Help needed!

maplematt

Hello,
I am a 19 year old boy and I currently weigh 13 stone 8. I want to weigh about 12.

I have only used MFP for a week. I know this isn't a long period of time, but that's what I have been using it for. It recommended I eat 1240 calories a day, which I did ( a lot of the time being just under). But to be honest I go to bed hungry a lot of the time, and didn't really see any weight loss the first week.

I came on here to have a look and found out my BMR is like 1900 and EEE thing is like 2600. This has really confused me. So what should I do? Should I be eating 1900 calories a day?! That seems too much to me. I think I would struggle to eat that.

Should I keep on at 1240? Will I see weight loss eventually?

Thanks,
Matt

now_or_never12

1240 for anyone is far too low especially for a male. Eat the 1900. You are not getting enough food and nutrients in.

Warley_x

Hi Matt, depends on your situation really. Do you have a physical job? Do you work out etc?x

Helloitsdan

Matt!

Eat 2200 daily and go have fun with friends!
You could cut as low as 2k but you want to try to keep as much lean mass as possible.

Lift weights.
Eat.
Sleep.

Rinse and repeat.

2200 daily.

Dont worry about eating back calories from working out.
You wont burn too much when just lifting.

maplematt

Thanks for the super fast responses!

I don't have a particularly active lifestyle, as I work with computers. I have been trying to go to the gym/running a couple of times a week. But 1900 seems very high... I doubt I have eaten that much for a while!

DebbieKayW

I had a hard time with increasing my calorie intake, but was informed that I needed to so I would lose the weight. As she explained it was that when we do not eat enough our bodies go into starvation mode and will keep the fat and not let it go. So it get it out of that mode we must eat more. Don't go overboard though. So I increased my calorie intake and started to lose the weight. So try to increase. I still cannot get up to the calorie intake as requested, but doing much better and losing weight. Good luck.

baxgilter

1240 for anyone is far too low especially for a male. Eat the 1900. You are not getting enough food and nutrients in.

Agreed

lovinmysoldier

I'd think that is too low for a 19 year old male. I'm a fan of www.intense-workout.com, if you click on the lose weight tab there is an article that tells you how to figure out how many calories you need to consume to maintain your weight and then how to adjust it to lose. Also if you start losing too much or not at all it tells you how to adjust accordingly. I believe our bodies are amazing things and we just need to do our best to work with our bodies instead of forcing it to do something it isn't meant to do.

maplematt

So the eat less philosophy I always thought to be true is not really true?

Would 1500 calories a day be okay for me to aim for is 1900 where I will peak?

Warley_x

Thanks for the super fast responses!

I don't have a particularly active lifestyle, as I work with computers. I have been trying to go to the gym/running a couple of times a week. But 1900 seems very high... I doubt I have eaten that much for a while!

You're a lot like me then, minus I dont go to the gym! My intake is 1200kcals a day. As you are a male I would suggest increasing to 1500kcals a day if 1900 seems too high and you dont do a lot of exercise. It's very difficult to lose weight sitting behind a computer as I know very well myself! Feel free to add me and I can help with you with your diary if you wish, it sounds like you need a better balance of food throughout the day so you dont feel hungry at night.x

maplematt

I'd think that is too low for a 19 year old male. I'm a fan of www.intense-workout.com, if you click on the lose weight tab there is an article that tells you how to figure out how many calories you need to consume to maintain your weight and then how to adjust it to lose. Also if you start losing too much or not at all it tells you how to adjust accordingly. I believe our bodies are amazing things and we just need to do our best to work with our bodies instead of forcing it to do something it isn't meant to do.

Thanks for the advice, but that site recommends I eat 2200. I don't physically think I could do that!

Helloitsdan

I'd think that is too low for a 19 year old male. I'm a fan of www.intense-workout.com, if you click on the lose weight tab there is an article that tells you how to figure out how many calories you need to consume to maintain your weight and then how to adjust it to lose. Also if you start losing too much or not at all it tells you how to adjust accordingly. I believe our bodies are amazing things and we just need to do our best to work with our bodies instead of forcing it to do something it isn't meant to do.

Thanks for the advice, but that site recommends I eat 2200. I don't physically think I could do that!

Have a look at my diary Matt.
I'm 5'6" 37 and 135lbs.
I eat 1700 most days (-20% from TDEE) and up to 3k on lifting days.
Today is a lifting day so its going to be 2500+.

maplematt

After upping it to 1500 yesterday and today I feel fall all the time...whuch makes me feel guilty. IS this normal? I have always associated weight loss with having to go without.

mfpcopine

Thanks for the super fast responses!

I don't have a particularly active lifestyle, as I work with computers. I have been trying to go to the gym/running a couple of times a week. But 1900 seems very high... I doubt I have eaten that much for a while!

Why don't you try to split the baby and do 1500 or 1600 for a couple of weeks? I don't think 1240 will harm you, but it's not that much food and you need to make sure you're eating enough nutrients.

Keep careful records. Weight and measure everything you eat.

Good luck.

mfpcopine

After upping it to 1500 yesterday and today I feel fall all the time...whuch makes me feel guilty. IS this normal? I have always associated weight loss with having to go without.

It's hard to say based on one day's experience. But if you feel full and mentally acute, I would try sticking to this level for a while. I don't think it's a good habit to force yourself to eat, the exception being that you're sick and need the nutrients. Illness can eliminate appetite.