How seriously does one take MFPs caloric intake suggestions?
SweetlyVague
Posts: 172 Member
MFP suggests I eat about 1300 calories a day, but on every single other type of "How many calories should I be eating?" has suggested quite a bit more, even under the "If you want to lose weight..." category. I do honestly feel like it's quite a struggle to keep my intake that low, but I do manage.
I'm 5'2", about 155 lbs and I exercise about 4 times a week for an hour to an hour and a half.
What do you guys think?
I'm 5'2", about 155 lbs and I exercise about 4 times a week for an hour to an hour and a half.
What do you guys think?
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Replies
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Its suggested I do 1200. I believe the starvation amount is under 1100, so they keep you a little above to keep your metabolism going, but I find it pretty easy to reach 1200 and sometimes even a little bit under. If you eat 3 400 calorie meals, then you're good. And in your case, you could do 2 400 calorie meals and 1 500. Eating smarter, not less is key
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I've found that sticking to it pretty close has gotten me results. I don't freak out if I go over by 100-200, and if I'm actually hungry (and not just bored and THINK I'm hungry) then I'll definitely eat something.
Because of the success I've had so far I like to take the goal fairly seriously. Some people, though, can eat a lot more with the same kinds of results, so hopefully one of them will answer and tell you how, haha.0 -
MFP suggests I eat about 1300 calories a day, but on every single other type of "How many calories should I be eating?" has suggested quite a bit more, even under the "If you want to lose weight..." category. I do honestly feel like it's quite a struggle to keep my intake that low, but I do manage.
I'm 5'2", about 155 lbs and I exercise about 4 times a week for an hour to an hour and a half.
What do you guys think?
MFP actually suggests that you eat 1300/day PLUS the calories you burn when you exercise. These two things together go to make up your total daily calorie recommendation.
Most other calorie estimations include exercise already, but MFP asks you to add exercise as you do it, so your daily cals are probably going to be higher than 1300.
As for "how seriously to take it" - they are all estimates. Pick a number (the one MFP suggests is a good place to start, but make sure you eat extra when you exercise) and try that for a month or so. Then you are in a position to evaluate how fast or slow you are losing weight and decide whether to keep going as you are or if you need to change things around.0 -
My maintenance is pretty accurate to what it tells me to do. But I always eat my burn calories back, and I exercise every day, so while I maintain at 1470, I am actually eating closer to 1900 in food most days while in maintenance mode.0
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As for "how seriously to take it" - they are all estimates. Pick a number (the one MFP suggests is a good place to start, but make sure you eat extra when you exercise) and try that for a month or so. Then you are in a position to evaluate how fast or slow you are losing weight and decide whether to keep going as you are or if you need to change things around.
Well said.0 -
I try to stick with a net of 1,400-1,700...I aim to at least eat my BMR. It's been working well for me so far. I'm also 5'3, 127 pounds, and I work out 2-4 days a week for about an hour if that helps. 0
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I take it very serious as it has worked great for me, I have followed what MFP set for me from the start and adjusted as i lost.0
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It told me to eat 1200 and I have heaps to lose. Others have told me higher so that as you lose weight you have somewhere to drop down to in calories. I try to follow the 1200 but if I go over it abit I don't worry too much as long as I am losing weight.. Good luck.0
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People seem to forget that all these numbers are based on 100 year old math formulas. They are far from infallible and really only give you a rough idea. That is, of course assuming you put your faith in the science behind those formulas.0
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I set my own, at my TDEE for my goal weight. Even then, MFP was giving me far too few calories. A LOT of people have told me that MFP underestimates what you need, and I totally agree.0
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It took me a while to find the "magic number". The scale didn't budge for about eight weeks while I was experimenting with MFP's number vs. TDEE's number. It was SO frustrating, but I finally nailed it when I started eating between 1400 - 1700 calories per day and brought my carbs down to 25%. I've been losing consistently for the past six or seven weeks.0
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I'm 5'2 and eating 1200 calories. I have a desk job 9-5 so dont get a lot of exercise. I want to lose @7 Kg and eat back some of my exercise calories. I go to the gym 3 times a week for 3 different types of classes. I think im eating a well balanced diet but wait is coming off very slowly. My diary is open and any advice is welcome
*Weight :yawn:0 -
MFP's numbers work great for me. You have to remember that MFP sets them low because you are expected to eat your exercise calories back. Most other sites have them added in your daily goal already.0
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I've stuck to what MFP suggested and it has worked for me. I'm short and only had 20 pounds to lose, and I've lost the weight slowly so I'm happy with what I'm doing. If I increased my calorie allowance a lot, I would soon be where I was when I was putting all this weight on and eating too much!0
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One of the best methods is to cut 20% from your calories. Go up to "goals" where it says "calories burned through daily activity." Multiply that number by .80. This will take away 20%.
The MFP calorie method is a joke.
I know a lot of people prefer to use TDEE -20%, but that DOES NOT mean that the MFP calorie method is a joke. For people whose activity level varies a lot, you would have to recalculate your TDEE all the time, and then the "joke method" can be preferable. For me it works better to have my basic activity level set as sedantary, and then add any extra activity as exercise and eat back most of those calories.0 -
Try this and see what you get.
For WOMEN: 655 + (4.35 x Weight in pounds)+(4.7 x Height in inches) - (4.7x Age)= BMR The amount of calories your body burns just from being alive
FOR MEN: 66+(6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) - ( 6.8 age in years)= BMR. that amount of calories you burn just from being alive.
Step 2: Take that number and multiply by your activity level:
1.2 Sedentary (little to no exercise)
1.375 Lightly Active (1-3 days a week)
1.55 Moderately Active (3-5 days a week)
1.7 Very Active (6-7 days a week)
Step 3:
LOSE weight: Subtract 500
MAINTAIN weight: keep the number the same
GAIN weight: Add 500
The final number is the amount of calories you should eat a day 8)0 -
......about as serious as I take a HRM's calorie burn reading.0
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I would find 1200 way too little then I work out for 40 mins 5 days a week I try and sick with 1400-1500 cals a day that usualy includes my exercise calories I was overestimating my exercise calories and I didnt realise this until I got my own heart rate monitor for example I read that if someone of 150llbs swims for an hour they would burn 500 cals I swim for 40 mins without stopping and Iburn 250 according to my own monitor,these figures are estimates and everyone is differentI on my strength training morning I would burn about 75 cals on 20 mins then someone lifting a lot heavier would burn more so its very individual!0
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I think I'll continue to eat whole, filling, nutrient-dense food when hungry and let my body deal appropriately with whatever the calorie number is.
Seriously, the whole 3500 calorie deficit = 1lb fat loss thing is a crock, we can deal with a reasonably wide variation in calories if our metabolism is healthy.
If I consume more calories than I need then they don't HAVE to be turned into fat. Likewise, if I consume less I do not have to lose fat if my body doesn't want to.
The idea that we have to consume a certain number and any variation from that is ludicrous when you think about it.
Calorie obsession is a scourge.0 -
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MFP suggests I eat about 1300 calories a day, but on every single other type of "How many calories should I be eating?" has suggested quite a bit more, even under the "If you want to lose weight..." category. I do honestly feel like it's quite a struggle to keep my intake that low, but I do manage.
I'm 5'2", about 155 lbs and I exercise about 4 times a week for an hour to an hour and a half.
What do you guys think?
stick with MFPs suggestion, but make sure you eat back your exercise calories. most of the other calculators probably factor in the workouts as well which is why there is such a big difference.0 -
It's workin' for me. I had to tweak a little at the beginning. I've got it set for 0.5 lb per week and get1,600 and change before I exercise. That's plenty for me. I've lost 7 pounds since August 1. I usually eat back some exercise calories but don't need all. The whole thing just keeps me accountable, which is what I need.0
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I have followed the calorie requirement pretty closely and have only dropped 3 pounds in the first week and nothing since. I can't imagine going under 1200 calories, but not sure if I am on the right track.....any suggestions?0
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When I started using this, I ate 1400 a day. Thinking it was great.
I now eat around 2,000 a day.
And still losing at the same rate, sometimes more.
Just eat healthy.
If your eating healthy, I dont think you need to be so strict.
It's the food your putting in, not the amount of calories .
If you eat 1300 cals of crap, its not as good as 2000 cals of healthy stuff.
Just eat if your hungry, and make good food choices0 -
I've let my dietician set my calorie goals and the percentages on the carbs, etc. So I'm not sure what mfp would say mine should be.0
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I think I'll continue to eat whole, filling, nutrient-dense food when hungry and let my body deal appropriately with whatever the calorie number is.
Seriously, the whole 3500 calorie deficit = 1lb fat loss thing is a crock, we can deal with a reasonably wide variation in calories if our metabolism is healthy.
If I consume more calories than I need then they don't HAVE to be turned into fat. Likewise, if I consume less I do not have to lose fat if my body doesn't want to.
The idea that we have to consume a certain number and any variation from that is ludicrous when you think about it.
Calorie obsession is a scourge.
100% Agree!0 -
MFP has worked for me. I'm sticking to what it suggest as it totally works. BELIEVE...don't question!0
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I take it seriously. I've lost a pound a week. That's why I'm here.
I feel comfortable eating my exercise calories, although I don't worry about not eating them.
As I read my diary and see where there are foods with lots of calories that I don't really care about, it has gotten easier and easier and easier to stay under - or even hit my 1310 goal.0 -
I ate that much when I was around your weight (same height) and was fine. If you think its too low you can either A) eat more calories or
make the 1300 calories WORTH IT. I'm talking high protein, high healthy fat food. 1300 cals of protein and fat is a lot more satisfying than 1300 calories of carbs and lettuce, know what I mean? 0 -
It's worked for me.0
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