1200 no matter what I choose?

2»

Replies

  • Navlady
    Navlady Posts: 1
    I have the same problem I am 5'2'' and weigh 9st 7lb and want to lose 14lbs. On the customised setting I am informed that my calorie allowance is 1200 per day and that by 25 August I should have lost 0.5kg. When I read the information it tells me that my calorie deficit is 250 calories per day hence the slow weight loss projected. When I enter my exercise (as a sedentary person that's not a lot) on my tracker the daily calorie allowance goes up. I have tried entering the information as sedentary, light active etc and it still remains at 1200.

    So I customised my goal to 1440 calories per day as recommended on another site and I will still lose 0.5kg by 25 August!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    BTW I do know how to use it. I have been for a while now. It's only in the last month that it's been refusing to go off 1200 at all. I have set mine to my own calories rather than what MFP keep insisting I eat. Mainly because it is broken for me. I remember saying that as well.

    so if its broken, speak to MFP about it... or open a new account....

    530 days in a row & open a new account?

    Easier to just set my own calories.

    So you know how to get around it and have been doing so for the part month. So the point of this thread was?

    agreed....

    what happens if you dont keep your 530 days in a row?! will you put all the weight back on!?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    okay that makes sense. a little oddly presented however

    Yes, the set up is confusing when it asks for exercise goals. What do you have for a goal per week for weightloss?

    For me it does not change regardless of what exercise goal I put in. 7 days a week @ 1 min gives me 1200... 7 days a week @ 60 mins gives me 1200, 7 days a week @ 300 mins gives me 1200. No matter what setting.... not one movement at all.

    I already explained - that is a time goal. It's not supposed to change your calories. MFP expects you to log your exercise daily and eat those calories.
    It is your activity level and weight loss per week goals that affect calories.

    Yes but as I explained in the very opening post... changing those settings for me DOES NOT change the calories at all. I add my exercise cals...always have & eaten them (well most I can).

    I'm betting that when other people change that setting they get at least more than 1200 base. See that's where it's not changing for me. Take out exercise & everyone does not get 1200 regardless of what activity level & goals they set. I tried so many different combos...ALL said 1200. Every single one.


    Which settings are you referring to because you keep talking about different combinations but give the example of changing only exercise.

    To be clear here -
    When you go to my home > goals > change goals > guided, you put in your height, weight, gender and date of birth.

    Then you select one of the following -

    How would you describe your normal daily activities?
    Sedentary: Spend most of the day sitting (e.g. bank teller, desk job)
    Lightly Active: Spend a good part of the day on your feet (e.g. teacher, salesman)
    Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. waitress, mailman)
    Very Active: Spend most of the day doing heavy physical activity (e.g. bike messenger, carpenter)


    These WILL affect your calorie goal. These are for daily activity like your job and regular life, not exercise.
    When I used your stats and chose a weight loss of .5 or 1 lb week, I only got 1200 for two (sedentary and lightly active at 1 lb a week).


    The next option is
    How many times a week do you plan on exercising?
    workouts / week min. / workout

    This does NOT affect your calorie goal at all. It is confusing but it is a time/frequency goal.

    The last option is your goal weight loss per week goal. .5, 1, 1.5, and 2 lbs a week. This affects your weight loss goal. For you, since you are at a health weigh range, anything over 1 lb a week is going to give you 1200.
    As I noted above, at .5 and 1 lb a week with your stats plugged in, MFP gives more than 1200 for most.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    BTW I do know how to use it. I have been for a while now. It's only in the last month that it's been refusing to go off 1200 at all. I have set mine to my own calories rather than what MFP keep insisting I eat. Mainly because it is broken for me. I remember saying that as well.

    That is not what your OP implied. Why not post this in the technical support section and specify that this is a new problem instead of creating a post that could potentially confuse new people?
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I have the same problem I am 5'2'' and weigh 9st 7lb and want to lose 14lbs. On the customised setting I am informed that my calorie allowance is 1200 per day and that by 25 August I should have lost 0.5kg. When I read the information it tells me that my calorie deficit is 250 calories per day hence the slow weight loss projected. When I enter my exercise (as a sedentary person that's not a lot) on my tracker the daily calorie allowance goes up. I have tried entering the information as sedentary, light active etc and it still remains at 1200.

    So I customised my goal to 1440 calories per day as recommended on another site and I will still lose 0.5kg by 25 August!

    Please read 3dogsrunning's post above. It is working correctly you just aren't understanding how it works.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I think it's because you chose to lose 2 pounds a week. Choose less and see what happens!!!


    And if you're exercising, it will allow you to eat more than that, but you have to log the exercise.

    I actually have it to lose 0.5kg a week. So not even half a lb a week. It does not change for me

    There are 2.2 lbs in a kilogram. So half a kilo is a little over 1 lb.

    Like I said, notify the website because there is a glitch in your account or something. Using your stats I get more than 1200 with a 1 lb a week goal.

    Because I think the response was missed, it needs to be highlighted again. kg and lb are not the same.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    It makes no difference to me. I set my own one anyway via another site. Pity though that I can't trust the site with this simple task though really. I'm so glad I now go via the cals Fitbit's website gives me to eat daily. I'd starve. In fact that would mean for 530 days I would have been starving myself in a big way.

    I've never used fitbit, but doesn't connecting your profile to the fitbit mean that it automatically adjusts your calories based on your activity? Maybe since it's supposed to automatically adjust based on the info sent from fitbit, it defaults to 1200.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I seriously give up trying to explain. Really. How hard is it to explain to everyone?


    Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.

    Setting changes of amount to lose each week have NO meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get before exercise.

    I know how to eat cals back for exercise & have done so since day 1. I know how to set my own calories and have done so since day 1.

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)


    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I seriously give up trying to explain. Really. How hard is it to explain to everyone?


    Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.

    Setting changes of amount to lose each week have NO meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get before exercise.

    I know how to eat cals back for exercise & have done so since day 1. I know how to set my own calories and have done so since day 1.

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)


    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,

    Your pounds per week. You said you set them to 0.5kg. Is that a typo on your behalf, or is it a setting you need to review?
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)

    Impossible to say without more information. What is your age, height, weight, and goal weight? What did you choose for "I want to lose X amount of pounds per week"?

    MFP will deduct 1,000 calories from your estimated needs if you choose 2 pounds per week, 750 for 1.5 pounds per week, 500 for 1 pound per week, 250 for half a pound per week.

    But it will not go below 1,200. So if you are a small person and MFP estimates that your calorie needs are, say, 1450 (without exercise), your answer is going to be 1200.

    You may be better off calculating your TDEE (your calorie needs including exercise), and setting your own custom goal taking a % deficit from that. The % deficit depends on how much you still need to lose.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I seriously give up trying to explain. Really. How hard is it to explain to everyone?


    Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.

    Setting changes of amount to lose each week have NO meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get before exercise.

    I know how to eat cals back for exercise & have done so since day 1. I know how to set my own calories and have done so since day 1.

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)


    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,

    Your pounds per week. You said you set them to 0.5kg. Is that a typo on your behalf, or is it a setting you need to review?

    I'm in kg here not lbs. No setting I need to review. HALF a KILO a week. Does not matter. I could have it at maintain & it would STILL show 1200 calories NET.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)

    Impossible to say without more information. What is your age, height, weight, and goal weight? What did you choose for "I want to lose X amount of pounds per week"?

    MFP will deduct 1,000 calories from your estimated needs if you choose 2 pounds per week, 750 for 1.5 pounds per week, 500 for 1 pound per week, 250 for half a pound per week.

    But it will not go below 1,200. So if you are a small person and MFP estimates that your calorie needs are, say, 1450 (without exercise), your answer is going to be 1200.

    You may be better off calculating your TDEE (your calorie needs including exercise), and setting your own custom goal taking a % deficit from that. The % deficit depends on how much you still need to lose.

    As explained I already have done that. 1450 I set it at just cause I was sick of the 1200 there.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)

    Impossible to say without more information. What is your age, height, weight, and goal weight? What did you choose for "I want to lose X amount of pounds per week"?

    MFP will deduct 1,000 calories from your estimated needs if you choose 2 pounds per week, 750 for 1.5 pounds per week, 500 for 1 pound per week, 250 for half a pound per week.

    But it will not go below 1,200. So if you are a small person and MFP estimates that your calorie needs are, say, 1450 (without exercise), your answer is going to be 1200.

    You may be better off calculating your TDEE (your calorie needs including exercise), and setting your own custom goal taking a % deficit from that. The % deficit depends on how much you still need to lose.

    She posted that on the first page. I've gone through the numbers with her stats, it will change.


    If your account used to change and it doesn't now, contact MFP to report the problem or post in the technical help section instead instead of posting a topic that MFP is wrong.

    Did you consider Lorina's suggestion about the Fitbit? I don't use one either but that may be a factor.

    Part of the confusion lies with how you were explaining it. You claim to understand how it works but kep saying that the days per week/minutes of exercise were not affecting your calorie goal - which it shouldn't.
    I understand you are now saying nothing at all affects it and that it used to change. That is a technical problem, not a problem with how this calculator works.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member

    She posted that on the first page. I've gone through the numbers with her stats, it will change.

    Oh, sorry, I got this confused with another thread. Filing it under WTF instead.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member

    She posted that on the first page. I've gone through the numbers with her stats, it will change.

    Oh, sorry, I got this confused with another thread. Filing it under WTF instead.

    It's ok, it's Monday. :flowerforyou:

    Or maybe

    :drinker:
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I seriously give up trying to explain. Really. How hard is it to explain to everyone?


    Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.

    Setting changes of amount to lose each week have NO meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get before exercise.

    I know how to eat cals back for exercise & have done so since day 1. I know how to set my own calories and have done so since day 1.

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)


    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,

    Your pounds per week. You said you set them to 0.5kg. Is that a typo on your behalf, or is it a setting you need to review?

    I'm in kg here not lbs. No setting I need to review. HALF a KILO a week. Does not matter. I could have it at maintain & it would STILL show 1200 calories NET.

    Then look at it as a technical glitch and email the tech staff. End of story.
  • beaches222
    beaches222 Posts: 437 Member
    The same happens to me and I always wondered about it. Spark people and other sites give me different numbers.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    The same happens to me and I always wondered about it. Spark people and other sites give me different numbers.

    You cannot compare the numbers here to other sites because the formula is different in that your calorie goal is not the same every day because it depends on exercise.

    Did you read through the whole thread? Does nothing affect the calorie goal - specifically your weight loss per week goal and your daily activity selection?
    If nothing changes the numbers, recheck your stats to make sure there wasn't a typo and if that is fine, contact site support.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I seriously give up trying to explain. Really. How hard is it to explain to everyone?


    Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.

    Setting changes of amount to lose each week have NO meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get before exercise.

    I know how to eat cals back for exercise & have done so since day 1. I know how to set my own calories and have done so since day 1.

    Now think about how changing those 2 settings gives other people in any combination more than 1200 before exercise..... so why is is not for me? This is the please explain part.

    I'm not asking HOW to use the site, I know how to. I am not asking how to set my own cals, nor how to eat the ones I burn.

    I am curious as to why no matter what settings I have on there I can not go above 1200 calories for my NET (before exercise)


    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,

    Well aren't you a peach.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member

    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,


    Given your typical attitude in the forums, I'm surprised that anyone is even trying.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member

    But I give up explaining. Just carry on without me. I'm going to bed,


    Given your typical attitude in the forums, I'm surprised that anyone is even trying.

    Honestly I am doing it to make it clear for those who may be reading that it is not MFP's calculations that is the problem here.
  • k_winder
    k_winder Posts: 65 Member
    You said 'Settings of activity level have no meaning for MY amount...1200 is ALL I get give (before I do exercise)...no matter the setting. There are 4 of these.'

    I think the issue is you are talking about the fitness settings for setting up your diary. (Forgive me if I am wrong)

    That is NOT what the rest of us are talking about. When we tell you to log your exercise we are not telling you do anything with that setting - that setting really means nothing whatsoever in the grand scheme of things and it doesn't change anything for ANYONE'S account - not just yours. It's more of a 'fitness goal' not a setting that affects your diary or your calorie allowance.

    If you want your number to change from 1200 kcals at all you have to log your exercise type/minutes/calories burned in the 'Exercise' tab every day for the exercise(s) you do and those burned calories will be added to your daily base of 1200.
  • rachaelsue
    rachaelsue Posts: 16 Member
    I am a 32 yo female, at your exact height and weight and have the same experience. No matter what I put in for activity level when setting up my goals, the goal for me is set at 1200.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I am a 32 yo female, at your exact height and weight and have the same experience. No matter what I put in for activity level when setting up my goals, the goal for me is set at 1200.

    As stated several times in this thread the activity level won't change the goal number. What you choose in regards to what you wish to lose in a week is what changes that number. (half pound, 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, 2 pounds).
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I am a 32 yo female, at your exact height and weight and have the same experience. No matter what I put in for activity level when setting up my goals, the goal for me is set at 1200.

    You have 7lbs to lose, you don't have much room for a deficit. What do you have for a weight loss per week goal?
    How tall are you? What is your weight?
  • coppertop_4
    coppertop_4 Posts: 258 Member
    Follow these steps:

    Go into your GOALS and change the setting to the LOWEST AMOUNT OF WEIGHT LOSS per week allowed. I don't know what it is in kg. Use maintain if you prefer. If it still says 1200 then contact MFP tech support. If that changes it, then that is what everyone is trying to tell you. Communication sucks when we can't communicate.
    If you set your goals to lose the MAX amount of weight, nothing else matters in your settings. 1200 is the lowest possible setting this site will give you. Most people set their goal to lose the max amount of weight. Even mine says 1200 if I set it to lose 2lbs per week. If I set it to only lose 1lb a week, then its around 1400 calories lose .5lb a week, about 1600 calories.

    If you do this, and it still says 1200 then you have an issue to contact MFP with.
  • Nininina24
    Nininina24 Posts: 29
    .
  • Nininina24
    Nininina24 Posts: 29
    Be careful about those burned calories. I'm a runner.. You would have to RUN for 12 hours or something like that to burn 4000 calories. :noway: Your body would not tolerate that. Running a mile burns about 100 calories. yep, thats all .. ( it also builds muscle and endurance and is good for the heart though! )



    I'm glad you said this... I was about to say "geez, tell me your secret..." 4000? yeah.... Okay... Yup, that's correct, RUNNING a mile is only around 100 cal.... so...
  • jetlag
    jetlag Posts: 800 Member
    okay that makes sense. a little oddly presented however

    Yes, the set up is confusing when it asks for exercise goals. What do you have for a goal per week for weightloss?

    For me it does not change regardless of what exercise goal I put in. 7 days a week @ 1 min gives me 1200... 7 days a week @ 60 mins gives me 1200, 7 days a week @ 300 mins gives me 1200. No matter what setting.... not one movement at all.

    Many many people have said, you exercise goal DOES NOT CHANGE YOUR DAILY CALORIES. You have to actually log the exercise to get the calorie credit.

Categories