Am I eating the proper amount of calories for weight loss?
BigPapaGato
Posts: 96 Member
I've been doing a lot of thinking regarding my MFP numbers. Right now I have everything setup as is in my diary so please take a moment to check it out. I'm 5'8" 246 lbs as of this morning. I'm concerned that I might not be eating the right number of calories, and it might be because I may be in the wrong category in terms of my activity level.
I work only 2 days a week (24 hour shifts) and for them most part I'm sitting all day (when I'm not transporting patients), but the other 5 days of the week I am lifting 3 days and doing cardio 3-5 days of the week.
Currently I have my level selected as sedentary. Am I correct in doing so? I appreciate any help that ca be given.
I work only 2 days a week (24 hour shifts) and for them most part I'm sitting all day (when I'm not transporting patients), but the other 5 days of the week I am lifting 3 days and doing cardio 3-5 days of the week.
Currently I have my level selected as sedentary. Am I correct in doing so? I appreciate any help that ca be given.
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Replies
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i wouldn't think you would be under sedentary. That catagory mostly falls under desk jobs like secretary (me) i would have put at least lightly active for your profile. just my thoughts:flowerforyou:0
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I think they recommend 1800 calories per day minimum for males.
I'm also of the opinion that very few people on here are truly sedentary and most should be at lightly active at least (a bit of housework, food preparation, small amounts of walking on the job etc all add up to a surprising amount). The 1.2 multiplier used for sedentry I see described elsewhere as "bedridden", but a lot of people do select sedentary and it works for them.
If you're not eating the exercise calories from your workouts, then I would definitely increase your daily activity to active.0 -
If you work out 3 to 5 times a week you aren't sedentary!!!0
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i'm 5'6, 54 , 204lbs and currently working with a trainer. He recommended 2000 calories per day. I just cant eat that much yet but get in around 1600 - 1800 with eating 6 times per day0
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I've been wondering the same thing. I've got my activity level set at sedentary so I can reduce my calorie level. I exercise 4 days a week or so and I eat most of those calories back. Should I be eating more? Could help out with the blood sugar level issues I've been facing post workout.0
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I don't know that the activity level is really THAT important. Just eat back your exercise calories and you should be closer to an accurate number.0
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Your cal goal of 1580 seems very low, 1500 net is the very least a male should be on to lose safely. what are your goals set to?
I would say if you use the sedentary level you need to log your exercise and eat back the cals to keep your deficit at the selected deficit.
If you prefer to have your workouts already included in your activity level then choose the next level up and don't log your exercise separately.
From looking at your diary sodium is pretty high most days, that can affect your losses.
I get 1650 for 1lb /week or 1200 for 1.8lb/week and I'm 5'4 / 216 lbs female, sedentary desk job, usually lose 1-2 a week on 1650. That's with only minimal exercise at the minute due to injury. When I was exercising I ate 1750 and netted around 1250, actually seem to be losing more now, which suggests my net of 1250 was too low!0 -
I'm guessing you are a firefighter, my husband has the same schedule....and if I am correct in thinking so, sedentary is NOT right. I'm sure you do training, ect also? I would change sedentary.0
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If you work out 3 to 5 times a week you aren't sedentary!!!0
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I manually set my calorie goal to my BMR, which is 1530. And then when I log exercise in, it will increase my calorie goal by however many calories I burned.
I always thought activity level was EXCLUDING your workouts, because you would enter in your workouts individually? It doesn't matter anyway, because, like I said, I entered my calorie goal in manually.0 -
I just went to this site
http://www.calories-calculator.net/BMR_Calculator.html
and I entered in your information and it says your BMR is almost 2300. That is the minimum you should be eating per day.0 -
I just went to this site
http://www.calories-calculator.net/BMR_Calculator.html
and I entered in your information and it says your BMR is almost 2300. That is the minimum you should be eating per day.
Thanks I played with the numbers. My calorie goal is closer to your projected numbers.I'm guessing you are a firefighter, my husband has the same schedule....and if I am correct in thinking so, sedentary is NOT right. I'm sure you do training, ect also? I would change sedentary.
I actually work as a Paramedic for a private ambulance service so we wouldn't have the same active type of physical training but thanks for the infoYour cal goal of 1580 seems very low, 1500 net is the very least a male should be on to lose safely. what are your goals set to?
I would say if you use the sedentary level you need to log your exercise and eat back the cals to keep your deficit at the selected deficit.
If you prefer to have your workouts already included in your activity level then choose the next level up and don't log your exercise separately.
From looking at your diary sodium is pretty high most days, that can affect your losses.
I get 1650 for 1lb /week or 1200 for 1.8lb/week and I'm 5'4 / 216 lbs female, sedentary desk job, usually lose 1-2 a week on 1650. That's with only minimal exercise at the minute due to injury. When I was exercising I ate 1750 and netted around 1250, actually seem to be losing more now, which suggests my net of 1250 was too low!
Thanks for the info I've changed my numbers around... Also I'm always working on my sodium numbers the days that it's high are the days that I get lazy and eat out I also changed my goals from losing 2 pounds a week to 1.5. That way I have a buffer zone in case I go over my calorie limit.i'm 5'6, 54 , 204lbs and currently working with a trainer. He recommended 2000 calories per day. I just cant eat that much yet but get in around 1600 - 1800 with eating 6 times per day
I played with the numbers and it's looking like just over 2000 is my base goal now thanksno. u need actively workout. you should choose at the least moderately active.
I'm going to give lightly active a try because i am still going to track my workoutsi wouldn't think you would be under sedentary. That catagory mostly falls under desk jobs like secretary (me) i would have put at least lightly active for your profile. just my thoughts:flowerforyou:
Thanks but like I said the days that I work I'm mostly lounging around, my days off I'm either running errands or just hanging with my girl. So I have it as sedentary because of that.I think they recommend 1800 calories per day minimum for males.
I'm also of the opinion that very few people on here are truly sedentary and most should be at lightly active at least (a bit of housework, food preparation, small amounts of walking on the job etc all add up to a surprising amount). The 1.2 multiplier used for sedentry I see described elsewhere as "bedridden", but a lot of people do select sedentary and it works for them.
If you're not eating the exercise calories from your workouts, then I would definitely increase your daily activity to active.
That's a good point. I think I'll give it a go by changing my activity level to slightly active and we'll see how it goes.If you work out 3 to 5 times a week you aren't sedentary!!!
I believe your measurement for workouts is a completely separate measurement altogether.0
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