what determines calorie limit MFP gives you?

kam502
kam502 Posts: 27 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What determines the calories MFP gives you as a limit each day? I am assuming it is a combination of your weight and activity level. I have read other peoples info and they seem to have a different limit than I do. I am limited to the standard 1200 calories per day. I am not complaining other than seem to have difficulty not going over this limit by about 300 calories a day. I am not eating much, am losing but seeing that over number at the end of the day bums me out. I also have to say that I am at one month since I had knee replacement surgery so am a bit bored and stuck in the house.
Kris

Replies

  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    Essentially:
    MFP estimates your BMR based on your age, sex, and weight. This is how many calories your body needs to exist, but not move.

    Then estimates your TDEE by multiplying your BMR by and activity factor based on the answer you gave when it asks how active you are. This is how many calories you typically burn every day.

    Finally, based on how many calories you want to lose per week, it subtracts your deficit from your TDEE to give you your goal. So, for 1 lb fat/wk, you have to create a deficit of 3500 calories that week, so 3500/7 days per week = 500 per day.

    The key is that all of these numbers are estimates, so if you are losing weight and are happy with your progress, keep doing what you are doing.
  • MillerCrock
    MillerCrock Posts: 20 Member
    There are all sorts of around the house activities in the cardio data base. If you are moving at all you should be adding some of those to your exercise log. That's how I get more calories to eat. =) The 1200 is for if you are laying in bed doing nothing.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    It's weight, activity level, loss rate...

    1200 might be right for you, I don't know! What is on your goal page? What's your BME (Basal Metabolic Rate- the calories your body uses to live each day/ what you'd use if you were in a coma state)/ TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure- your BMR plus the additional calories your body uses during a normal day of normal movement.) / weight loss goal?

    Edit:

    MFP estimates that my daily calorie output is 2420. I would eat that to maintain what I am now. I want to loose 1.5 a week. Therefore, MFP deducts 500 cals a day for every pound you want to loose a week. So, my daily calorie intake -750 off that 2420. If I exercise, I'm using more cals, so I eat more.

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