Is your calorie intake low?

Great post!!!

2200 calories + exercise

I did this before, didn't understand how, when I ate so little, I started to gain weight. I joined here, counted my 'normal' calories, and found I was eating between 700-800 a day. I upped my intake to 1200 (site suggested), and lost a few pounds. I then stopped counting, and continued to eat 'healthily', or so I thought. Then I noticed that I'd gained a couple of pounds again, and then another... so I came back here... and lo and behold, I was only eating between 700-800 a day again.

I have once again upped it to 1200, religiously, and in the first 3wks I lost 3lbs... but I've not lost a thing since, in fact have gained a pound, lost a pound, gained a pound, lost a pound! But I'm still doing it, still at 1200 (net of excercise).

To be honest, I struggle to hit 1200 with normal food (I don't eat much in the way of bread/potatoes/rice etc as it makes me feel uncomfortable and bloated).. and I do end up having a bit of chocolate, or a biscuit, to try to hit target.

I too got my REE, and it came out at a little under 1800. I'm afraid to try to eat more as I can't get it out of my head that I'm likely to gain more weight, but eating less has had exactly that effect anyway!!

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Been at 1800+ for about a year, recently bumped up to 1950. Been losing fat, passed my goal weight, feel awesome.

I set my calorie and macros goals according to the info here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912914-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

I think all this depends on the size where you started and where you want to go. People who are larger have such his TDEEs that they cannot imagine a life of living on less. Our maintenance calories are a lot of people's "diet" calories. We have less weight to support to begin with.

My TDEE maintenance is 1600 or so. To lose one pound per week (healthy rate), a person needs to cut 500 cals per day.

That equals 1100 for me. MFP will not let us do that because it drops us below the 1200 Calorie mark (daily at rest maintenance, they say at MFP). So, we lose, at best, .4 per week. I want to get to the lower "healthy" range for my size, reduce my BF, and deal with some "skinny fat". I am trying to eat more protein, lift some weights, and eat back exercise calories. I am gaining in muscle areas and losing in fatty areas, so I think I'm making progress, but it's extremely slow.

Few people would do 1200, work out several times a week for those kinds of results (.4 per week, on an optimal week). It takes a lot of planning, commitment, focus, and very healthy foods to do it and still feel good. I work out many days because I know I am going to need a few more snacks through the evening hours. I earn my apples and granola bars and 100 cal popcorn bags! LOL

I see a lot of people at much higher TDEEs wanting to lose some weight, but eating doughnuts and cookies. I cannot imagine that luxury. It's 300-400 cals per meal, and 100 cal snacks in between or I don't make it through the day at goal. It's very individual for each person.

I do not see the wisdom of a larger person with a high TDEE eating at 1200 cals. They would not last long, would get too hungry, and would likely stay cranky, and may get sick. On the other hyand, I do not get scared with it for some, because I know there are people out there like me. For me, it's a healthy plan to get to where I hope to be.

There are definitely many on MFP who eat far too little...especially those that only have a handful of cosmetic pounds to lose. I'm a male, so a bit different for me...eating around 2200 with TDEE method. It comes out to roughly 1900 net if I was using MFP method.

Not sure if I am eating enough, MFP says I should eat 1520 cal per day, but when I went of Fat2Fitradio.com it said I should eat 2265-2520 cal per day. I work in an office at a desk all day but I try to workout 4-6x per week, Cardio 30-60 min on the eliptical or bike, 20-30 min kettlebell workout. I have been netting anywhere from 740-2563 calories per day for the past 14 days with 11 of the days on the high side netting 1138-2563 cal per day, i have lost weight so far just wondering if i shouldup my calorie intake or eat back my calories after my workout

1600 on non workout days/1900 on work out days

I eat 1,700-2,200 a day for the last 2 weeks. I have been gaining. I need to eat 1,500-1,700. I do exercise but i don't burn 1,000 a day, so I gain.

I'm 5'4 and 200 lbs (230 when I started) MFP says to eat 1200 a day. I find I have trouble eating that now, I usually ony eat about 1000 cal. I know it seems low, but it's what works for me..... Everyone is different, you have to use what works for you.. It works for me , 30 lbs in 8 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!