Calories for the Day

sweetseraph7
sweetseraph7 Posts: 91
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
So some one tells me that for you to loose weight you use this equation

your weight / 2 = new weight (add a zero to the end) and that's how many calories you should eat each day to lose weight.
(272 / 2 = 136 + 0 at end = 1360 calories)

so for me to loose weight you should eat anymore than 1360 calories. . . .humm if that's the case then why is my calorie intake goal 2060 calories a day?

any thoughts on this matter?

Replies

  • kennedar
    kennedar Posts: 306 Member
    I know that your total calorie intake should change depending on your starting weight, but for me at 170 pounds that would put me at 85 pounds when we are finished and 850 calories for the day. That is not possibly right! I would go with what MFP tells you, it has worked wonders for me in the last few months!
  • mjb123
    mjb123 Posts: 19
    That's not a healthy equation. I weigh 148 and that divided by 2 is 74. Add the 0 and it's 740 calories. The very least you should be eating is 1,200. If you exercise daily it should be closer to 1,600-2,000. Good Luck!
  • karriecook
    karriecook Posts: 84 Member
    Ummmm, I'm going to say nada to that equation. For me it would be:

    168/2 = 84 + 0 = 840 calories

    MFP says my daily calorie intake s/b 1510 (losing 1 lb a week)

    hope that helps
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    Toss that equation out the window. There are so many things to take into account - not only your weight, but your regular activity level, exercise level, how much you want to lose per week, etc., all of which MFP looks at. Use the goals page (under My Home) to calculate what you should be eating. As long as you pick the most accurate daily activity level, your goal calories per MFP should be pretty accurate.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    If you don't want to deal with all the math and equations a good rule of thumb is 10 x TARGET weight for women (12 for men). So for me it's 1420! My goal is 142, so 142 x 10 is 1420. It just so happens that works out to what MFP has given me, but it may vary for you.

    It also happens that my sweet spot for losing weight is between 1400 and 1600 calories.
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    Wow thats a really bad equation, it makes no sense for my weight.
  • sweetseraph7
    sweetseraph7 Posts: 91
    Yeah! Most days I only eat 1500 before exercising! But that equation is a little nuts!
  • runningneo122
    runningneo122 Posts: 6,962 Member
    Toss that equation out the window. There are so many things to take into account - not only your weight, but your regular activity level, exercise level, how much you want to lose per week, etc., all of which MFP looks at. Use the goals page (under My Home) to calculate what you should be eating. As long as you pick the most accurate daily activity level, your goal calories per MFP should be pretty accurate.


    Well said.

    RMinVA: Everything I've read says nothing about using your target weight in calorie intake calculation. Someone's "target" weight might be sheer fantasy and unattainable. Use your current weight, activity level, exercise amount and desired weight loss per week and you'll get the perfect number every time. Also make sure to eat ALL the exercise calories b/c you are already at a defecit from the weight loss calculation. 1 pound per week loss = 500 calorie defecit per day.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    She was citing another equation, not reliant on any major calculation, and I was simply stating what I knew to be a good rule of thumb to determine calorie intake. That is all. I read it in Women's Health and also heard it on "Cook Yourself Thin" on the Lifetime Network.
  • runningneo122
    runningneo122 Posts: 6,962 Member
    She was citing another equation, not reliant on any major calculation, and I was simply stating what I knew to be a good rule of thumb to determine calorie intake. That is all. I read it in Women's Health and also heard it on "Cook Yourself Thin" on the Lifetime Network.

    No problem!!:happy:
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