What to set my calorie goal to? Suggestions?

Erykah3584

Hello! I just figured out my TDEE and need some suggestions on what to set my calorie goal to. When set for sedetary, my suggested calorie intake is 1322, lightly active = 1537, and moderately active = 1733. These are with a 20% decrease of my TDEE. I am a stay at home mom and I exercise 5-6 days a week. I do both cardio and strength training and my daily burns range from 300-500+. My question is, should I just set my calorie goal to 1733 and not eat back my exercise calories or should I set it to 1322 and eat them back? Thanks!

Erykah3584

Please? lol

KristyHumphrey

I'm at a loss girl. MFP puts mine at 1400 - Lose it at 1767 - I'm starving at 1400.

This is a long read but good info that may help!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

sarahg148

I'd say to eat the 1733 and give it a few weeks and see how you lose. You can always go up or down if you have to. I'm happier so far knowing I can eat a bit more. What I actually did was find out what my TDEE and BMR would be if I was already at goal, and am eating a few hundred calories under my TDEE. I've only been doing it for almost two weeks. I'm going to do it for another 8 weeks or so and see how the scale reacts. My TDEE (for 148) at "moderately active" is 2240 or so and my BMR is about 1450...so I'm eating about 1950-2000 cal/day and still working out 3-5 times/wk. I'm hoping to lose .6-1.0 lb/wk doing this. I only have about 15-20 lbs to go...so really in no hurry. As long as the scale keeps going down.

DesignGrrl

Isn't it kinda 6 of one and half a dozen of the other? If you eat 1733 and exercise, then your net is between 1200-1400. If you eat 1322 and eat back your exercise calories, then you also have a similar net?

Julettashane

im glad this question was asked!! my BMR is1262 and TDEE is 1735....MFP set my cal a day to 1200 should i bump it up and to what should it go to. when i work out i burn 300-400cal a day

KristyHumphrey

I'd say to eat the 1733 and give it a few weeks and see how you lose. You can always go up or down if you have to. I'm happier so far knowing I can eat a bit more. What I actually did was find out what my TDEE and BMR would be if I was already at goal, and am eating a few hundred calories under my TDEE. I've only been doing it for almost two weeks. I'm going to do it for another 8 weeks or so and see how the scale reacts. My TDEE (for 148) at "moderately active" is 2240 or so and my BMR is about 1450...so I'm eating about 1950-2000 cal/day and still working out 3-5 times/wk. I'm hoping to lose .6-1.0 lb/wk doing this. I only have about 15-20 lbs to go...so really in no hurry. As long as the scale keeps going down.

That's a great idea! I'm going to try that!

Erykah3584

Isn't it kinda 6 of one and half a dozen of the other? If you eat 1733 and exercise, then your net is between 1200-1400. If you eat 1322 and eat back your exercise calories, then you also have a similar net?

Yes, I see what you mean! :laugh:

sarahg148

Juletta: I'd say eat around 1500 cal/day and keep up the exercise. For myself, I just kept messing up with trying to stay at 1600 cal/day and eating back exercise calories and trying to plan out my food for the day. If I couldn't get to the gym and I'd already eaten 1600 cal by 5pm then I'd be starving at midnight. So I just decided to find out my goal TDEE and BMR and eat just below the TDEE. I figured I'd eventually get to goal weight doing that and not have to fret over "going over" my calories for the day. My numbers also already take into account my activity level...so I don't eat anymore than the 1900-2000 cal/day. I may eat a bit less if I'm not as hungry one day. But I didn't get here by eating TOO little. If I'm hungry for more, then at this point I know it's more of an emotional WANT to eat vs NEED to eat due to actual physical hunger. I think it's working so far for me.