How Many Calories should I eat?? Mixed views?!?!?

ChrisWag

Ok, so according to MFP in order to maintain my weight on a "moderatly" active lifestyle working out 5 days a week I need 1500 cal, but then when I work out it adds those into what I should eat.....

BUT, according to 3 other sites I found by googling about calorie intake it says I need about 2000 cal a day (it probably does not add back in workout calories tho)

I am so confused....the reason I question this is it seems like days after I do what I call cheating and eat more than normal I tend to lose as long as it is healthier foods still.....

Also, I seem to be more hungry lately, which I know means I am not eating enough so....

Who do I listen to....do I eat about 2000 and not add in work out calories or do I stick with the MFP recommendation amount??

Any advise is appreciated......Thanks

Kym1610

check out these
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

lisapickering

The numbers that MFP, or any other website give you are averages. No two people are the same, metabolisms are different, what you consider "moderately" active could be completely different than what the next person considers it. You need to figure what your optimum number is. Maybe it's 1200 maybe it's 1500. Pick a number and try it for a couple of weeks, if you're losing your goal stick with it, if not adjust it. Good Luck!

rileysowner

First, being hungry does not necessarily mean you are not eating enough. There are a bunch of reasons you could be feeling hungry, some are real hunger others are all mental and you don't really need the food. Although re-learning how to eat while you were losing weight will help you unlearn some of your old habits, if you are like most people who struggle with being overweight, your tendency is to not correctly interpret whether you are hungry or not.

As for the calories, I would try the maintenance amount from MFP and see how it goes while eating your exercise calories. You can always increase them if you need to.

Xaspar

I would find out what the maintenance would be for the weight you want to get to and the weight you are currently at and then compare the deficit. If the difference is less than 1000 calories, then eat for the weight you want to be. If it is more than 1000 calories, then subtract 800 calories from the CURRENT WEIGHT maintenance, make that your daily goal and then eat back any exercise calories.
It sounds complicated, but it really isn't ... just takes a few minutes to get the numbers figured out.