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How many calories should I bump up? MFP started me with 1200

Behxo
Behxo Posts: 1,190 Member
edited February 10 in Health and Weight Loss
I know that 1200 calories a day isn't something you're supposed to do so I'm questioning how many calories I should be eating...
I'm 5'3", I weigh 183 starting this for a second time and MFP started me off with 1200 but when I calculated BMR it gave me 1,560 calories... The first time I used MFP I was a little less (176 lbs) than how much I'm starting with now so it USED to be 1340 calories.... how many calories should I bump it up, should I put it back to 1340? Thanks!

Replies

  • Behxo
    Behxo Posts: 1,190 Member
    anyone?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    You have to pick the 'lose 1 lb a week' setting. Then you're supposed to eat back exercise calories. If you don't exercise, you often pretty much have to eat below your BMR if you want to lose weight... or eat at a smaller deficit.
  • Behxo
    Behxo Posts: 1,190 Member
    You have to pick the 'lose 1 lb a week' setting. Then you're supposed to eat back exercise calories. If you don't exercise, you often pretty much have to eat below your BMR if you want to lose weight... or eat at a smaller deficit.

    oh okay, thanks. I picked 1.5 lbs a week and the fact I have a desk job doesn't help either lol
  • Behxo
    Behxo Posts: 1,190 Member
    now its at 1,450 calories a day, thank you :flowerforyou:
  • callyart
    callyart Posts: 209
    I am near enough the same as you (3 pound heavier)

    I am doing the 1200 but wondering if I should bump my calories up as my BMR gives me the same calories are you.

    Thing is, I am not struggling on the diet I am doing right now :/
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I am near enough the same as you (3 pound heavier)

    I am doing the 1200 but wondering if I should bump my calories up as my BMR gives me the same calories are you.

    Thing is, I am not struggling on the diet I am doing right now :/

    My advice is to try to eat more if you can. If it doesn't work you can lower it back down, but my general philosophy is that it's best to lose weight eating as much as you can. That way if you stall there's someplace to go.
  • callyart
    callyart Posts: 209
    I am near enough the same as you (3 pound heavier)

    I am doing the 1200 but wondering if I should bump my calories up as my BMR gives me the same calories are you.

    Thing is, I am not struggling on the diet I am doing right now :/

    My advice is to try to eat more if you can. If it doesn't work you can lower it back down, but my general philosophy is that it's best to lose weight eating as much as you can. That way if you stall there's someplace to go.

    Thanks for the advice
    I have changed to 1,400 calories and will try to hit that instead :)
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    I would use BMR as your minimum calorie amount. You start getting lower than that and you start running into problems.
  • wordpainter09
    wordpainter09 Posts: 472 Member
    I would use BMR as your minimum calorie amount. You start getting lower than that and you start running into problems.

    Yes. Start off as high as possible.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    I am near enough the same as you (3 pound heavier)

    I am doing the 1200 but wondering if I should bump my calories up as my BMR gives me the same calories are you.

    Thing is, I am not struggling on the diet I am doing right now :/

    My advice is to try to eat more if you can. If it doesn't work you can lower it back down, but my general philosophy is that it's best to lose weight eating as much as you can. That way if you stall there's someplace to go.

    My thoughts exactly! :smile:
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    I would use BMR as your minimum calorie amount. You start getting lower than that and you start running into problems.

    Agreed.
This discussion has been closed.

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