Lose 1.4 lbs??

So on my profile I told it that I wanted to lose 2lbs per week. The plan it told /tells me to follow says that I will only lose 1.4lbs per week! Why is this? Anyone know how to fix it? Also, I'm 5'1" and 157lbs (female), why am I only allowed to eat 1200 cal? That's usually to low for me. I'm new to MFP and so any help would be great fully appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!! :)

Replies

  • leelxxsh
    leelxxsh Posts: 28 Member
    1200 calories is the minimum number of calories you should be eating a day. Since you said you wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, MFP chose the lowest number of calories possible so you could lose the weight quickly. However, in order to actually lose 2 pounds a week, you'd have to be eating much less than 1200 calories a day, which is unhealthy, so you're only going to lose 1.4. Does that make sense?
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Just about every woman who sets her preference to lose 2 lbs per week is going to get the 1,200 calorie recommendation, because that's as low as MFP will go. To lose 2 lbs per week you have to have a daily calorie deficit of 1,000 calories. For me, even if I ate 1,200 a day I wouldn't lose 2 lbs per week because my TDEE is 2,010. I'd have to eat 1,010 calories which isn't going to happen and would probably result in a stall anyway. I have mine set to 1 lb per week which gives me about 1,500 calories a day and that's much more do-able. Are you in a big hurry?
  • Both of these make a lot of sense. They are both very helpful! :) eld2310, I'm not trying to lose it super quick. I just want to do it healthy. Even if I set it to 1lb a week that doesn't mean I can't lose more on some weeks right?
  • leelxxsh
    leelxxsh Posts: 28 Member
    You can absolutely lose more than 1 pound per week. Just make sure that you're eating at least 1,200 calories, even if it means eating back the calories you lose when you exercise!