Confused about calorie counting

WolfieCougar

Hi,

When first filling out my information on MFP, I asked to lose 2 lbs weekly and it suggested that I eat 1200 calories daily. However, on the boards, everyone says that is too low. Why does MFP suggest that amount then?

I've been keeping close/ under that amount for a month and have lost 8lbs and 4 inches off my waist (exercising,too). Does it depend on age? I'm in my early twenties.

Thanks!
Allie

CarrieAbbey

You should eat at least 1200 calories per day--minimum. You should also eat your calories back that you've burned. I know it sounds weird but it works.

aqua_zumba_fan

Hi,

When first filling out my information on MFP, I asked to lose 2 lbs weekly and it suggested that I eat 1200 calories daily. However, on the boards, everyone says that is too low. Why does MFP suggest that amount then?

I've been keeping close/ under that amount for a month and have lost 8lbs and 4 inches off my waist (exercising,too). Does it depend on age? I'm in my early twenties.

Thanks!
Allie

Hi Alice

I've also been told I should be eating 1200 calories a day and it seems fine to me tbh. I think it depends on your weight to start with but not sure about age. I'm 32 and have about 1.5 stones to lose. Sounds like you're doing well and as long as you're getting all the nutrients you need and not going under a healthy weight it seems okay to me but I'm no expert!!

Tam
x

leomom72

1200 is just what is suggested...you can up them if you like, but anything lower is said to cause starvation mode..i have been here over 6 months, and i have changed my intake many times from 1200-about 1400..switch it up a bit, and see what works for you..best of luck:drinker:

Atlantique

Hi,

When first filling out my information on MFP, I asked to lose 2 lbs weekly and it suggested that I eat 1200 calories daily. However, on the boards, everyone says that is too low. Why does MFP suggest that amount then?

I've been keeping close/ under that amount for a month and have lost 8lbs and 4 inches off my waist (exercising,too). Does it depend on age? I'm in my early twenties.

Thanks!
Allie

With 71 pounds to lose, a 2lb per week weight loss goal is fine. MFP will not recommend that women eat fewer than 1200 calories per day because it is very difficult to get adequate nutrition below that number.

If people are suggesting that 1200 is too low for you, perhaps that is because your NET calories are falling below 1200 because you are not eating your exercise calories? When you're in the 'obese' BMI range, you can often get by without eating them because you have significant fat stores and ca tolerate a larger calorie deficit. As you get into the 'healthy' BMI range, you're probably going to find that eating at least some of your exercise calories helps to create sustainable fat loss. If you try to carry a large calorie deficit in this weight range, your body will cannibalize more muscle than necessary, making you flabbier and also making it harder to maintain your weight loss.

misscfe

The 1200 is based on not working out so I would stay right around 1200 on a non workout day. On your workout days you should eat at least some of the workout calories back. Some people eat them all back and others only eat some. I usually only eat part of them back, very rarely do I eat them all back. If I consistently ate them all back then I wouldn't lose weight like I want to. You just need to find what works for your body.

AdAstra47

There are a lot of variables, and age is one of them. Your size is another. If you are short and petite you will probably need fewer calories than someone who's 6'2". I think MFP takes that into account. But without a medical examination & tests, everything on here is just a guesstimate based on statistics. It might not be perfectly accurate for you. Everyone's metabolism is different, some are faster or slower or more or less efficient. So don't be afraid to tweak your numbers. I don't know anyone on here who uses the MFP recommended goals; they're more like a starting point. Once people figure out what works for them they modify the goals manually.

One thing to be careful of is that you're losing fat and not muscle. So I definitely wouldn't go under 1200 calories unless you're a very tiny person. I'd also be careful to always go *over* the recommended amount of protein (which most people find is set too low for them). That may slow down your weight loss a bit, but in the long run it will let you lose more. Fat cells don't burn energy as efficiently as muscle. So the more muscle you have, the better you can burn fat away & keep it off.

WolfieCougar

Thank you everyone for the advice! I thought it was probably okay (I'm also 5'4), but when other people on the boards were scolding some because they ate at or below 1200, I began to get worried lol!