Question about Settings

deprek

So I logged in a weight loss today (I'm at 18 pounds) and MFP said that I've lost over 10 pounds since starting and asked me if I'd like them to automatically calculate a new goal.

Now I put in sedentary into the settings and then eat back most of my exercise calories because my exercise up to this point has been sporadic so I don't want to commit to a certain amount (and I assume if I put a certain amount in then it will add those calories already).

BUT, I lost 100 calories a day. Now, I guess this means if I want to eat more than I definitely need to do some form of exercise so I get the extra calories.

My question is does this seem right? If so, then as I lose more weight, I will have to decrease the amount of calories I consume per day in order to get to my goal right. But then when I get there and go on maintenance, then I would get more calories back to maintain????

I'm so confused. I've calculated what I think my calories should be on other websites and where I was (1750) seemed to be right for me to get to my goal weight at a lose of 1 1/2 pounds per week. One other site said to eat like the person you want to become so I assumed I'd be eating at this rate going forward.

Some days I find it hard to stay within my limits and I eat almost every calorie I get so I can't imagine losing 100 cals a day. On the other hand, I eat things that others probably don't eat so I could easily give something up to cut out those 100 calories.

I just want to make sure this makes sense. Thanks.

Julie_Donahue

One of the "benefits" of losing weight is a lowered calorie amount. But your body needs more calories to carry around a 300 body (doing no exercise) than it takes to carry around a 200 body (doing no exercise). I remember when my sister did WW, and lost a bunch of weight and was rewarded with fewer points.

What you might have to do is start replacing some of those more unhealthy foods with others. Try making simple substitutions.

Here is a link to some swaps (save 100 calories). (Just google "swap 100 calories" and you'll find a bunch!)
http://weightloss.about.com/od/caloriecounting/qt/cut100calories.htm

There are also some great visuals that show what 100 calories looks like. 9 jelly beans or a banana? Which would fill you up more? Here's one of those charts.
http://todayiwill.com/2012/02/what-does-100-calories-look-like-2/#.UWBcJY78rNA

DisappearingTwinkie

It is a learning process. I am on 1380 a day. Julie has it right, your body needs less, now is a time of new habits that need to be formed, and it can be difficult. Little omissions like no cheese on that sandwich you can barely taste it on anyways, or little things like that.

It takes time to adjust and becomes a big mental battle with yourself to realize you don't NEED that extra 100 calories anymore. Good job hun, and I am here if you need to talk!

Tansy98

Thanks for posting this, I've been wondering about that as well. My goals were reset today too and my first thought was 'oh no, I'm down 60 cals? How will I manage that?' - even though I often don't eat them all anyway (I just like knowing they were there if I wanted to lol) :laugh:

DisappearingTwinkie

It is a good thing to see, but my addiction to food kicks in and it does not like it at all so I always have to remind myself of the positive side of them going down

Aellyn

Funny that this was posted. I just had this conversation with my sister the other day. Your body needs a certain amount of calories to maintain daily body functions (brain, heart, etc.). When you are losing weight, we reduce the total number of calories to allow calorie burn. Once you get to goal and begin maintaining your weight, you do get more callories than you had the week before when you were still in loss mode. You will be at the calories you need so that your body can maintain your goal weight and stop losing weight. I know it doesn't make sense but it's how the body works.