more weight.

NickiStone

Not sure if I am reading you question right but If you want to determine the weight range for your body type you can try the wrist test.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2346297_determine-body-frame-size.html

Hope that helps.

alexwalper

Thank you .
I understand how the deficits work; I'm trying to figure out if I should set my goals to 1lb/week, 1.5lbs/week, or 2lbs/week. I felt like 1.5lb/week was getting too hard, but 1lb/week just feels like it's not doing anything.

@Arielle: As in eat at my maintenance calories and ignore the exercise calories from there? Hmm..

W0zzie

This might help for - the goal deficit question
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits?hl=guide+to+calorie+deficit


& this might help to decide on goal ideal weight:
http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm