What is everyones daily calorie goal?

creature275 · April 2012

3600 - 4000 depending on the cycle

yarwell · April 2012

I don't understand why anyone would be eating under their BMR. That's the basic level of calories you need in a coma!

Because you can get some of the calories from your fat reserves, if you have any. It really is that simple.

You don't drop dead if you don't eat anything for a day, or even a week.

Think about it.

andream1976 · April 2012

BMR: 1329
Calories: 1390/day
When I exercise, I up that to 1590-1600
My weight loss goal is 1lb per week.

Anything less than this and I'm HUNGRY and CRANKY!

It's taking some getting used to. I used to do WW and lost almost 25 lbs doing that and yes, at first I was hungry because I was eating so much less (strictly calorie wise) than I was used to, but eventually I did get that "hungry" feeling to go away. This is only my first week on MFP and I'm having a hard time staying within my calories. Seems like so little to me, but I just have to adjust.

kylesmommy89 · April 2012

1800 maintaining

creature275 · April 2012

I don't understand why anyone would be eating under their BMR. That's the basic level of calories you need in a coma!

Because you can get some of the calories from your fat reserves, if you have any. It really is that simple.

You don't drop dead if you don't eat anything for a day, or even a week.

Think about it.

just because something makes you lose weight doesnt mean its good for you

JeSuisPrest · April 2012

#1 source of confusion on MFP: "Why not eat less than my BMR? Won't that make me lose faster?"

No. Did you know that eating less than your BMR will help keep you from ever reaching and maintaining your goal (that's rhetorical, I know you didn't know that or you wouldn't be eating less than your BMR). ha.

Anyway, here's why fat people stay fat, and why people with the "last 10 lbs to lose" can't ever get there by restricting calories too low:

From one of my old posts from a similar topic:

OK. I'm gonna give this a shot. I am an avid lifelong athlete. I have never been overweight, however, I used to eat too few calories (without knowing it), and a couple years ago, I actually GAINED weight bc of having slowed my metabolism to the point that every little extra treat I ate caused a weight gain, even though overall my calories were too low. THIS DOES HAPPEN.

It is also the reason so many fat people stay fat. They restrict their calories so low, slow their metabolisms, binge (even a little), gain weight, restrict more . . . . and so on and so on. But they are still fat.

It is also the reason most people can't lose that last 10-20 lbs. For real.

1. MFP has a deficit built in. Let's say you're trying to lose 1 lb/ week. That is a 500/day deficit from your BMR (the amount of calories your body needs to complete basic functions.

2. You exercise and burn 500 calories. Now you are at a 1000 deficit. If you eat back those 500 exercise calories, you refuel your body and you still have a 500 deficit for that 1 lb loss. If you DON'T eat back those calories, you have too little fuel. This is bad. This is too much of a deficit for basic functions. If you do this for a long time, you will STOP LOSING WEIGHT. Why? bc your metabolism will slow down -- it's like a brownout--not quite enough electricity to make the whole city (your body) run, so it has to slow down some things. You will probably start being tired a lot, your skin and hair might start to look worse, and you might even gain weight. But you might NOT be hungry -- your body is getting used to fewer calories. That's bad.

That's when you start to gain weight. Let's say you're running along, eating 1200 calories a day, and exercising 400 calories a day, so net is 800. You're losing, you think this is great. You keep doing it, but after a while you stop losing. hmmmmm. One weekend you go out to a special event and have a slice of pizza and a beer. 1 slice of pizza and 1 beer. So you ate maybe 2000 calories that day and exercised off 400, so net 1600. BOOM! You gain 3 lbs! What?!

Next, you freak out and restrict yourself down to 1000 calories a day and work out extra hard, burning 500 calories. Great, netting 500 now. You don't lose any weight, but you sure feel tired. Better get some red bull.

Are you getting the picture?

EDIT: When you work out, you need fuel. Food is fuel. If you don't eat back those exercise calories, you will not only have a big calorie deficit, you will have an ENERGY deficit. Remember, the calorie deficit for weight loss is built in when you use MFP. Exercising basically earns you more calories because you must refuel.
--

There are many people who will tell you not to eat exercise calories. Before you take their advice, you might want to see whether they are at goal, have EVER been at goal, or have ever been able to maintain at goal. If anyone says to you 'THE LAST TIME I LOST WEIGHT", just stop listening right there.

Ask some athletes whether or not they replenish their bodies with food equal to the calories they burn. Ask people who are fit and have achieved and maintained a healthy weight for some years. Don't ask people who count walking across a parking lot as exercise.

Here's an interesting case study about how to stay fat while consuming only 700 calories a day. Take a moment, you'll be glad you did:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

blessings.

Fabulous info worth repeating!!!

AmandaNicoleV · April 2012

So far mine has been 1450 but I have been under since I have started.....

yarwell · April 2012

just because something makes you lose weight doesnt mean its good for you

Very true, whatever definition of "good for you" you're working to.

Nothing magic about a food intake coinciding with BMR that is "good for you" either.

yarwell · April 2012

I am an avid lifelong athlete. I have never been overweight

How widely applicable is that then ?

starcatcher1975 · April 2012

700 calories a day!

I've gotten less then it today, but I'm actually forcing myself to reach 700 calories.

700?! My head is starting to hurt just thinking of only eating 700 calories a day. I would not have the energy to do anything...This makes me very sad just thinking of someone only eating 700 cals a day. I thought the girl keeping at 900 was sad

acidosaur · June 2012

BMR: 1503
TDEE: 1791

Usually eat around 1600 cal but this varies.

jlbay · June 2012

I've been at 1200 since April.

Last 2 weeks decided to go with the "eat more, lose more" group's calculations.

So, I've been slowly creeping up to 1500, with 1680 being my goal (my goal weight maintenance calories with 0 exercise).

Still losing weight, but MUCH slower than at 1200. But, I don't get cramps during exercise, and I'm not so damned tired.

It is an experiment - we'll see how it goes.

skinnylove00 · June 2012

i really like my 1500 calorie goal. my mfp cal goal is 1750 though the extra 250 are just in case i feel really super hungry, its still under my TDEE so who cares?

as far as my net goes, i try my hardest to net at or over 1200 daily. sometimes it doesnt always work out this way because of weird circumstances, but 95% of the time i net over 1200. i am less prone to my horrid 3000cal binges this way :flowerforyou:

sjschewlakow · June 2012

according to MFP: BMR 1492
It has me set at 1510

I eat around that or more on an exercise day. I am at a plateau. So i am thinking of refiguring my numbers somehow.

Cambrendle · June 2012

BMR: 1829

MFP: 1350

my goal: 1200 - 1350

I nearly always fall short of my goal - MFP gives me a red warning that i'm eating too few calories - sometimes if I think I can pack it in i'll add a cup or ice cream or another protein shake to boost my calories - my doc said less than 1200 body stores instead of burns so I'm trying to stay above that minimum

Angelie28 · June 2012

I calorie cycle but most days (5) its 1400. The other two days are 1680 and 1540.

Jers43 · June 2012

1880

Baucis · June 2012

BMR - 1711
Calorie goal - 1200

I eat around 1500 on the days I run, though.

ironanimal · June 2012

BMR: 2400ish
2700 - 2500 logged with some wiggle room for condiments that aren't tracked.

HMVOL7409 · June 2012

Eating for maintence; my goal is 2000. I beleive my bmr is around 1298.

korinastern · June 2012

bmr 1538
calories 1280

lots of veggies and mostly protein keeps me full and eating lots of little meals and a good solid breakfast everyday

Erisad · June 2012

1550, there's a 490 daily calorie deficit but sometimes it's bigger if I work out and don't eat all my exercise calories.

rosiejocotton · June 2012

1200, somehow I manage to be under a lot.

cameralinds · June 2012

BMR 1408

NET calories 1850

And I'm losing weight!

lbelle987 · June 2012

BMR: 1440

Daily Goal: I was at 1440, hit a plateau & upped it to 1600 (considering upping it to 1800---eat more to lose more)

Net Goal: 1450-1600

_Refried_ · June 2012

2850-3300 depending on my workouts, I think people try and look up TDEE and then think they need eat back the exercise calories. TDEE is figuring in exercise