Not Losing Weight - MFP calorie counter correct?

dallas4u

So - I tried that Scooby Calculator and here were the numbers.

BMR - 1305 calories
TDEE - 2251 calories
Daily calorie (based on Step 6) -1850 calories (Note- I plugged in 5-6 hours a week/strenuous exercise PLUS a goal of losing fat with a 20% calorie reduction. I have a desk job. However, I do work out strenously 4-6 times a week. When I go to the gym, I like to do a class like body pump or cxworks and then elliptical. I love the elliptical and cannot get enough of it).

I am very suspicious of those numbers except the 1305. Moreover, because of my short stature, I really have to be careful. I have the type of metabolism that if I look at a french fry, I could easily lose weight. My build is like Kim Kardashian so I have to watch everything.

dallas4u

OMG; that scoobyworkshop calculator can't be right. It says I should be eating 2100 calories to lose TDEE-20%. Nonononononononono! That will never work. Never in a million years!

That is what I thought. There are so many calculators out there I am overwhelmed. lol.

Railr0aderTony

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

Read this and follow it and you will lose weight. listen to them or someone who has lost weight? your choice.

angieleighbyrd

i think you may be over estimating your calories burned.

chrisosgood

Has anyone mentioned possible muscle gain? You say you are taking a bodypump and cx worx class. How are your clothes fitting? Have you had your body fat taken? You may not see the scale move or see it go up at first especially if you are building muscle back up. been there, done that.

dallas4u

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

Read this and follow it and you will lose weight. listen to them or someone who has lost weight? your choice.

BOOKMARKED!!!!! I will check it out.

larnsperger

Hi, for what it's worth, I started here May 2012. I started out with 1200 calories on doctor's recommendation. I was pre diabetic, and I already deal with heart failure. So the last thing I needed was diabetes. My cardiologist told me to start at 1200 calories and walk 30 minutes per day. Which is exactly what I did, some days I didn't get my walk in but I tried really hard to do it most days. Losing was slow....... I'm 54 and post menopausal so losing isn't near as fast or easy as it had been in the past for me. In August I signed up for cross-fit training twice per week with a friend, and walked or got on the elliptical for 20 minutes on other days. It paid off by December 2012 I had lost 35 lbs. and 25+ inches! I have since received a Heart Rate Monitor (Christmas gift) and reached maintenance. I raised my calories to 1530 per day. I've successfully maintained the weight loss and I am in the best shape physically since I was diagnosed with the heart issue in 1999 and gave up running and lifting. I tried the EMTWL (eat more to weigh less) way of life it just didn't work for me, though lots of people have had success with that way of life. I would highly recommend a heart rate monitor as the calorie burn on most equipment and what is in the data base on MFP are guesses at best. The HRM is based on your height and weight, age. The cross-fit training ended in January (really pricey) and I was on my own using the elliptical and weights. In February I started Pure Barre classes. Love it! I wore my HRM and I consistently burn between 413- 465 calories per 55 minute workout. It's much easier on the heart than cross-fit. Weight loss is a very personal journey and everyone is different, what works for me isn't going to work for everyone and tips that work for others don't work for me. You have to be patient, and tweak your program. When eating 1200-1500 calories, you really have to make sure they count. Chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, avocados, olive oil, green vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, low fat dairy and lots of water. You can run out of food and fuel very quickly eating more processed foods. Stick with it and keep trying different ideas, you will find what works for you.

missymuffet

Hi, for what it's worth, I started here May 2012. I started out with 1200 calories on doctor's recommendation. I was pre diabetic, and I already deal with heart failure. So the last thing I needed was diabetes. My cardiologist told me to start at 1200 calories and walk 30 minutes per day. Which is exactly what I did, some days I didn't get my walk in but I tried really hard to do it most days. Losing was slow....... I'm 54 and post menopausal so losing isn't near as fast or easy as it had been in the past for me. In August I signed up for cross-fit training twice per week with a friend, and walked or got on the elliptical for 20 minutes on other days. It paid off by December 2012 I had lost 35 lbs. and 25+ inches! I have since received a Heart Rate Monitor (Christmas gift) and reached maintenance. I raised my calories to 1530 per day. I've successfully maintained the weight loss and I am in the best shape physically since I was diagnosed with the heart issue in 1999 and gave up running and lifting. I tried the EMTWL (eat more to weigh less) way of life it just didn't work for me, though lots of people have had success with that way of life. I would highly recommend a heart rate monitor as the calorie burn on most equipment and what is in the data base on MFP are guesses at best. The HRM is based on your height and weight, age. The cross-fit training ended in January (really pricey) and I was on my own using the elliptical and weights. In February I started Pure Barre classes. Love it! I wore my HRM and I consistently burn between 413- 465 calories per 55 minute workout. It's much easier on the heart than cross-fit. Weight loss is a very personal journey and everyone is different, what works for me isn't going to work for everyone and tips that work for others don't work for me. You have to be patient, and tweak your program. When eating 1200-1500 calories, you really have to make sure they count. Chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, avocados, olive oil, green vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, low fat dairy and lots of water. You can run out of food and fuel very quickly eating more processed foods. Stick with it and keep trying different ideas, you will find what works for you.

Dallas this is the best advice anyone can give you..........be patient.............experiment and find your own 'sweet spot'........for weight loss. I am still trying to find mine but found out quickly I could not maintain eating at 1200 cals a day for an extended period of time. Everyone is so different and you will find what works for you if you just stick with it. Feel free to add me!! Good luck!
Missy

HCGonzalezJr87

You need to find your base first. You can search online or you can set your goal on MFP to maintain weight. Then, record that number, and edit your goal again to lose 2lbs per week.

Example
My base is 2490 calories a day to maintain.
To lose 2lbs per week, I need to have a 1,000 calorie per day deficit.
1490 calories if I don't work out. If I do work out I log it and MFP will add what I burnt to my daily goal, about 2100 calories.
I have done this in the past and lost 2lbs per week on average. This week I lost 2.6lbs.

Also, try a 40/40/20 diet. 40% carbs, protein, and 20% fat and eat every 3 hours. I usually have about 5 meals per day. And MFP default exercise calories might be higher than what you are burning. If you use a machine at the gym, enter your weight to get a close estimate.

symonspatrick

Have you started exercising more than before? I have found that whenever I increase my exercise my body holds onto more water in my muscles and it shows up as weight gain on the scale. If 1500 worked for you before then that may be a good place to start with your calories. I would not eat back exercise calories unless you don't have enough energy to continue your workouts.

dallas4u

Well there definity is a lot of information out there about nutrition and training. It is very overwhelming. I think my plan of attack will be to purchase a HRM that has a calorie counter built into the watch. I found a Polar HRM w/ those features. I do not want a HRM with all the bells and whistles - just HRM and calorie count.

Then, I am going to set my calorie counter on MFP manually to 1600 calories.

I just started in the past month and have been so desperate to lose. I think the culprit was eating back calories and inaccurate calorie counts with exercising. I think MFP and even the machines at the gym overestimate how many calories are really burned. I do use the Precor ellipticals with the HRM on the handles - however, I still think it may estimate too high (even though I do put my age and weight into the machine).

If my approach does not work, then I may try the Scooby approach. I guess you just have to keep trying until something works.

Railr0aderTony

Well there definity is a lot of information out there about nutrition and training. It is very overwhelming. I think my plan of attack will be to purchase a HRM that has a calorie counter built into the watch. I found a Polar HRM w/ those features. I do not want a HRM with all the bells and whistles - just HRM and calorie count.

Then, I am going to set my calorie counter on MFP manually to 1600 calories.

I just started in the past month and have been so desperate to lose. I think the culprit was eating back calories and inaccurate calorie counts with exercising. I think MFP and even the machines at the gym overestimate how many calories are really burned. I do use the Precor ellipticals with the HRM on the handles - however, I still think it may estimate too high (even though I do put my age and weight into the machine).

If my approach does not work, then I may try the Scooby approach. I guess you just have to keep trying until something works.

the nice thing about the Precor elliptical is that it will read your polar HRM, I use one here at work and have a Polar Ft7. The Precor reads from my chest strap, so i do not have to look at the watch to see my heart rate, but you are right, it gives me about 100+ extra calories burnt over my HRM, so get one it is a good investment.