Who is not doing the 1200 calorie a day recommended by MFP?

tbullucks06
tbullucks06 Posts: 128
in Health and Weight Loss
AND how did you figure out your calorie goals?

I am beginning to realize more and more that a lot of people on MFP are not using the recommended 1200 calorie a day that MFP suggests. I've seen people mention they are using the TDEE formulas and other things. I DO feel like 1200 calories a day is low for me but have been trying to stick to it and then eating my exercise calories back over the past year I have been on MFP. I also feel like I have been white knuckling it most of the time. The days I didnt exercise, 1200 was hard to stick to.
When I was on the SparkPeople plan in 2011, they gave me a range of calories and whether I did exercise or not, I could eat up to 1550 a day and lose the recommended 2lbs a week.
I want to change but I am scared to a little because I have been losing on MFP. However, I think if I do go up a little, I won't feel as stressed about not going over calories. Will I be screwing myself over (for lack of better words) if I go up in calories? Can some one offer advice please? It would be greatly appreciated! :flowerforyou:
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Replies

  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    if 1550 worked fo you on sparkpeople, then you know it works for you... play with your numbers, find you comfy spot!
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Use these..

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
  • thedarkwombat
    thedarkwombat Posts: 123 Member
    Where did you get that MFP is recommending 1200 calories a day? It recommends 2000 for me. Are you talking about people only in your weight range? Your post makes it sound like MFP hands out a 1200 calorie recommendation globally to everyone!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    MFP recommend 1200 PLUS EXERCISE CALORIES.

    Caps for emphasis. Nobody should be eating 1200. No one.
  • lawlorka
    lawlorka Posts: 484 Member
    MFP originally put me on 1200 a day - no matter whether I picked 1lb or 2lb a week weight loss goal. It wasn't enough for me. I was fine for the first two weeks but then I just got hungrier and hungrier, and crabby!

    I use TDEE now and my daily allowance is 1642 right now. Sometimes I eat below and sometimes over but my week usually averages out to 1642 per day.

    Google the Scooby Calculator, input your details and it will give you a number. Then you manually input your goals into MFP.

    TDEE includes exercise so you DON'T eat back any exercise calories. The idea is that your daily allowance is the same regardless of whether its an exercise day or a rest day - its all included.

    I still average a 1lb a week weight loss and that's what I want so I am happy and as my exercise routine is quite regular I find this method works best for me.
  • sarahenagy
    sarahenagy Posts: 65 Member
    I have to put in "loose 2.5 lbs per week" to get a 1200 calorie daily goal. I did stick to this (while eating back all exercise calories - using a heart-rate monitor so I knew exactly what I'd burnt) for a while, but eventually found it did not give me enough energy and I was not loosing 2.5 lbs a week. So I upped by half a pound a week until I found a point at which I was comfortable. Which was just below 1400 calories a day. I loose weight if I stick to this this, but am not starving.
  • EmmieBaby
    EmmieBaby Posts: 1,235 Member
    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    i used the above to find out how many calories to eat as well as my macro

    hope it helps
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    Use these..

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    ^This

    1200 is too low for most people. I've tried it and didn't have success before, but eating my BMR and exercise calories back has helped
  • tbullucks06
    tbullucks06 Posts: 128
    Where did you get that MFP is recommending 1200 calories a day? It recommends 2000 for me. Are you talking about people only in your weight range? Your post makes it sound like MFP hands out a 1200 calorie recommendation globally to everyone!

    Sorry - Correction - No it does not recommend 1200 for everyone. I do think its the lowest calorie amount it recommends though overall.
  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    This is confusing because MFP never recommended that I eat only 1200 cals/day. I have never gone below 1600 or so except by mistake.
  • _crafty_
    _crafty_ Posts: 1,682 Member
    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    i used the above to find out how many calories to eat as well as my macro

    ^ this

    and LOLOL at 1200 calories a day. I eat that in one meal. :noway:
  • workout_ninja
    workout_ninja Posts: 524 Member
    I use the TDEE method on iifym.com and it tells me to eat 1900 calories a day, but i exercise 6-7 days a week. I find that a very comfortable number! When I started MFP, it gave me 1200 calories and I think I lasted 2 weeks before I got really crabby!!
  • ajaxe432
    ajaxe432 Posts: 608 Member
    MFP recommend 1200 PLUS EXERCISE CALORIES.

    Caps for emphasis. Nobody should be eating 1200. No one.
    Not necessarily true. Some peoples TDEE's using the harris benedict equal out to that. Lots of factors.
  • feltlikesound
    feltlikesound Posts: 326 Member
    I use a hybrid of the calories suggested by my base workout program (New Rules of Lifting for Women), and what I just feel WORKS for me. I eat back my exercise calories (well I don't always eat them all back, but you catch my drift). This aligns with an MFP setting of 0.5 loss a week -- but I have lost 30ish pounds in the past 4 months.

    Ironically, I just looked, and my calorie goal is right around my BMR. Eating back my exercise calories, I land right around my TDEE. Go figure!

    ETA: For the record, on days I do not work out I eat around 1500. I generally eat back my exercise calories, so on workout days I am eating 1800-1900. My TDEE is 1917.
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    This changed my eating habits. I never did 1200 other than when I was on WW many moons ago. I was, however, only eating about 1400 calories and not losing. Now I eat right around 1900 and have been much more successful. Good luck to you!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=short+sweet+<span class=
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,708 Member
    Where did you get that MFP is recommending 1200 calories a day? It recommends 2000 for me. Are you talking about people only in your weight range? Your post makes it sound like MFP hands out a 1200 calorie recommendation globally to everyone!

    Sorry - Correction - No it does not recommend 1200 for everyone. I do think its the lowest calorie amount it recommends though overall.

    And who says you have to go with the lowest calories ? I do, because I am barely five feet tall and am 66 years old....but I am in a very small group. Most other people get to eat way more......and you probably do also....:o).
    Good Luck !
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    AND how did you figure out your calorie goals?

    I am beginning to realize more and more that a lot of people on MFP are not using the recommended 1200 calorie a day that MFP suggests. I've seen people mention they are using the TDEE formulas and other things. I DO feel like 1200 calories a day is low for me but have been trying to stick to it and then eating my exercise calories back over the past year I have been on MFP. I also feel like I have been white knuckling it most of the time. The days I didnt exercise, 1200 was hard to stick to.
    When I was on the SparkPeople plan in 2011, they gave me a range of calories and whether I did exercise or not, I could eat up to 1550 a day and lose the recommended 2lbs a week.
    I want to change but I am scared to a little because I have been losing on MFP. However, I think if I do go up a little, I won't feel as stressed about not going over calories. Will I be screwing myself over (for lack of better words) if I go up in calories? Can some one offer advice please? It would be greatly appreciated! :flowerforyou:

    How many pounds per week did you tell it you want to lose? According to your ticker, you have about 10 pounds left to lose. You should only be aiming for a .5 pound loss each week.
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    I began with the 1200 a day and wasn't hungry, but wasn't losing weight. Now I average approx 1400-1500 and I am losing weight again. Some days under some over.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    Use these..

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    These are awesome. I take an average to come up with my (very yummy) 2300 cals/day goal. (And an added bonus is that this is the only number I have to worry about, since it includes my exercise burns. Easier on the head.)
  • hnsaunde
    hnsaunde Posts: 757 Member
    Take a look at the links below for some great info on the TDEE method:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1072049-thoughts-on-tdee-calculators-and-switching-from-mfp-to-tdee
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    This is confusing because MFP never recommended that I eat only 1200 cals/day. I have never gone below 1600 or so except by mistake.

    If you set your weekly goal HIGH enough....MFP will recommend 1200


    No - I don't use 1200. I would rather lose weight at a slower pace if it allows me to keep existing muscle mass. I'm over 50 and my BMR is low enough already ....1200? ...no thanks.
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    AND how did you figure out your calorie goals?

    I am beginning to realize more and more that a lot of people on MFP are not using the recommended 1200 calorie a day that MFP suggests. I've seen people mention they are using the TDEE formulas and other things. I DO feel like 1200 calories a day is low for me but have been trying to stick to it and then eating my exercise calories back over the past year I have been on MFP. I also feel like I have been white knuckling it most of the time. The days I didnt exercise, 1200 was hard to stick to.
    When I was on the SparkPeople plan in 2011, they gave me a range of calories and whether I did exercise or not, I could eat up to 1550 a day and lose the recommended 2lbs a week.
    I want to change but I am scared to a little because I have been losing on MFP. However, I think if I do go up a little, I won't feel as stressed about not going over calories. Will I be screwing myself over (for lack of better words) if I go up in calories? Can some one offer advice please? It would be greatly appreciated! :flowerforyou:

    More links!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/963088-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy
  • dgraboski
    dgraboski Posts: 125 Member
    When I started MFP over a year ago for a 1.5 lb per week loss MFP gave me 1230 calories. As I lost more weight it lowered it down to the 1200. I was at that point for quite sometime then fell into a rut of not really tracking/exercising and gained 20 back. MFP still has me at 1200 a day. It's hard to stay within that range. I tend to not eat my workout calories back.
  • PennStateChick
    PennStateChick Posts: 327 Member
    Just to share, the OP isn't totally off the wall with the 1200 calorie a day recommendation from MFP. Even if I put in that I only want to lose 0.5 pounds per week, I still only get 1210 calories per MFPs recommendations.

    I, however, eat 1500, which is maintenance for my goal weight.. and figure I will get there when I get there.
  • lsorci919
    lsorci919 Posts: 772 Member
    This is exactly why I love that I got a bodymedia armband. It gives me a pretty accurate TDEE for me. Even on days I don't workout I get about 200 or more "exercise" calories because I'm more active then MFP assumed. Some days I can stick to 1200 but other days I'm just too dang hungry to only eat 1200. If you ate 1550 on sparkpeople and it worked for you, I don't see why you shouldn't do that again.
  • countrygirl7mels
    countrygirl7mels Posts: 36
    I think the calorie level depends on your goals and how active you are. Personally,I don't really have any weight to lose, and I am also weight training, so I should gain some weight (hopefully), but I do use MFP to keep myself in check. By logging my food I am more aware of what I am eating, and I love how it breaks down how much protein I am eating, because I tend to be too low on protein since I am a pescatarian. At 1200, you would definitely have to eat back any calories burned off through exercise! If you are fatigued and hungry while eating 1200 calories from HEALTHY food, you should eat more healthy food (veggies, fruits, lean protein). Eating more of these things will help you, especially if it gives you more energy to exercise, so it is completely OK to eat more than MFP recommends as long as you use some sense about it (don't eat a ton more and eat clean).
  • Shoechick5
    Shoechick5 Posts: 221 Member
    If I put two pounds a week in as a goal I would get 1,200 but that's too quick for the little I have left to use. I have mine set to 1,500 and I'm usually a bit under. Never hungry, losing nicely, lots of energy, sleeping well. I'm sticking with 1,500.
  • girlie100
    girlie100 Posts: 646 Member
    1200 calories, oh you mean breakfast :laugh:
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    It also depends on what your activity level is set at. Very few people are actually sedentary. MFP has never given me 1200 calories either and when I adjusted my activity level accordingly and my weight loss goals it comes out pretty close to my TDEE if I ate my exercise calories back. I use my TDEE because it's easier and I exercise in the evening or late afternoon.
  • ifaber
    ifaber Posts: 195 Member
    Unless all you do is wake up, wash up, get dressed, go to work and ONLY SIT for 8 hours, go home and sit on your butt until its time to wash up and go to bed, you SHOULD NOT have your activity level at sedentary. I think that's the big misconception on here is that because you have a desk job you must be sedentary. WRONG! I have a desk job but I get up to walk to the bathroom, cafe, around the building sometimes if I get a drowsy spell, and when I get home I am roaming around the kitchen gathering things to cook and them I'm standing cooking, going up and down the stairs, etc. You have to take in ALL NON EXERCISE ACTIVITY and I don't think MFP does a really good job at explaining it.

    At minimum you are probably lightly active. When I got my fitbit I saw my daily burn of 2380 WITHOUGHT exercise I was excited, but thought it was off. Well it consistently spit out numbers around that or higher when I worked out for over a week. I say if you are going to do the MFP way, set your activity level up a notch or two, I have mine at Active, eat back your cardio exercise calories, and see what happens after a couple of weeks. You'll get more food, feel better, and feel stronger. Unless you are really short, I'm sure such a low calorie amount leaves you with less than optimal energy levels.

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