MFP only gives me 1200 calories!!

I am guessing your goal is set at 2 pounds per week. I am also guessing your activity level is set at sedentary. With the children you have you are not sedentary. The only truly sedentary people are those who sit around all day, and yes I mean sit. You are probably way more active than that. Also, that 1200 does not include any exercise calories. So any exercise you do, you need to eat those calories back.

My suggestion would be change you activity level to something that actually reflects the walking, running, and all the rest of caring for 3 children (lightly active at the very least) and change your goal to 1 pound per week.

If you did the TDEE at Scobby's right it includes your exercise and daily activity calories. I am guessing the two come out very similar if you go for a 1 pound per week goal and up your activity level.

As to which is better, I personally prefer figuring out my TDEE and doing the TDEE minus 20%. I don't like adding exercise calories. I prefer them figured into the total ahead of time. You should use the one you prefer.

Change your 'goals' to lightly active or active if you are actually fairly active. Also, I'd back off from 2lbs to 1 or even .5lbs a week. 1200 is just such a small number. You can still lose weight without restricting yourself so much. There are some really helpful threads in here. your guide to becoming sexypants is a good read, in place of a road map is another really informative thread. Doing some research and learning about BMR/TDEE really helped me set my goals.

thank you i read the road to sexy pants and it's very informative... i changed my activity level to light activity and now ive got about 1600 cal a day.. after a month of 1200 this might be a little difficult but i'm gonna give it a go and see what happens

I just did the same thing. I lost almost 10 pounds doing the 1200 calories. I had mine set on sedentary too until yesterday. I changed to lightly active and it upped my calories. Hope it works out good for us

You can set your calorie goal to whatever you want by going to "Goals" and going to custom settings.

That is odd. I'm a 5'11" male who weighs 200lbs and for two lbs a week it has me at 1990 calories per day. I do have it set at a moderately active lifestyle. I haven't lost any weight these last two weeks but my four core measurements have all gone down, so I'll take that I guess

Men have a higher metabolism than women, that's why you will be given a higher calorie allotment.

OP, I am 5'2" and am losing on 1300-1700 cal per day. You shouldn't need to cut so low to lose the weight. Eating a bit more will help you not feel so deprived, and keep your energy up for your minions (I love that you called them that). :flowerforyou:

Do 1658 and remember that you can even go 20% higher and still not gain because that is maintenance. I think it's also a good idea to just raise your calories by 100 or 200 a week and evaluate how you feel and until you get to 1658.