New and confused

Lialena

Hi all,

I started using MFP a week ago and have been reading the forum postings and sites from the links shared, and am finding myself at a loss as to what is best to do to loose weight.

I'm 34 (35 in two weeks so that's the age I use in the calculators), 5'8, and I think I'm 300-350lb (our scale is old and only goes to 250, haven't weighed myself in years, I'm buying a new one but it's not here yet). My goal is 140.

Using 350 for the sake of estimates, and wanting to loose 2lb a week, MFP put my kcals at 1920.
My BMR is 2332 per http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/bmr-calculation.php
My TDEE is 2794 per http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
TDEE - 20% is 2235, less then BMR.

For the calculators I used the lowest options for how active I am. I work from home and tend to only be up and about to let the dog out, get a couple things done around the house, and to get meals. The rest of the time I'm working at my desk or watching TV.

I consider myself a complete beginner to dieting. I grew up hearing about how yo-yo dieting and fads were ultimately not effective and could be harmful, so other then periods of resolve to eat more salads and drink less soda I haven't dieted. A factor in that are my allergies. I have a lot of them so the handful of programs and diet books I've looked into I've had to rule out because I couldn't follow the meal plans. The idea of MFP just having a calorie target and being able to eat (more or less) what I want to up to that point is far more doable.

This past week I've eaten between 1400-1900 most days, until I learned about the TDEE minus a percentage method, that eating too low could stall you out, etc, etc, so for the moment I've stopped watching calories while I figure out what is healthy and effective.

Which brings me to wondering if it's really just that simple to eat up to, and at least, a particular number? I've seen people mention that exercise isn't needed if you can't or don't want to work out. If that's true then I have some hope that even with my bad knees I can start to drop some weight.
If that's possible, I'm interested in your recommendations as to what my target calories should be. Is the TDEE- 20% to high or too low? Should I stick with the MFP 1920?
Also, how important are my food choices? Some have said to eat whatever will fit within the budget and you'd loose, others have said what you eat matters and pay attention to the macros. I get the sense that both can be true in their ways, but probably eating for the macros is better? Trying to work around the allergies will be a challenge, but if it's best I'd give it a shot.

I look forward to your thoughts on the above, thanks for the help