Please help a newbie loose some weight. Calories question

abadsvt
abadsvt Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Everyone! I am a 31yr old male that is 6' tall. I started my diet at 198.6lbs and I am currently down to 189.8lbs. I am moderately active (sit in a office chair most of the day but have a 2 yr old so chasing him around and bike rides ect.) Well I myfitnesspal set to loose 2 pounds a week which is working but I have been only eating 1300-1500 calories. I have been high on my protein levels by 20-30grams. I have been way low on my fat intake and a little low on carbs.

My question is am I eating enough calories? I know myfitnesspal is just a calculator. It is saying I should only have 65g of protein which I read was way to low. Just want to make sure I am doing everything right to continue loosing weight good and not hit a plateau. Don't know what my goal weight is but I would guess in the upper 170's. Thanks and any comments or things that would be good for me to do would be great!

Josh

Replies

  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    2 lbs per week is pretty fast. It is better to eat more. Try setting it to 1 you may still lose quickly anyway. The last 10-15 lbs ideally should be set at 1/2 lb per week.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    I'd say for 200 lb , 2lb per week is ok but make sure you are loosing some of it via exercise to make sure you keep hold of your muscle. It makes sense that if you are bigger you can afford to loose more weight per week. In the UK most people say 1-2 lb a week is ok. I've also read a personal trainer on the internet that you can loose 1% of your body mass each week (as long as you are medically overweight). This makes a lot of sense to me although it was just one person saying it and he didn't give reference) I'm sure the protein level can be adjusted as we are all different and the level is just a guideline.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    ps 1300 cals doesn't sound enough. At 6" I've also read that men should eat at least 1400 per day to get enough basic nutrients to keep us going. For me it would make sense to eat more and do a little more exercise :-) Just my opinion which isn't worth a lot but its what I would do.
  • AZDizzy
    AZDizzy Posts: 434 Member
    Personally, I"m the same way. So, I went in and did custom goals, making my carbs 40% (instead of 55%), fat 30 and protein 30.

    I also eat back most of my exercise calories.
  • Jaypea15
    Jaypea15 Posts: 71 Member
    Hi Josh

    Check your resting rate, you can find a calculator online. I am female and 5'6 and need to lost 60lbs, and it says I should not be eating less than 1797 per day to sustain all of my resting bodily functions, but MFP thinks I sould be on 1380, so I have gone with this, but going to check with my GP next week.

    There is so much conflicting advice out there, especially on the net.

    I think your cal intake is a bit too low, and I would say like the others have done that 1lb per week is sufficient, or the weight will go straight back on again if you ever begin to eat normally after losing.

    My hubby who is 5'6 and 30lbs overweight is on 1750 and is losing 1lbs per week, and eating exactly what he wants.

    Good luck, but please increase your intake, or your body will go into starvation mode and begin taking fuel from your muscles instead of the fat cells.

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