Confused about calorie intake, don't feel it's enough.

sunnyside1213

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

I am at 1058. Go figure.

SHHitsKaty

I'm a total pusher of this --> http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ <-- website. Following it's cals per day I've been losing .5-2lbs a week (since I found it).... I personally set it to no exercise and eat back my workout cals. Good luck!

Thanks for this link! Although I'm a bit confused as to what it all means, it seems to have shown me that I do need to eat more 1200 as I almost burn that off on my own if I would just lay around all day.

SHHitsKaty

you probably told MFP you wanted to lose more than half a pound a week. You don't have much to lose, so taking it slower is better, and and much more do-able. Readjust your goal to a lower amount, and it will recalculate at a higher calorie limit. Mine is at 1610 a day...plus exercize...and I'm losing just fine, although I expect to have to adjust a bit as I get lower. 1200 is the default minimum MFP will assign you. Your mileage may vary.

I readjusted my goal to losing 1/2 a lbs a week and it bumped me up to 1446 calories a day instead of 1200. We'll see how this works for me for the next 3 weeks!

XXXMinnieXXX

With 10 pounds you lose, you should only be aiming for a half pound a week, which will give you more calories.

Larger calorie deficits, ie aiming to lose 2 pounds a week, is best for those with more than 75 pounds to lose. You don't have enough excess body fat to support that kind of deficit. Probably around 1500-1600 plus exercise calories would be ideal.

Most likely this^^. Adjust your weekly goal to half a pound and see how many calories it gives you.

3rd this...

psuLemon

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

Does this include exercise or not?

SHHitsKaty

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

Does this include exercise or not?

I put exercising 3-5 times a day, because that's typically what I do.

TheRealParisLove

Decrease carbs and increase protein. When you have so few available calories, you need to get the most bang for your buck. Nutrient dense foods rule the day. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and stay away from anything that is even remotely processed. Anything with flour as an ingredient has to go except for cheat days. Also, whole grain foods need to be limited as well as starchy vegetables (potatoes and corn mostly).

psuLemon

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

Does this include exercise or not?

I put exercising 3-5 times a day, because that's typically what I do.

So it told you to eat 1750 calories, try that for awhile and see how it works. Also, depending on your current stats, you may or may not be able to lose more weight. You look pretty thin in your profile. Do you know your body fat? If you haven't, you may want to look at the link below.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/684493-how-to-determine-weight-goal?hl=how+to:+determine&amp;page=1#posts-10001020

SHHitsKaty

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

Does this include exercise or not?

I put exercising 3-5 times a day, because that's typically what I do.

So it told you to eat 1750 calories, try that for awhile and see how it works. Also, depending on your current stats, you may or may not be able to lose more weight. You look pretty thin in your profile. Do you know your body fat? If you haven't, you may want to look at the link below.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/684493-how-to-determine-weight-goal?hl=how+to:+determine&amp;page=1#posts-10001020

I mean, I am by no means overweight and probably by most peoples standards they would say (and most have said) you look fine and don't need to lose weight. Like I said, 10 lbs, 15 lbs lost would be great for me, I'd love to tone up as well as I cheered and did gymnastics in high school and was 90 lbs soaking wet till I turned 21 and now at 25 I'm 138 and pudgy and have the stubborn lower stomach pooch that I will attribute completely to my ability to drink A LOT.

SHHitsKaty

I'm 5'0 and on 1200 a day. My BMR is 1380. I sit in my office all day, but at the same time, I'm running around this building all day too.

I feel like 1200 is PLENTY *for me*. I eat food that fills me up and will supply me with enough energy to work out for 1.5 - 2 hours 5 to 6 times a week. There have only been 2 days I "ate back" some of my work out calories.

Realistically, I shouldn't lose more than 10 lbs. 10 & I will be happy with my body which is ALL that matters. Sometimes i think my scale is on crack anyhow.

One more thing... cut out the beer I have only had a few days where I've had anything alcoholic. I saved calories for a "treat" and I felt like COMPLETE crap the next day. i didn't even have enough to get me buzzed and I just felt gross. The alcohol "fun" isn't worth the hard work I've dedicated.

If you'd like to look at my diary, feel free to friend me!

The HARDEST part for me is cutting out the alcohol, ESPECIALLY in the summer. My weekends are spent drinking by my pool, going out once it gets to be too late to lay by the pool where I continue to drink.

I'm a huge sports fan, NFL, MLB, I have season tickets to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati Reds, tailgating comes around, Reds games come around and I'll drink 3-5 beers before ever going into the game, then another 3-5 in the game, THEN if I'm not TOO drunk, we'll go to the bar after. I wish I could place myself around friends that aren't total booze hounds but unfortunately, that's all I've found to be my friends and it's either don't hang with them at all or go to the bar where it's temptation city!

I feel like this makes me sound like I have a drinking problem, let me add, that once I have other things to do, my drinking reduces drastically. I've stopped completely for 3 whole months before, when I'm in school (just started classes today) I RARELY go out which is how I got straight A's last semester, lol. It's just in the summer or on Sunday's when it's football day, all will power goes out the window.

nxd10

just set a lower target weight loss if it's too low for you, and/or increase your activity level.

I think 1200 can be a bad number, as it's high enough to stall some and the maths goes a bit wrong for small folks.

I agree. If you're not happy, go to half pound a week. And eat those exercise calories!

I would also use your calories wisely. A few nuts or other high protein snack will help you feel less hungry. Trying to keep my carb calories under 50% has also helped me feel less hungry.

Read your diary carefully. What are the big calorie items you can drop? I wound up dropping sugar, cake, cookies, bread, and rice. And now it's actually hard for me to hit my 1300 and I often net way lower, even though I only walk for exercise.

You might also switch from beer to something with fewer calories.

SHHitsKaty

just set a lower target weight loss if it's too low for you, and/or increase your activity level.

I think 1200 can be a bad number, as it's high enough to stall some and the maths goes a bit wrong for small folks.

I agree. If you're not happy, go to half pound a week. And eat those exercise calories!

I would also use your calories wisely. A few nuts or other high protein snack will help you feel less hungry. Trying to keep my carb calories under 50% has also helped me feel less hungry.

Read your diary carefully. What are the big calorie items you can drop? I wound up dropping sugar, cake, cookies, bread, and rice. And now it's actually hard for me to hit my 1300 and I often net way lower, even though I only walk for exercise.

You might also switch from beer to something with fewer calories.

The thing with the beer or really any alcoholic beverage is, it never just stops at one with me, so no matter WHAT I switch to, I'll just end up drinking enough to where it doesn't really matter anyway that I switched. Well, not all the time, but when I go out, I go out, it's not just a 1 or 2 at dinner with a friend type deal.

SHHitsKaty

Girl.. I totally get the drinking thing. I am definitely NOT an alcoholic, but I do binge drink. There's a country song called "The more I drink" and it is me to a damn T!
I do the whole pool thing on the weekend & just fill myself up with water first. I went to a concert the other night & I only had 2 shots and 1.5 beers. I thought I was going to throw the shots up.

You just have to keep telling yourself it isn't worth it. If you can't have just one (or three)... then don't have any at all. When your clothes start fitting better & you feel amazing, you will say F U to booze

I'm almost to that exact point!

Thanks! I'm glad someone else gets it. When I talk about it, I feel like people think I'm an alcoholic. I go all week and don't drink till Friday night and Saturday night but it's just WHEN I do, it doesn't really stop, haha. I love that song that you mentioned by the way! My biggest down falls are concerts, sporting events. I went to Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan last Thursday and did pretty good, I think. BUT then I went to the Reds game the next day and had 4 beers there, which for me, only 4 is good but when coupled with having just drank the night before, not so great on the body.

Thanks for the input and help!!

escloflowneCHANGED

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

My friend has a desk job, she was eating 1200 calories a day and not losing weight. She bumped it up to 1800 + eating back exercise calories, she started losing 1 lb a week after that. She is 5'1" and 135lbs. She also has a desk job so I would recommend trying this.

SHHitsKaty

Figure out your TDEE and subract 20%. This has really been working for me. Try this site...

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

I wasnt losing on 1200 either. I hope this helps!

Doing this, I came to about 1776.

My friend has a desk job, she was eating 1200 calories a day and not losing weight. She bumped it up to 1800 + eating back exercise calories, she started losing 1 lb a week after that. She is 5'1" and 135lbs. She also has a desk job so I would recommend trying this.

Thanks so much!!

psuLemon

just set a lower target weight loss if it's too low for you, and/or increase your activity level.

I think 1200 can be a bad number, as it's high enough to stall some and the maths goes a bit wrong for small folks.

I agree. If you're not happy, go to half pound a week. And eat those exercise calories!

I would also use your calories wisely. A few nuts or other high protein snack will help you feel less hungry. Trying to keep my carb calories under 50% has also helped me feel less hungry.

Read your diary carefully. What are the big calorie items you can drop? I wound up dropping sugar, cake, cookies, bread, and rice. And now it's actually hard for me to hit my 1300 and I often net way lower, even though I only walk for exercise.

You might also switch from beer to something with fewer calories.

The thing with the beer or really any alcoholic beverage is, it never just stops at one with me, so no matter WHAT I switch to, I'll just end up drinking enough to where it doesn't really matter anyway that I switched. Well, not all the time, but when I go out, I go out, it's not just a 1 or 2 at dinner with a friend type deal.

Well at some point it comes down to, whats more important, the body or the beer. I see it all the time, especially with women, that can cut fat due to alcohol comsumption. Its a toxin that your metabolsim to slow down for in order to eliminate the toxin from the body. And when you eat, you increase the chance of those calories turning to fat.

SHHitsKaty

just set a lower target weight loss if it's too low for you, and/or increase your activity level.

I think 1200 can be a bad number, as it's high enough to stall some and the maths goes a bit wrong for small folks.

I agree. If you're not happy, go to half pound a week. And eat those exercise calories!

I would also use your calories wisely. A few nuts or other high protein snack will help you feel less hungry. Trying to keep my carb calories under 50% has also helped me feel less hungry.

Read your diary carefully. What are the big calorie items you can drop? I wound up dropping sugar, cake, cookies, bread, and rice. And now it's actually hard for me to hit my 1300 and I often net way lower, even though I only walk for exercise.

You might also switch from beer to something with fewer calories.

The thing with the beer or really any alcoholic beverage is, it never just stops at one with me, so no matter WHAT I switch to, I'll just end up drinking enough to where it doesn't really matter anyway that I switched. Well, not all the time, but when I go out, I go out, it's not just a 1 or 2 at dinner with a friend type deal.

Well at some point it comes down to, whats more important, the body or the beer. I see it all the time, especially with women, that can cut fat due to alcohol comsumption. Its a toxin that your metabolsim to slow down for in order to eliminate the toxin from the body. And when you eat, you increase the chance of those calories turning to fat.

I'd rather instead of cutting it out completely, just finally grow out of my "20's" lifestyle of party, party, party and do things in moderation. But I'm still young and in completely normal body weight average for someone my age and height so I'm just going to be more healthy about it, do it in moderation and not look back 15 years from now and be like, "wow, I really wish I had done that or this.. but I didn't..because I was dieting.."