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Dropping calories (gasp!)

dward59
dward59 Posts: 731 Member
in Social Groups
I just jumped into settings and resubmitted so MFP would recalculate my calories. Another drop of 50 calories. It isn't a panic by any means, but it does help show why my losses have been slowing (besides not going to the gym for three weeks!)

I know MFP will prompt you on occasion to recalculate, but the last time I waited for that prompt my calories dropped by 10%!

What do you guys do? Have you gone in lately and had it recalculate your calories to meet your weight loss goals? Or are you going to cruise until the site prompts you?

Dive in, tell me I'm OCD. I can take it. :huh:

Or tell me your thoughts.

Replies

  • Ignaura
    Ignaura Posts: 203 Member
    Hmmmmm... sometimes I feel a little bit out of place, since I really don't follow MFP plan, or count calories or any of that. I have a trainer, I work on what he gives me and count macros. That being said, my trainer really dropped my calories a few weeks ago (by changing my macros) and I believe that tomorrow I will have have a high carb day (meaning the calories will be higher). Having a high carb day sometimes scares me, because I retain a lot of water after that, and usually the day after I weigh anything from 2 to 4 lbs more than before the high carb day. It goes away within a few days, but still is scary... high calorie days scare me the most.

    Edited to say that even though I don't follow MFP's plan I wento to see the BMR thingie... it actually dropped my calories .. -50 :O
  • slh0307
    slh0307 Posts: 50 Member
    Hi Dan,
    MFP has asked me to recalculate 4 times. I have customized my plan to eat 1200 calories per day although MFP tells me I should eat 1800-1600 per day.

    When you get smaller, your body needs less calories to stay alive so to lose fat, you need to reduce your caloric intake and /or move your body more. We are slowly training our bodies to eat the amount of food we need when we are at our ideal weight. Recalculating is a must if you want to keep dropping the fat.

    Don't get discouraged, don't get impatient, you are doing so well!

    I talked to a runner and she had a great idea, trick your metabolism by eating a different number each day. as long as you stay on calorie track weekly, you can switch it up daily. Eat high one day and low the next so your body will stay in burn mode instead of storing mode. I am going to try it!

    One more thing too that I have learned. The lower your calorie intake, the more nutritive dense foods need to be incorporated. You can eat loads of greens and veggies for few calories compared to breads/fruits. as always, do what works best for you!
  • Carysta
    Carysta Posts: 152 Member
    I just wait til MFP tells me it's time to recalculate - since I usually eat under my calories and usually don't eat back much of my exercise calories, I think I'm probably ok. I try to stay over 1600 because otherwise I'm dizzy, which makes sense at my weight, there's just so much of me to maintain LOL. I try to eat a lot of nutrient-dense foods and homemade stuff, because yum.
  • Gnawcraft
    Gnawcraft Posts: 777 Member
    MFP told me to recalculate after I lost my first 10lbs. Having just hit 20lbs and not been prompted I recalculated myself. I figure I'll do it every 10lbs.
  • just_jess7
    just_jess7 Posts: 271 Member
    I go in an recalculate my calories anytime I show a significant loss... So I'm only losing about 20-30 calories at a time. I didn't even know it'd prompt you to recalculate after awhile!
  • hollyla9905
    hollyla9905 Posts: 508
    I never have been prompted or even knew I should I just guessed it would do it for me!
    Time to look into that
  • 808malia
    808malia Posts: 631 Member
    I recalculate every time I lose 2-3lbs, I know that's a little crazy but I'm like that some times :tongue:
  • Gnawcraft
    Gnawcraft Posts: 777 Member
    Haha Malia I don't think it's crazy. In fact it's probably a nice idea since the changes will be small and easy to adapt to :D
  • 808malia
    808malia Posts: 631 Member
    Ya, It actually is probably a little easier... It only drops me10-20 calories at a time. So I don't notice much of a difference which is a good thing :drinker:
  • m23prime
    m23prime Posts: 358 Member
    Yeah...I adjust after every weight update. It only drops me about 10 calories a pound. Easy peasy adjustment as I usually try to stay about 25% under my pre exercise allowance to account for under reported consumption or over reported exercise.
  • mdgivens
    mdgivens Posts: 206 Member
    Thanks for the reminder, Dan! I just went in and recalculated my calories/macros.

    Personally, I think that MFP should automatically re-calculate calories every time you weigh in. However, I wouldn't base the calculation on the actual value you enter; I would base it on...wait for it...the moving average of your weight entries with regard to your goals. This way, if you had an abnormally-high weigh-in when you are generally trending down, MFP wouldn't just bump up your recommended calories based on an outlier. Of course, I don't know if there would be legal ramifications to consider since giving a recommended calorie intake could probably be construed as giving dietary advice.

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