I'm not sure how many calories I need

robertday999
robertday999 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 19 male 250lb. MFP said my gave 2100 cals as my goal which seemed too much. I do weights 3 days a week and run 2 miles about 4-5 days a weak and have been eating about 1600 calories a day, is that too little or fine? Online I keep getting contradictory answers
thanks

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    When you enter your stats and goals into MFP, it should give you a number-start there. Exercise calories are added IN ADDITION to that number and you will find most eat back half to account for miscalculations.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    Go by MFP. Adjust if it doesn't work.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    robertday999 wrote: »
    I'm 19 male 250lb. MFP said my gave 2100 cals as my goal which seemed too much. I do weights 3 days a week and run 2 miles about 4-5 days a weak and have been eating about 1600 calories a day, is that too little or fine? Online I keep getting contradictory answers
    thanks
    1600 is probably too low for most men. At 250 lbs, it's certainly too low. I like MFP's 2100 much better. If you stall out on 2100 you have room to reduce. If you stall out on 1600, you really don't.

  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    With that level of activity and your weight, you should have no problem losing weight on a 2100 calorie diet. At 1600, you would likely be losing weight at an unsafe rate or you will have trouble keeping it up.
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  • robertday999
    robertday999 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks guys I'll bump it up a bit and see how things go
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I would go with 2100. I think the goal should be to lose 1-2lbs per week while eating as many calories as you can. If it makes you feel better, I'm 5'4.5", about 172lbs (down from 260), a female and my average daily intake is in the 1800-2000 calorie range to lose a little over 1lb per week.
  • noexcusesjustresults2014
    noexcusesjustresults2014 Posts: 212 Member
    vismal wrote: »
    robertday999 wrote: »
    I'm 19 male 250lb. MFP said my gave 2100 cals as my goal which seemed too much. I do weights 3 days a week and run 2 miles about 4-5 days a weak and have been eating about 1600 calories a day, is that too little or fine? Online I keep getting contradictory answers
    thanks
    1600 is probably too low for most men. At 250 lbs, it's certainly too low. I like MFP's 2100 much better. If you stall out on 2100 you have room to reduce. If you stall out on 1600, you really don't.

    + 1. I am about half your weight (126 pounds) and am losing .5 pounds a week while consuming 2250 calories.

    Nice work with all the exercise! I have no doubt the weight will come off quickly. While a smaller deficit will slow your weight loss, it will provide you with enough energy to keep exercising and help preserve more muscle mass during your cut (compared to a larger deficit and no strength training)
  • robertday999
    robertday999 Posts: 4 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    With that level of activity and your weight, you should have no problem losing weight on a 2100 calorie diet. At 1600, you would likely be losing weight at an unsafe rate or you will have trouble keeping it up.
    I've actually been stalled out on my weight for almost a week
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    robertday999 wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    With that level of activity and your weight, you should have no problem losing weight on a 2100 calorie diet. At 1600, you would likely be losing weight at an unsafe rate or you will have trouble keeping it up.
    I've actually been stalled out on my weight for almost a week

    A WEEK?! That could be anything from water retention to some heavy foods that haven't made it through your system yet. A week isn't long enough to know whether you are truly stalled or not.
  • robertday999
    robertday999 Posts: 4 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    robertday999 wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    With that level of activity and your weight, you should have no problem losing weight on a 2100 calorie diet. At 1600, you would likely be losing weight at an unsafe rate or you will have trouble keeping it up.
    I've actually been stalled out on my weight for almost a week

    A WEEK?! That could be anything from water retention to some heavy foods that haven't made it through your system yet. A week isn't long enough to know whether you are truly stalled or not.
    Alright I'll be more patient, thank you all for your advice.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    If you're using MFP to lose weight, why would you then immediately try to go against how it is set up? That includes randomly selecting an intake level no matter what MFP provides after input of your data.

    MFP provides a caloric goal that includes the deficit to lose whatever amount you set for a weekly goal (up to 2 lbs per week). That deficit does not include any exercise calories. MFP is designed around NEAT (Non Exercise Activity Thermogenisis) and expects you to eat back exercise calories to maintain that net deficit.

    You can do this in a healthy way, or not. A total intake of 1600 calories is low for a sedentary 19 yr old male and woefully inadequate for somebody exercising as much as you claim.
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