Please look at my numbers and save me!

Mistyglitter
Mistyglitter Posts: 4
in Motivation and Support
I've been doing MFP 3 weeks and am failing. MFP suggests 1200...I didn't think I could do that, so I've been doing 1500. In 3 weeks of meticulous calorie counting and eating back exercise cals, I've lost only 1 pound. I could just die.

I'm trying to understand the BMR/TDEE stuff. I just did this: http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ calculator, which places me at

BMR 1639
TDEE 2254
Aggressive Goal: 20% 1803.

Should I really increase to 1803?

Thanks for your help.

Replies

  • ShadeBlossom
    ShadeBlossom Posts: 99 Member
    Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question since I'm still pretty new at this too and I don't want to give you wrong information. I can tell you that the first thing anyone's going to say is to open your food diary so they can get a better idea of how/what you're eating.

    I hope you get an answer that helps! Keep at it!
  • wideeyedla
    wideeyedla Posts: 138 Member
    Yes. With two caveats: You need to make sure you are MEASURING and or weighing your food in the beginning. It is very easy to overestimate a portion when you are eyeballing. I'll give you an example: I drink coffee. For a long time, I wasn't bothering to count the half and half. One day, I realized that I was consuming 200-300 calories a day of half and half. That is significant. You also need to make sure that your activity level is entered correctly on any of the calculators.

    Use other measures besides the scale, especially if you are exercising. Measure yourself. Take pictures of your progress. The scale isn't always the most accurate determination of progress.

    Don't eat back exercise calories if you go with TDEE. It's already factored in.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    You're BMR is 1639. You're eating less than that, ergo, your body isn't getting enough fuel. It's being forced to cut corners and become as efficient as possible on not enough fuel. Basically, you're half filling your tank then expecting it to drive around like it's got a full tank.

    Eat 1803. Try it for at least a month before re-evaluating. Don't be afraid to give your body more fuel especially if you're working hard.
  • Mistyglitter
    Mistyglitter Posts: 4
    Is the consensus I should eat 1803, and not eat back exercise calories?
  • jwelch7290
    jwelch7290 Posts: 42 Member
    Yes, if you eat back all of your calories, then you are doing what you should do in order to MAINTAIN weight, not lose it.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Is the consensus I should eat 1803, and not eat back exercise calories?

    Yes. If you included exercise in your calculation.

    Eat 1800 every day
    Exercise as much as you said you do/will in your calculation
    Weigh and measure and record every bite, lick and taste
    Aim for 30% of your calories from protein
    Do this for a month before determining if it's working or not
  • Mistyglitter
    Mistyglitter Posts: 4
    Thanks.
  • Jennyd1314
    Jennyd1314 Posts: 61 Member
    I.'ve just looked at the link, very interesting reading, welcome to add me, I.m in week 5 now!
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    MFP's method is designed for its users to eat back their exercise calories. Formula is found on the Goals Page.

    The TDEE -10% or -20% method includes exercise calories, so you don't eat exercise calories. The easiest way not to do this is to log the exercise with 0 or 1 calorie burned.

    Either way, make sure you are picking the correct activity level and give it 4-6 weeks before tweaking/adjusting again if needed.


    ETA: Also, if you aren't using a food scale to weigh out your foods - get one ASAP. If you are using cups, tablespoons, etc - you are probably eating more than you think.


    And know that macros differ for people. 30% doesn't always work for everyone for protein. It could be more or less. To figure out your macros, see this link in the Eat Train Progress group

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • L64Reed
    L64Reed Posts: 31 Member
    I don't think it would hurt to try moving to 1800 calories, I would make sure you are drinking water like crazy and putting lemons in your water (some people add cucumbers too.) it helps aid digestion (a warm cup of water with lemon in the morning and one at night) and then just keep on drinking all day long. It really does help flush out all of the bad stuff that goes on in our bodies! Check out our group at Dwindling Expectations and join in and get recipe ideas and help too!
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Weighing everything on a food scale, eating 1800 calories and NOT eating back exercise calories, being consistent for a full month or longer and picking the same time of day to weigh should yield you between 1 and 1.5 pounds a week. 2 pounds a week is too aggressive for a relatively low TDEE like yours. (Relative to other TDEE figures). If you don't see a change, then you may have your activity level set too high or are overestimating calories consumed. The importance of a food scale can't be overlooked.

    Just keep it up, OP. Things will start happening.

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