Help... I am confused

mevers11
mevers11 Posts: 1 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I started this a week ago and have lost 4 pounds. My goal is 1.5lbs per week; I have 20 lbs to loose, but want to do it the right way, event if that mean losing less per week. Here is where I am confused.

I have been eating 1200 calories. This is the minimum recommended for someone with my lifestyle (desk job), height, and current weight based on my fitness goals. When I reach my goal weight, the maintenance calories are 1800; so right now I am eating a 600 calorie deficit. However, I have also started working out 5 times a week burning anywhere from 250-600 calories a day depending on the intensity of my workout.

I don't want my body to go into the "starvation mode"/slowing metabolism. I also don't want to use that as an excuse to up the calories I eat if it is not necessary. I have not been hungry at all during this week; probably because I am eating right with small healthy meals and snacks between.

So my questions are:

1. Should I only be looking at the calories I eat and not pay attention to the net?
2. Is it healthy to have a 600 calorie deficit (in my case) after my workout is figured in?

Replies

  • jenlarz
    jenlarz Posts: 813 Member
    You want to be netting the 1200, minimum-the opion on intake varies greatly on here though but if you want your body to function properly and be at it's best you don't want to go too low on the calories. If you use the search you will find lots and lots of posts about this with many opinions. :)
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    My opinion and experience - if you're set at 1200, you should be eating back enough to NET at least 1200. MFP already has you at a deficit at 1200 per day, and if you burn 300 calories and don't eat those back, your net is now 900 for the day, which is a huge deficit, and really a pretty low amount of calories.

    Personally, I've found this topic to be very helpful: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Great info and tools to calculate your goals, BMR & TDEE. I make sure to never net below my BMR (because really, why not at least give your body the amount of fuel it needs to exist in a coma?? :tongue:), and I know as along as I'm consuming an amount that falls in between my BMR and my TDEE, I'll still lose the fat. Not eating enough gives the body a reason to hold onto the fat, and that definitely not one of my goals! :)

    Check out that thread - tons of info, but good stuff, and a great companion for the tools here at MFP.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories