Can someone PLEASE DUMB it down for me!

ExplorinLauren
ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
From everything I keep reading, you should never eat below your BMR. My BMR is 1662.
MFP says my calorie goals per day should be 1240. (under lightly active)
My TDEE is 2628.

Everything I'm reading is your calorie deficit should come from your TDEE. Meaning, if I ate 1600 calories a day, I would have a 1000 calorie deficit and therefor losing 2 lbs per week. You should NEVER get your calorie deficit from eating below BMR.

So, my question is... Why is MFP telling me to eat 1240 calories a day??? Doesn't that put me at more of a 1500 calorie deficit? I even changed my settings from lightly active, to active ( I exercise 5-6 days a week) and it still has my calorie goals at 1410. Still 200 calories below my BMR.
What am I not understanding here?! Sigh :huh:
I would GREATLY appreciate any help or insight at all :(
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Replies

  • gseburn
    gseburn Posts: 456 Member
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    First off, MFP has never said you shouldn't eat below your BMR.

    Secondly, where did you get these numbers? The highest weight loss rate MFP offers is 2 pounds per week, or TDEE minus 1000.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I even changed my settings from lightly active, to active ( I exercise 5-6 days a week) and it still has my calorie goals at 1410.
    It's up to you but this is not how MFP is set up. The site wants to know how active you are NOT INCLUDING EXERCISE, then you eat back the calories from any exercise you do.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    BMR = 1662
    TDEE = 2628

    I'd suggest you eat 1700 calories a day, at that you have a 900 calorie deficit. You'll lose almost 2 pounds a week.
  • stephvaile
    stephvaile Posts: 298
    From everything I keep reading, you should never eat below your BMR. My BMR is 1662.
    MFP says my calorie goals per day should be 1240. (under lightly active)
    My TDEE is 2628.

    Everything I'm reading is your calorie deficit should come from your TDEE. Meaning, if I ate 1600 calories a day, I would have a 1000 calorie deficit and therefor losing 2 lbs per week. You should NEVER get your calorie deficit from eating below BMR.

    So, my question is... Why is MFP telling me to eat 1240 calories a day??? Doesn't that put me at more of a 1500 calorie deficit? I even changed my settings from lightly active, to active ( I exercise 5-6 days a week) and it still has my calorie goals at 1410. Still 200 calories below my BMR.
    What am I not understanding here?! Sigh :huh:
    I would GREATLY appreciate any help or insight at all :(
    your activity level as nothing to do with your daily exercise when it asks your activity level it means in your job because it minuses your weightloss cals so the no it comes up with you can eat then you add exercise in and you can eat that back
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    It's simple.
    This is how MFP works
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/help/faq/3-how-does-myfitnesspal-work
    And Tips for Newbies
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/470367-tips-for-newbies
    Just get started by going into settings to Update diet/fitness profile.
    Set your goals for 1 lb weight loss per week.
    NO MORE!
    And eat lean meats, low fat dairy, nuts, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies.
    Do both cardio and resistance exercise.
    Log in those exercises to your MFP exercise diary.
    AND EAT BACK YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES!
    Remember, this is not a race, and you can reach your goals if you stick to a good plan as recommended on this site.

    You have many people here ready to lend support, answer qustions and discuss any challenges.
    You can do this.

    All Is Possible!
  • asasser2002
    asasser2002 Posts: 26
    Bump... I don't get it either.... everything says something different. :indifferent:
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    You got it wrong.

    Thanks Pu, Thats obvious! lol Can you explain how, and the way that is right!?
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    First off, MFP has never said you shouldn't eat below your BMR.

    Secondly, where did you get these numbers? The highest weight loss rate MFP offers is 2 pounds per week, or TDEE minus 1000.

    I got my BMR from the tools section, and I got my TDEE from a calculator online.
    I know its pretty accurate because I have a FitBit and know I burn on average 2600-3000 calories in a 24 hour period.
    I know 1000 cal deficit should yield 2 lbs weight loss, my confusion comes from the Cals MFP is telling me to eat vs. my BMR and TDEE numbers.
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.

    Oh, and I'm 33 lol
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    MFP works on a very basic formula that is not entirely individualistic. I suggest setting it to manual.

    Eat above your BMR, below your TDEE. If you are shooting for 2 pounds a week, then if TDEE - (Calories eaten today) < 1000, exercise to add in missing calories.
  • stephvaile
    stephvaile Posts: 298
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.
    right go back into the start and enter your details put in that you are lighly active go with the recommended settings and go for 1lb per week this without exercise will give you over 1400 cals base to eat then when you exercise it will add on thecals for you to eat mfp does the calculations for u your deficit is already taken off
  • M3l1s5a
    M3l1s5a Posts: 69
    BMR = 1662
    TDEE = 2628

    I'd suggest you eat 1700 calories a day, at that you have a 900 calorie deficit. You'll lose almost 2 pounds a week.
    Dana, would you suggest for me as well??

    BMR - 1567
    TDEE - 2120

    Thanks!!!
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Dana, would you suggest for me as well??

    BMR - 1567
    TDEE - 2120

    Thanks!!!

    At that, eat about 1600 a day. Thats a 500 calorie deficit for 1 pound a week weight loss. Look at BMR as the minimum you should eat and TDEE as the maximum you should eat. If you eat in between, you will lose fat weight (water weight may vary).

    So, if you blow it and eat 2000 calories on a Saturday, that's still under TDEE and means fat loss still!
  • hkevans724
    hkevans724 Posts: 241 Member
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.

    Oh, and I'm 33 lol

    Sounds like a very active life to me. if you spend more time during the day moving then you do sitting maybe you should up your lifestyle level.
  • M3l1s5a
    M3l1s5a Posts: 69
    Dana, would you suggest for me as well??

    BMR - 1567
    TDEE - 2120

    Thanks!!!

    At that, eat about 1600 a day. Thats a 500 calorie deficit for 1 pound a week weight loss. Look at BMR as the minimum you should eat and TDEE as the maximum you should eat. If you eat in between, you will lose fat weight (water weight may vary).

    So, if you blow it and eat 2000 calories on a Saturday, that's still under TDEE and means fat loss still!

    Thank you so much!
  • danysgoal
    danysgoal Posts: 14
    Hi

    Why should I eat back my exercise calories? That way, I get up to close to 1900 calories or more when I do spinning, 1400 cal + 500 something calories from the spinning. I don't lose weight as it is!
    I'm also fairly discouraged when after tracking, the MFP says that if all my days are the same, I will weight x Pounds by July something.
    After 2 weeks of really good work, no weight loss where the site had me down by almost 5 pounds in a few weeks.
    I think this is what discourages me the most. Hoping I will loose the weight announced and seeing no result.
  • gecho
    gecho Posts: 426 Member
    Dana, would you suggest for me as well??

    BMR - 1567
    TDEE - 2120

    Thanks!!!

    At that, eat about 1600 a day. Thats a 500 calorie deficit for 1 pound a week weight loss. Look at BMR as the minimum you should eat and TDEE as the maximum you should eat. If you eat in between, you will lose fat weight (water weight may vary).

    So, if you blow it and eat 2000 calories on a Saturday, that's still under TDEE and means fat loss still!

    Dana, you seem to have a really good grasp on this can you help me as well? i need the maximum loss a week i can get!
    BMR: 1,573 calories/day*
    TDEE: 1901 (desk job)
    TDEE: 2184 (if i work out 1-3 days a week)
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.

    Oh, and I'm 33 lol

    Sounds like a very active life to me. if you spend more time during the day moving then you do sitting maybe you should up your lifestyle level.


    Well, I just upped it from lightly active to active. Even so, Its telling me to 1410 cals a day. Still 200 below my BMR. So, even if I ate 1400 calories a day, then exercise and burn 300 cals a day, and ate the calories back, I would still only be at 1700 calories a day.... almost like exercising and eating back the calories would be the ONLY thing that even got me back up to my BMR level. Sigh :( I just don't understand something.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Dana, would you suggest for me as well??

    BMR - 1567
    TDEE - 2120

    Thanks!!!

    At that, eat about 1600 a day. Thats a 500 calorie deficit for 1 pound a week weight loss. Look at BMR as the minimum you should eat and TDEE as the maximum you should eat. If you eat in between, you will lose fat weight (water weight may vary).

    So, if you blow it and eat 2000 calories on a Saturday, that's still under TDEE and means fat loss still!

    Dana, you seem to have a really good grasp on this can you help me as well? i need the maximum loss a week i can get!
    BMR: 1,573 calories/day*
    TDEE: 1901 (desk job)
    TDEE: 2184 (if i work out 1-3 days a week)

    People that want my help, please email me on here. I don't want to hijack a thread. he he.
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    Eat at a reasonable calorie deficit.

    Exercise.


    That's as simple as it gets and everything you need to know.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Personally, I would just focus on eating 1500-1800 calories a day and ignore the rest. That's enough food to supply nutritional needs and create a deficit. You are not going into "starvation mode" and, if you are doing resistance work, it is unlikely you will lose any significant lean mass (other than what naturally occurs when your body becomes smaller).

    Once you get down to 160-170 you might need to manage the balance more closely, but for now it's not necessary.
  • LFDBabs
    LFDBabs Posts: 297 Member
    Bump...same boat. All the numbers & figuring make my thinky thing hurt :)
  • stephvaile
    stephvaile Posts: 298
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.

    Oh, and I'm 33 lol

    Sounds like a very active life to me. if you spend more time during the day moving then you do sitting maybe you should up your lifestyle level.


    Well, I just upped it from lightly active to active. Even so, Its telling me to 1410 cals a day. Still 200 below my BMR. So, even if I ate 1400 calories a day, then exercise and burn 300 cals a day, and ate the calories back, I would still only be at 1700 calories a day.... almost like exercising and eating back the calories would be the ONLY thing that even got me back up to my BMR level. Sigh :( I just don't understand something.
    well is this not the amount you would av eaten doing it your way 2600 minus 1,000 = 1.600 voila you can up your activity if u like and see if it works its not hurting any :wink: you can always lower it again
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Weight loss - as you all know - is a numbers game. MFP is a TOOL to help you lose weight. What it says isn't set in stone - it is simply a starting point.

    If you're burning between 2000-3000 calories a day, I would push your daily intake up around 1800 or so and see how you feel. There's no reason to starve yourself.

    At the end of the day, you'll have to play around with the numbers (but remember.. give yourself a month or so at each calorie goal to really see how your body is reacting to it!) until you find what works best for you.

    I'm one of those people who can easily lose weight while eating around 2100-2200 NET calories a day. I can easily maintain anywhere from 2300-3000 net calories depending on how active I am that day. I weigh in the 145-150lb range and have been there for almost 2 years. It's all about finding what works for YOU.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    I don't know how or where the "don't eat below your BMR" came from. It has been practiced throughout the decades in weight loss with success. The issue is loss of muscle mass which is mostly associated with types of workouts and protein intake.

    The 2lbs a week thing is individualized, such as the TDEE is.

    Eating below BMR is technically anorexia. Please do not support eating disorders in these forums.

    My advice is very sound. I gladly explain it to each person that asks and explain what my goals are for them on an individual basis. Weight loss can occur in a healthy and controlled way. People do not need to starve themselves (yes, eating below BMR is also technically starving) in order to achieve their weight loss goals.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I am eating at 100 calories under my BMR and losing weight. Once I have been exercising a little longer, then I will eat more, but I don't have the stamina yet for that. Eating at 100 under my BMR is slightly higher number of calories than a 30% cut from TDEE.

    Edit: To clarify, I am not starving. I feel better than I have in years!
  • jesss5885
    jesss5885 Posts: 187 Member
    Care to share your stats? (age, weight etc) that you used for the calculations? Something, literally, doesn't add up.

    5' 7" , 203.8 lbs. I'm a stay at home mom (not a sit on the couch mom) I clean a 5 bedroom 2/story house daily, mow lawn, have 4 children, chase a 2 year old and infant all day... along with that I exercise 5-6 days a week extra, doing P90X and 30 day Shred, etc.

    Oh, and I'm 33 lol


    jeez you're a hero! (seriously)
    if i'm ever a stay at home mom, i hope i have the energy to get all that done on a daily basis!! :)
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    First off, MFP has never said you shouldn't eat below your BMR.

    Secondly, where did you get these numbers? The highest weight loss rate MFP offers is 2 pounds per week, or TDEE minus 1000.

    I got my BMR from the tools section, and I got my TDEE from a calculator online.
    I know its pretty accurate because I have a FitBit and know I burn on average 2600-3000 calories in a 24 hour period.
    I know 1000 cal deficit should yield 2 lbs weight loss, my confusion comes from the Cals MFP is telling me to eat vs. my BMR and TDEE numbers.

    MFP has you at 1400-ish calories BEFORE EXERCISE, am I right? So when you eat back your exercise calories, it definitely puts you at closer to the 1600, which is losing 2 pounds a week. Or, depending on your exercise, it could give you even more calories.

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