New & more I read the more confused I become..Help??

pkingfox
pkingfox Posts: 25
in Health and Weight Loss
I have recently, last week, started to get healthier and more fit. You can get more details from bio if needed....however I have put all pertinent info into MFP and it's telling me 1200 cals/day intake. From most of what I am reading - needing to loose 30-40 lbs - the rate of 1.5/week isn't bad...or is it not healthy? I seem to running at a deficit of 450-900 daily. Should I increase my caloric intake? i want to make changes which will last both in my diet and fitness. I am in the middle of a move now to FL where I know that I will be much more active on a daily basis given I will be out on the beach most days with my kids. I just don't want to drop alot of weight to have it all come back. My family is on board with our becoming more healthy in our diets - so that helps too. No more fast food, pre-packaged fast things to eat. Any ideas, insight or advice will gladly be taken....PLEASE! Thanks - Patti

Replies

  • michelle7673
    michelle7673 Posts: 370 Member
    Hi Patti -- I am losing at 1.5 pounds a week, and started at about 40 to lose. But I have MFP set to losing 1 a week, and I net about 1400 a day, I think. My number is actually set to 1500. I do eat most of my exercise calories back, which, especially with a number that low, you should, I think.
    I'm guessing that when I get a little further the rate will slow a bit. I've lost about 15 since the 3d week in Feb. But I will be ok with that. I think the slower rate maximizes fat loss, which makes it look like more anyway.
    Florida sounds great and I'm sure you will be more active there -- tough to be active outside on a rainy NoVA day like today !!
    Feel free to add me as a friend if you like!
    Michelle
  • Live4theLift
    Live4theLift Posts: 329
    Welcome to MFP, First off MFP only calculates your Base Metabolic Rate. That is how many calories your body burns by just operating or in other words you will burn all of that by laying in bed all day. You need to calculate your TDEE or Total Daily Energy Expenditure. You can do this from many online calculators like http://www.doyoueven.com/tdee/. I find that to be my favorite. What that is is basically during your daily routine of walking cleaning sleeping ect your body burns calories and it gives you the number you need to eat to stay the same. If you drop that number by 20% and eat at a deficit you will lose your weight and do it in the healthiest way possible.

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