Newbie- Amount of Calories per day?

knitjogread

How do you determine the amount of calories you are eating each day? Do you go by the amount of calories set out for you by the MFP? For me to lose 1.5 pounds per week, I would need to take in less than 1500 calories. Even with eating healthy, this seems low.

I hear people talk about using a BMR system for figuring out their calories. Mine was 1677.

How did you decide which amount of calories is right for you?

yarwell

if you don't like MFPs answer use a lower weight loss rate in setting the goal.

If you exercise and log it in the MFP diary your food goal increases in line with it.

rainbowbow

A good start is to consume between your BMR and TDEE. You can manually set your goal to your BMR (or a little higher if you wish). I don't suggest eating below your BMR.

knitjogread

Why does the mfp number of calories differ from your MPR? And what is a TDEE? Isn't the MPR the amount of calories you would burn during a day? How can you lose weight if you eat at this number? Wouldn't you maintain? Thanks for the help!

BackTatJIM

Why does the mfp number of calories differ from your MPR? And what is a TDEE? Isn't the MPR the amount of calories you would burn during a day? How can you lose weight if you eat at this number? Wouldn't you maintain? Thanks for the help!

You want to eat more than your BMR because that is the estimated amount of calories you burn in 1 day if you slept all day, mfp sets the calorie limit under that number all the time and that is why so many people say it is unhealthy to have your weight loss goal 2 lbs a week, unless you are very very overweight, my bmr is around 1700 and I eat 2,000 cals a day

yarwell

Why does the mfp number of calories differ from your MPR? And what is a TDEE? Isn't the MPR the amount of calories you would burn during a day? How can you lose weight if you eat at this number? Wouldn't you maintain? Thanks for the help!

your BMR is the amount of calories used by your body doing its basic functions, it is estimated by equations and they get it right ~70% of the time to within 10%.

The TDEE is the amount of calories you actually use in a day, so its the BMR plus a few other things like the energy to digest food, to move about, etc etc. So TDEE is always higher than BMR, usually by at least 20%.

To lose weight you need to eat less than your TDEE. You might eat less than on more than your BMR, that isn't critical in itself especially if you have a lot to lose.

You would maintain eating your TDEE.

A simple approach is for women to eat 1500 for a month, and men to eat 2000. If they don't lose weight then takes some off. Or do more exercise. Create a difference.