Can anyone help with calorie goal please?

Checkiy

Sorry, I should actually be able to work this out myself I'm sure but the more I read the more confused I get!

I'm female, 37, weigh 154lbs and I'm 5ft 5". My BMR is 1450 and my TDEE is 1740. I'm not allowed to exercise for about a month due to some minor surgery. How many daily calories should I aim for to lose weight? I'm aiming for 135lbs eventually and I'm happy to take my time over this.

Any help gratefully received!

melaniecheeks

Anywhere between your BMR and TDEE should result in weight loss.

I would start at 1500-1550 and see how you go from there. Make sure you record everything in your diary so that you have enough data to analyse after you've been trying for a few weeks.

Checkiy

That's great, thank you. I used to run lots and therefore not worry about calories. It's a mine field!

robpett2001

Hi,

That's what the MFP "Goals" section is all about -- enter all those numbers in there, tell it how many pounds you want to lose per week, and presto-chango, it gives you a daily calorie target. Track your food and your exercise, and try to end every day as close to "0 Calories Remaining". Then, as melaniecheeks said, review your food diary every few weeks to see if you need to make any small adjustments.

Best wishes, and I hope your surgery goes even more smoothly than anyone expects!

squishy2981

If you BMR is 1450, for the month that you cannot exercise, you cannot go over 1450 calories a day with no exercise. If you are trying to lose weight while not being able to exercise, you could probably safely cut about 250 calories a day from the 1450 which would result in a half-pound loss per week and take you down to a 1200 calorie allowance per day. When you get back to working out after surgery, you need to look at calories remaining each day. With a combination of cutting calories and exercising, you should attempt for 500 calories remaining each day, which would result in one pound of fat lost per week.

jzammetti

If you BMR is 1450, for the month that you cannot exercise, you cannot go over 1450 calories a day with no exercise. If you are trying to lose weight while not being able to exercise, you could probably safely cut about 250 calories a day from the 1450 which would result in a half-pound loss per week and take you down to a 1200 calorie allowance per day. When you get back to working out after surgery, you need to look at calories remaining each day. With a combination of cutting calories and exercising, you should attempt for 500 calories remaining each day, which would result in one pound of fat lost per week.

With all due respect, you should never eat below your BMR. Your BMR is the minimum number of calories necessary to support healthy organ function.

I would shoot for somewhere between BMR and TDEE and see how it goes for a few weeks, then adjust as necessary.

AnvilHead

If you BMR is 1450, for the month that you cannot exercise, you cannot go over 1450 calories a day with no exercise. If you are trying to lose weight while not being able to exercise, you could probably safely cut about 250 calories a day from the 1450 which would result in a half-pound loss per week and take you down to a 1200 calorie allowance per day. When you get back to working out after surgery, you need to look at calories remaining each day. With a combination of cutting calories and exercising, you should attempt for 500 calories remaining each day, which would result in one pound of fat lost per week.

I think you meant TDEE, not BMR. TDEE is your maintenance calories, and the figure you need to subtract your deficit from.

Checkiy

Thanks people, have updated my 'goals' and I'm good to go!