How many net calories should be my minium?

use the keto calculator rather than the BMI calculator. it will focus you on net carbs instead of simply calories. for a short term weight loss more effective.

I would like to lose at least 15 more pounds by Thanksgiving. According to a BMR calculator I found online, I should consume 1700 calories to maintain my weight (with no exercise) based on my age, height and weight. That means to lose a healthy 2 lbs per week...I need to save 7000 calories per week to lose at that rate. That means I have to save 1000 calories per day. 1700 minus 1000 = 700 which means I should consume only 700 net calories per day to lose at a rate of 2 lbs per day. Am I doing this calculation right. Everyone I talk to says that is too few calories. BUT...2 lbs per week weight loss doesn't seem like an unhealthy goal? Please help me figure this out!!!!

Oh no, you have just reminded me that Thanksgiving is about seven weeks away! :bigsmile:

Have you plugged in all the information into MFP to figure out your base calorie rate? The formula they use figures in your Base metabolic rate based on your normal activity without exercise, then when you do exercise you eat those calories back.

For example, I've a lot of women here say their BMR is 1,200, which could very well be yours as well (I don't know, though). Say you go do this killer run and burn about 400 calories. Because MFP already has your calorie deficit figured out based on how many pounds you told it you wanted to lose each week, you would eat back those exercise calories (or a portion of them if that's too much food for you), thus your calorie intake would be 1,600 a day when you exercise.

I started out wanting to lose 2 pounds a week, which gave me 1,200 calories without exercise. Then, when I was about 12 pounds to my goal, I changed it to lose one pound per week and was alloted 1,300 calories without exercise. When I am 8-10 pounds from my goal, I will change it to lose .5 pounds per week. Then, when I am at my goal, I will change my goals to maintenance.

You always want to eat enough to fuel your body, otherwise you won't feel too well.

It's not wise to under-eat because you will be left feeling drained. Do some extra walking or light exercise to earn more calories and then you can eat more. And the goal isn't unrealistic but sometimes the numbers don't reflect how many inches you lose - so don't feel discouraged if you're not meeting it because chances are you'll look better and be feeling great even if you only lose a small amount
Good luck reaching your goal!

This is why MFP really needs to add notations in the weekly weight loss goal section to better guide new members into choosing the appropriate deficit based on total fat mass to lose. This lack of information is leading too many people to pursue deficits not suitable for them in the belief that everyone can lose 2 lbs per week. I see so many threads of people confused, frustrated and even fearful of increasing calories when they eventually realize this.

I didn't find this to be a problem for me. I kept putting 2 lbs per week as my goal, but MFP wouldn't let me go below 1,200, which was unhealthy. MFP kept me at a loss of 0.7lbs, and so long as I eat to my recommended calories, I'm safe and losing weight (slowly). I appreciate this as a safety feature.

I think it should be your net calories that is around 700. That means eat no less than 1200 calories and burn off the rest (500) yo reach 700 per day. But that is a belly low number to aim for. I'd see where 1lb a week puts you.