calorie count for activity level

cahors97
cahors97 Posts: 13 Member
edited February 16 in Health and Weight Loss
When I joined MFP 2 weeks ago I put down that I was moderately active and I was told to eat 1460 calories. I am a stay at home mom and on my feet nearly all day, but just normal household activity. When I adjust it to the lowest activity setting it drops me to 1200 calories, which seems like a very small amount for my weight (230. I've lost 4 pounds) I want to lose around 80 pounds total. My question is, depending on the day I may or may not be "moderately active". Should I go down to 1200 or stay where I am? I've been exercising regularly (C2 5K and light weights with a total gym). I'm not unhappy with the 4 pounds but I guess I expected more "water weight" to come off at first and I wasn't sure if the extra calories was the reason why it wasn't.

Replies

  • Tabithas_Transformation
    Tabithas_Transformation Posts: 93 Member
    I personally set my activity to Sedentary as this accounts for the days (weekends) I spend lounging around and then I can add my walk to work during the week as an additional exercise. If 1,200 calories a day feels too little for you at the moment, you could always set your goal to be less aggressive than 2lbs a week while you adjust to fewer calories and logging everything accurately.

    PS: 4lbs in 2 weeks is amazing! Don't downgrade your achievement so far :smile:
  • allotmentgardener
    allotmentgardener Posts: 248 Member
    I work only part time though it involves being on my feet all the time. I do do a lot of walking though especially with two dogs. I put myself down as the lowest activity (1200 calories) and I have lost a fair bit in the first week. That said I have been really careful about the amount of calories I've been eating and I cut out crisps and cookies. Check your calories intake to make sure you are not underestimating but you could try going down 1200 and see how you get on.
    Everyone is different, you have lost weight which is brilliant, it may be less than you wanted but it is still a loss. Be proud of yourself, its a great start :)
  • Shaky44
    Shaky44 Posts: 214 Member
    If you set MFP to "lose 2 lbs / week" it will give you a calorie deficit of 1000 calories per day. So, it thinks you are probably burning less than 2200 calories per day at a sedentary level. If you aren't going to embark on an exercise program, you are probably better off going for slower weight loss (I agree with 1200 calories is probably too low for you). Change the setting to 1 lb per week and the calories should recalculate to closer to 1600-1700 calories per day.
  • doctorsookie
    doctorsookie Posts: 1,084 Member
    When I joined MFP 2 weeks ago I put down that I was moderately active and I was told to eat 1460 calories. I am a stay at home mom and on my feet nearly all day, but just normal household activity. When I adjust it to the lowest activity setting it drops me to 1200 calories, which seems like a very small amount for my weight (230. I've lost 4 pounds) I want to lose around 80 pounds total. My question is, depending on the day I may or may not be "moderately active". Should I go down to 1200 or stay where I am? I've been exercising regularly (C2 5K and light weights with a total gym). I'm not unhappy with the 4 pounds but I guess I expected more "water weight" to come off at first and I wasn't sure if the extra calories was the reason why it wasn't.

    Two weeks and you lost four pounds? That's fantastic. I would go to the lowest setting myself and eat back all the calories burned from exercise...but if you are losing two pounds a week that is marvelous. You don't want to lose faster than that. Congratulations!
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