Some help please:)

If you google scoobys accurate calculator you should be able to work it out yourself.

Why is it making your head spin? The TDEE calculators are extremely simple and straightforward: Input your info, subtract 20% from the number it gives you, and eat that number of calories. Very simple. Where's the head-spinning part?

edited for typo

Ok so I am a little confused on how many calories I should be eating to lose weight . I am eating roughly around 1500 calories a day . I do not weight my food so maybe a little more or less ... anywho I am reading posts about TDEE calculators and BMR and I its making my head spin so just wondering if anyone could maybe help me figure out how many calories I need to lose around a pound a week ..
Little about me .. female , 5'10 , 225 LBS and I have a labor intense job but do not workout .. HELP he he ..

Thanks

It's never a little less

You just need to weigh stuff likely. My 1700 a day was about 2300 a day when weighed. From what I understand, I'm not the only one with a bad eye for estimating food weight.

Once you know how much you are eating, to lose weight you probably just need to eat a little less.

I have a very physical job as well and a coach told me that because my body is used to this it doesn't recognize it as a workout. Might want to try to throw in something different like aquafit or cycling a few times a week. Another tip to jump your metabolism is to chose one day a week and eat anything you want for one hour and one hour only

As someone just starting out, I would not worry about TDEE methods. Set your activity level (in the "Goals" tab) to lightly active to account for your job. Enter in 2# per week loss, and see what MFP gives you. If you feel like you need to eat more, drop it to 1# per week. Go with the numbers you're given. Once you get into the game a bit more you can worry about macros, TDEE method, adding exercise, etc. Definitely weigh your food though, or stick with pre-portioned foods (that's what I did before I got a food scale). You can get a food scale for $5 if you can't afford a better one.

thank you .... really helpful info ...

Tracking food is your best approach in meal portioning. The more accurate you are, the more successful you will be. MFP makes it easy. Download the App for every electronic device you have and make vigorous use of it!

MFP sets you up initially with input from you. Follow that plan for a week and see how you fare. Remember, keep accurate track of your food. Adjust the plan as needed. I know you know this and I hope repeating it reaffirms you are on the right track.

I'm lucky, I'm with a program and my meal plan gets adjusted for me with careful testing and monitoring that they do. For my age, gender, general health, it's been calculated I would need 1900 calories a day to maintain my weight. It was recommended I eat 1400 calories a day for a net caloric deficit of 500 calories. That would represent 3500 calories a week - or about a 1 lb loss a week.

It's been suggested to me by the Wharton Clinic to eat 6 to 8 times a day. To have a 200 cal breakfast. To eat a carb "snack" (not to be confused with sweet treat) before a main meal; carbs have a way of both stimulating hunger and satiating it if you can wait 20 minutes for it to settle - hence why you'd eat it before a main meal with a bit of delay. Drink plenty of water; 8 cups a day minimum. Exercise. 3500 calories is 1 LB. So if you divide 3500 / 7; you need to do 500calories of exercise a day to loose a pound in a week.

Between diet and exercise, I can expect up to a 2 LB weight loss per week; notwithstanding water retention, general fluctuations, slightly inaccurate accountability in tracking etc. The little things do add up.

FYI - I live in Ontario, Canada. The Wharton Clinic is a medical, evidence-based weight loss center sponsored by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan - aka, the government of the province). It is intended for people with one or more of these: heart problems, diabetes and obesity. It is a comprehensive approach with the aid of dieticians, bariatric nutritionist (not sure on the difference between the former and the latter), cardiologist and GP. They are very thorough with all manner of testing and support. If you live in Ontario, Canada, I strongly suggest you ask your family doctor to provide you with a referral. There are centers spread out over the province.

Good luck with your lifestyle changes! You've already taken a big step - you started!

Thanks guys , I think I will have to buy a food scale just really didn't want too ... just seems like so much work to weight everything .. But I am stuck ...

Its work at first, but it becomes second nature and it's really helped me in the long run,

The easiest way to do it on this site is to go to My Home. Click on Goals. Put in the information it asks for plus how much you want to lose/gain/maintain at hit go. It will calculate your calories for you.

Because MFP is set up to add your exercise in, you can choose a basic activity level and add exercise above and beyond or just set at sedentary and log everything. You earn extra calories for the exerise you log. Because of this, MFP tends to have lower calories than some other sites because it expects you to eat back the extra exercise calories you log. Worked great for me.

DO measure though. At least until you're used to it. I measure and weight periodically and use online pictoral portion guides. Once you're used to it, you just have to spot check.