Clear up a weight loss MFP question? Help appreciated!

kayglo

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and the first thread I looked in was the "upping calories to lose weight?" one. For about 5 minutes all was clear and now I'm back to confusion again -_-

So here goes!

I started MFP tracking 2 weeks ago and I put my weight in at 210 (which was an estimate as the last time I weighed myself prior to the 2 weeks ago weigh in was about a month before that if you get me?). I'm currently 200lb. I put my activity level at sedentary (I'm mostly at the computer doing university work) and my desired weight loss at 2lbs per week with a goal of 130lbs in the end. I also estimated working out 5 days a week.

The myfitnesspal calculator did it's thing and gave me 1200 calories to eat a day. I eat that fine and don't feel hungry at the end of the day even with my exercise burning roughly 400 cals. So I wasn't eating my exercise calories back as I wasn't hungry.

After deciding to join the forums today I've realised that I should eat my exercise calories back, great!

My BMR is 1640 cals and my calories to maintain my weight is 2040/2050. I've received advice suggesting different things, some to eat 2040 cals and exercise as normal to reach my BMR of 1600 and others to eat my 1200 and my exercise calories.

What do I do? I apologise if I sound 'ignorant' or silly but I'd rather ask for help at the beginning and not when I've ruined my metabolism! :P I do strength training as well as cardio and have lost a good inch from each body area in 2 weeks.

Please help! Much appreciated!

Sarauk2sf

Here is a great link that will help explain it:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map?

You should be eating more than 1200, before exercise or not. The mimum net should be your BMR - but see what the numbers come up with if you follow the steps in the link.

Not ignorant or silly at all - kudos to you for trying to get it right and for trying to do this the sensible way.

kayglo

Here is a great link that will help explain it:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map?

You should be eating more than 1200, before exercise or not. The mimum net should be your BMR - but see what the numbers come up with if you follow the steps in the link.

Not ignorant or silly at all - kudos to you for trying to get it right and for trying to do this the sensible way.

Thanks! I'll have a read of it now

It seems silly that the calculator suggests 1200 cals a day if it's not healthy!

Thanks for the encouragement

kayglo

Aaaaand the light bulb above my head flickers on. I get it now after just under and hour of calculations and reading and re-reading.

Phew!