Goal Changes

JessiLeeD14
JessiLeeD14 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
This morning, when I typed my progress in, a message popped up and recommended that since I've lost over 10 pounds, I should change my goal settings. I assumed this would mean I would be allowed less calories because I weigh less. I clicked OK, and it said goals automatically changed. It actually changed it to allow me to have 20 MORE calories. Obviously I realize that 20 calories is not much, and I will still be losing weight if I stay within my calorie range, but I'm just curious as to the reasoning behind that. Anybody?

PS: Am I able to access the message board on the app on my phone?

Thanks! :)

Replies

  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    I don't know the answer to your main question but the answer to the "message boards on the app" question is, sadly, no. You can access it by using your phone's browser though which is what I do.
  • terbusha
    terbusha Posts: 1,483 Member
    Part of the reason that it is giving you more calories, is that as people get fitter and start to add muscle mass, their metabolic rate begins to increase. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. At some point though, the calorie level that you were at may simply not be enough energy for your body to drop body fat and you can hit a plateau. This happened to me. I was losing weight at 1800 calories/day for a 4 months and then it started to slow down. The funny thing was that I bumped my calories up to 2000 calories/day and I started losing weight again. Our bodies do funny things sometimes.

    Hope this helps, and I'd be happy to help anytime!

    Allan TerBush
    Team Grit
  • terbusha
    terbusha Posts: 1,483 Member
    After only 11 lbs lost, you can stay at your current calorie intake level, assuming it is not below 1200 calories/day. You don't want to go below that because your body needs a certain amount of fuel to function properly. I actually tell my team members that I want them to be eating as much food as possible while still losing body fat/weight at a decent rate. That way, you'll have room to make adjustments down the road if you do hit a plateau. If you're already underrating, then there really is nowhere you can cut from if you plateau.

    Allan TerBush
    Team Grit
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Part of the reason that it is giving you more calories, is that as people get fitter and start to add muscle mass, their metabolic rate begins to increase. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. At some point though, the calorie level that you were at may simply not be enough energy for your body to drop body fat and you can hit a plateau. This happened to me. I was losing weight at 1800 calories/day for a 4 months and then it started to slow down. The funny thing was that I bumped my calories up to 2000 calories/day and I started losing weight again. Our bodies do funny things sometimes.

    Hope this helps, and I'd be happy to help anytime!

    Allan TerBush
    Team Grit

    You are not adding muscle mass eating at a deficet...

    20 calories is not much it's just over a tsp of sugar so not sure what the issue is. Goal settings are how much weight to lose along with how fast. If you changed it from 1lb a week to 1/2lb a week that would cause an increase your calories...
  • JessiLeeD14
    JessiLeeD14 Posts: 8
    The 20 calories wasn't an issue as I realize it won't affect my diet. I simply wanted to know the reasoning behind it because nothing else changed (weight loss per week or final weight goal). So I just wanted to know why because I'm interested. Thanks for your help Allan!
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    MFP recently updated some of their calorie and nutrition goals in accordance with national guidelines. You can read about it here:

    http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1375583-a-message-about-myfitnesspal-s-updated-nutrition-goals

    This means that users may get extra calories when they update their goals.

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