New to MFP and calorie counting. Have a few ?'s :)

Hi all,

I am new to this site and to calorie counting. I have a few questions I hope someone can answer. Thanks in advance!

I am 5'7 and 130 lbs. I have had three kids in the past 6 years. I have ALWAYS got right back down to my pre-pregnancy weight by 6 months post delivery. My youngest is 3 yrs old. I got down to 125 (my normal weight) just fine. My question is that in the past 6 months, I have put on 5 lbs. I am at my wits end trying to lose them. It's not that much, I know but it is to me. Anyway, MFP has me at 1200 calories. I don't work out per say but I am taking care of the house and 3 kiddos all day. I have been on the calorie count thing for 7 days now. I am finding that I am very hungry. I have been staying below and very close to 1200 cals but I am starving! Does this mean I need to up my calories? Is it just my body starting to retrain itself? I never counted calories before and I am a very healthy eater. I would say before I started counting that I was eating around 1600-1700 cals a day. I have not lost an ounce this week but I have read that it takes time to start losing. What is the average? If I do need to up my cals, how much should I add?

as others have pointed out mfp is pretty low on the calories. But this is a business keep that in mind they want people losing weight fast and spreading the word. They always seem very low on the calories.

The first premise to keep in mind that will not change is calories determine weight loss or weight gain regardless of what foods you eat. So keeping track of your calories is important but honestly my wife is in your shoes and would lose her mind keeping track of every calorie to a "T". I find for people like you keeping general track of your calories and in the 1400 range it often comes off. It seems like there are infinite women with the "I weigh 130 but need to get to 125" thought process.

Also as someone else said I don't know if I'd get so caught up in weight. how do you look? You may lose 5 pounds and say "huh I don't look like I thought I would". My wife started doing basic at home strength training 20 minute workouts 4 days a week and focused on her diet composition and her body composition changed drasticially.

I put her on....

1500 calories
80 grams of protein (320 calories)
45 grams of fat (405 calories)
the rest was filled in with carbs or more fat or more protein

Also when you have so few calories....use them wisely! I work with a lady who got two sausage burritos thinking they are pretty small and she is on a 1600 calorie diet. Well...those to burritos have 700 total calories and are not very filling. For 700 calories she could have eaten 6 whole eggs, greek yogurt, 8 ounces coconut milk, and medium apple. She would have been full for a week and got a whole lot more when it comes to micro-nutrients.