Calorie intake limit set at 1370, too low?

BeastlyMaple
BeastlyMaple Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there, I signed up last week and it put my calorie limit at 1370. I know its different for everyone, and it all depends on the person, what they eat and the lifestyle they live.

I'm 5'7" and currently weigh 211. I have it set at lightly active. I'm on my feet all day, hardly ever sitting,

My concern is this, MFP automatically set it at that, and I want to do this as accurate as possible and don't want to make myself sick or cause any heath issues. I'm focusing on eating healthy, and the only time I have gone over is when I have eaten junk food. I've been under a few times, approximately under by around 100.

Just want to do this right, and the most healthy way.

Also have it set to lose 2lbs per week.

Any tips would be great, or perhaps just help me understand this better. ;)

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    If you want to eat more set your loss to a less aggressive amount. 2 lbs per week is generally for someone with 100 lbs or more to lose. Even with a smaller deficit you may still lose 2 lbs a week or more in the beginning.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If you want to eat more set your loss to a less aggressive amount. 2 lbs per week is generally for someone with 100 lbs or more to lose. Even with a smaller deficit you may still lose 2 lbs a week or more in the beginning.

    This ^^ Plus, be sure to eat more whenever you go beyond "lightly active". 1370 is the minimum you should eat.
  • BeastlyMaple
    BeastlyMaple Posts: 40 Member
    Thanks for the tips! Keeping a food journal is probably the best possible thing for me. I was always the type to eat snacks when I was hungry and then a big supper. No breakfast/ lunch or drink water. A year and a half ago I cut out drinking all pops/ soda. ( now knowing how horrid that was).

    Never been the type to take time and focus on myself. I'm finding it hard to figure out what is healthy for me to eat, what is considered a normal meal, I just keep thinking " is this enough food to consider a breakfast?". My doctor tells me that I'm overweight because I don't eat regularly. Going all day not eating a thing then filling up a supper isn't right. I've learned that now but even though I'm eating throughout the day I still have hunger pains. I guess I need to drink more water, perhaps that will help.

    In regards to the " lightly active" and the setting above that. I'm not sure what category I fall into. I thought the safest thing would to pick that one.
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    After looking at your diary, I think it looks okay, but I have one suggestion to maybe help with the hunger pains? Try eating more protein in the morning for breakfast. More protein tends to keep a tummy satisfied and happy for a longer period of time than carbs do, so if you measure out your protein more equally throughout the day, you may have a better chance at feeling full for longer and not go through those hunger pains.

    Also, be sure to double-check the amount of exercise calories you are actually burning - MFP is notorious for over-estimating the burn. Take a look at two or three *other* sites to see what they say you burn, and then take an average of that number.

    Good luck!

    *edited for exercise info
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    Its too low. Go with 1 lb/week loss and I guarantee you will lose more than that for a while.

    I'm 5'6 160 right now and I'm set at NET 1400 (which is on the low side for me) You are a touch taller, a bit heavier and half my age ... you need more calories. At my SW (220) I was NETing around 1800 just for some perspective.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    With 30 some pounds to lose I'd suggest moving from 2 lbs a week to 1 lb. It will give you more calories to work with.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Keep in mind that "lightly active" on MFP is daily life - it does not include exercise. MFP expects you to log your exercise and eat those calories back (maybe not all but at least a portion).

    I also second the suggestion of lowering from 2 lbs a week.
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    WHOA that seems WAY WAY WAY low.
    I started at 5'5" and 216 and I have been using the TDEE minus 20% method since 2/11/13 and I'm down 39 lbs today.
    I started being able to eat over 2000 calories a day and have been averaging 1.5 lbs a week.

    READ THIS:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Start reading at "So now that I have given you the 3 most important numbers to always know while dieting, i'll give you a good source to figure all this information out on your own. " it gives you the websites you need to calculate stuff
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    WHOA that seems WAY WAY WAY low.
    I started at 5'5" and 216 and I have been using the TDEE minus 20% method since 2/11/13 and I'm down 29 lbs today.
    I started being able to eat over 2000 calories a day and have been averaging 1.5 lbs a week.

    READ THIS:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    If she lowers her weight loss per week goal and counts exercise I suspect she will be in around the same.
  • mandahobson
    mandahobson Posts: 2
    I'm 5'7" and currently at 135lbs, pushing for closer to 125lbs. I have some events coming up soon that I need to look fabulous for so I'm being aggressive with my goals. My calorie intake according to MFP should be 1200 a day and, honestly, that's more than enough. I'm very careful about what I eat and make sure I am maxing out on protein so I feel full after each meal. I work an odd shift so my breakfast is at 3am and my dinner at 2pm. It's working so far with light exercise and just keeping to this calorie count.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,150 Member
    Set your weight loss goal to 1 lb/week.

    As for not eating during the day: it really doesn't matter when you eat your calories. Find what works for you and stay as close to your calorie goal as you can. Some people need 6 meals (meals = whenever they eat), some get by with intermittent fasting (IF); some eat one huge meals, some split their cals evenly throughout the day.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I'm 5'7" and currently at 135lbs, pushing for closer to 125lbs. I have some events coming up soon that I need to look fabulous for so I'm being aggressive with my goals. My calorie intake according to MFP should be 1200 a day and, honestly, that's more than enough. I'm very careful about what I eat and make sure I am maxing out on protein so I feel full after each meal. I work an odd shift so my breakfast is at 3am and my dinner at 2pm. It's working so far with light exercise and just keeping to this calorie count.

    I'm not sure the relevance? OP doesn't want to be aggressive, they said they want to do it the healthiest way they can. Can you do 1200? Sure. Is it sustainable for some? Yes. Is it always the best way? No.
  • mandahobson
    mandahobson Posts: 2
    I was just letting OP know that they aren't alone and it's not completely unheard of... That's all. It was in support of the other comments that stated the low calorie suggestion is because of setting the amount of desired weight to lose at too high of a standard.
  • BeastlyMaple
    BeastlyMaple Posts: 40 Member
    After looking at your diary, I think it looks okay, but I have one suggestion to maybe help with the hunger pains? Try eating more protein in the morning for breakfast. More protein tends to keep a tummy satisfied and happy for a longer period of time than carbs do, so if you measure out your protein more equally throughout the day, you may have a better chance at feeling full for longer and not go through those hunger pains.

    Also, be sure to double-check the amount of exercise calories you are actually burning - MFP is notorious for over-estimating the burn. Take a look at two or three *other* sites to see what they say you burn, and then take an average of that number.

    Good luck!

    *edited for exercise info

    Thanks so much for the info! I do remember that protein helps make you feel fuller- for longer. I don't know why I just didn't put two and two together. I used to make sure I picked cereals that were high in fiber, and make bigger breakfasts. I should go back to doing that. I also noticed that when I would do the wii fit, it would post a lower amount of calories burned, then what the MFP would post. So I would just go with whatever the wii-fit says, as I use that to weigh in on and follow it closely. So I will take your advice with the rest of my exercise and compare and take the average. Great advice, thanks again.

    As far as everything else goes, I find this to be a tad overwhelming but I'll get it figured out. You guys are all awesome and helpful. My only issue is, right now I'm having a difficult time making sure I stay around the calorie goal now, and having to figure out what to eat that will fill it up or even get me close. I fell like if I raise it higher by lowering my per week weight loss to 1lb, I still would be eating around the same amount of food as I am now. Does that make any sense? The only thing I'm close too or can go over is sugar, and 2 cups of orange juice, fruit and trying to limit my chocolate milk ( I used to live off of chocolate milk!) is basically putting me way over the sugar limit as it.

    If I remember right from research I did online, an ideal weight for me would be around 160lbs. I didn't want to get ahead of myself and set a goal weight for that, so I set it as 180, thinking mentally it would be easier for me to achieve, or at least look like it was easier to achieve.
  • BeastlyMaple
    BeastlyMaple Posts: 40 Member
    After reading a thread and learning about BMR, it shows on the calculator that mine is 1,752. I have decided to lower my weight loss goal to 1.5lbs a week. Although I'm hesitant, I'm hoping this is the right thing to go.

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