maintenance calories only 1340???

If your lighter there's less of you to maintain..

That doesn't sound right that you'd have less calories than to lose... you must have entered something wrong at some point.

But yes, it doesn't include exercise. You can use http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to get a maintenance number that includes exercise.

Now, sometimes MFP can give you lower calories than *your* body actually needs. Question, were you still losing weight (recently) eating the 1,560? If so, your maintenance will certainly be higher than that.

You may have to set a custom goal, just need to do a little math. For example, if over the last 4 weeks, you averaged 1/2 lb a week, your maintenance will be about 250 cal/day ABOVE that 1,560 number--so around 1,800. If your weight loss was slower than that, shoot for around 1,700. If it was faster losses recently, maybe 1,900 is a number to consider.

i'm trying to gain a few lbs..but afterwards want to maintain. When I put my maintenance weight into MFP ..it takes me from 1560 that I had to "lose"..... to 1340 to maintain????

I am 5`0 113-lb and 46 yrs old. I have the same maintenance calories. When I started I also had 1560 cal -day, but as we lose weight, our smaller bodies needs less calories to maintain.

Edit to add: Usually I am full eating around 1300 cal-day, but there are times when I eat out, or other occasion I eat more, I just make sure that I hit the gym, and burn 500-700 cal..

How tall are you?? I know that getting older lowers your calories. If you gave us your height and current weight, some of us number nerds could check it for you.

I'm also 56. The way to be able to eat more is to make your body more efficient at calorie burning. I do this by lifting weights 3x a week. It takes a lot more food/energy to maintain lean body mass (muscle) than to maintain fat. Of course, it's not for everybody but the benefits to women are undeniable. I am not bulky. I am getting fit, my bones are staying strong, and I am able to lose weight on 1600 -1700 cals a day. My balance is so much better and I have great energy.

I also agree that you should recalculate your numbers, just to make sure there was no error.

You said your trying to gain first then maintain, why are you saying its giving you a lower number to maintain than to "lose" when your trying to gain. Something isnt adding up. Your calories will be higher for gaining than maintaining.

Sounds ridiculously low to me. NHS guidelines say the average woman needs around 2000 calories and 2500 for the average man. I really can't see how even anyone at goal wouldn't continue to lose on so little.

Well,, you are 20 years younger than the OP and we still don't know about any height differences. These can make a huge difference. If you are small and older you will have a much lower maintenance amount. It's a bummer, but that's just the way it is.

Online calorie calculators are often inaccurate. Borrow a copy of "Sports Nutrition" by Nancy Clark, or another nutrition book and use that to calculate. It will be much more accurate.

Essentially,
the amount of calories your body needs ONLY TO EXIST all day (breathing, brain function, etc etc...) is your healthy goal weight times 10.
Ex: 150 x 10 = 1500 calories only for organ function and existence

Then, you would do some math to figure out the percentage of that you must INCREASE by to account for NON-WORKOUT/"purposeful exercise" you do on a daily basis. The Clark book says 50% should be added if you lead a moderately active lifestyle, 20-40% if you are sedentary and then 60% if you are very active--again, NOT INCLUDING WORKOUTS/"PURPOSEFUL EXERCISE".

Last, you would add yet ANOTHER chunk of calories to match what you have burned that day through purposeful exercise.

So, according to Clark and all of the research she cites in her book, 1340 is FAR too few calories to maintain your weight.

I recommend you look beyond the internet for additional resources. Again, online calorie calculators are often not correct.