2650 Calories a day??!

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TarheelramTr
TarheelramTr Posts: 18
in Health and Weight Loss
I am a 6'3 18 year old male. I started my diet two weeks ago and have lost 20 pounds so far. I wanted to start going down to the 2 pounds a week diet so my body doesn't get damaged. But when I put my info here the site is telling me 2650 calories is what I need to eat a day. Does that seem accurate? It just seems like a really high number and I want to make sure I'll be losing weight. Keep in mind I burn around 200 calories a day using either the elliptical or punching bag so technically its telling me to eat 2850 calories a day. If anyone is close to my height or has some knowledge on this can you tell me if this looks incorrect? Its 3pm and I'm only at 560 calories. I've had breakfast, lunch, and snacks am I suppose to buldge to reach 2850 calories?
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Replies

  • TropicalParaMonster
    TropicalParaMonster Posts: 151 Member
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    I'm not really a big fan of MFP's caloric breakdown but they do take into consideration your activity level, did you put in sedentary? Also you didn't tell us your current weight so I have no clue if that's too much or too little in terms of calories. Your 20 lbs in two weeks may have been to a severe low caloric intake and water weight loss. Sometimes we need to eat more to lose more, if that makes sense. You also don't want to be losing protein and muscle mass with your new dieting skills.

    A better way is to calculate your TDEE (google IIFYM calculator)
    On the website you put in your stats and it tells you how many calories you need.
    To lose a safe amount of weight you'll have to eat at a negative 20% of your TDEE (they calculate it for you). It'll help and show you what you need to eat in terms of your carbs, fats and proteins too.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
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    What is your current weight?
  • Laoch_Cailin
    Laoch_Cailin Posts: 414 Member
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    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Plug all your info in here to double check. I'm sure its right though :smiley:
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,643 Member
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    It's probably right. Looks like your BMR at a healthy weight is around 2000 without any exercise. What were you doing before you changed it to 2 pounds a week?
  • misskarihari
    misskarihari Posts: 104 Member
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    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/ You can calculate on this site how much energy you need a day. Eat something between your BMR and TDEE and you will lose weight, but never eat below your BMR. Read the information under the calculator on that site for better explanation.

    But I wouldn't believe 2650 cal a day is very wrong, since you are tall. I don't know how heavy you are though.
  • TarheelramTr
    TarheelramTr Posts: 18
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    Sorry, I am 259 pounds right now and my activity is set to active. And thanks I'll check out the site see if it makes more sense. And yes I was eating around 1000 calories or less for 2 weeks because I did not ever feel hungry but I'm trying to change that.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
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    You lost 20lb in 2 weeks?
  • karlsantiago
    karlsantiago Posts: 90 Member
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    try to spread your calories out a little more, i would say most of your calories should come early in the day when you wake up since that's when the body is most depleted of nutrients. the fact that you are burning calories is the reason why MFP is giving you a higher intake of food, so 2650 sounds accurate and safe.

    btw i love cardio on the punching bags too great and fun way to burn some cals!
  • kendalslimmer
    kendalslimmer Posts: 579 Member
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    MFP always allocates more calories to:
    - men
    - taller folk
    - people who weigh more

    Maybe just try eating more calorically dense foods?
  • TarheelramTr
    TarheelramTr Posts: 18
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    999tigger wrote: »
    You lost 20lb in 2 weeks?

    Most of it was water weight since I was 278 but I was definitely not taking enough calories.
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
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    That's about how much I maintain on, so given your age and size, it seems reasonable for a deficit to me.
  • TarheelramTr
    TarheelramTr Posts: 18
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    Will the calorie intake decrease as I lose weight?
  • Atrocity108
    Atrocity108 Posts: 328 Member
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    Im 6'4 and was at 360lbs. I started eating 1200 calories on non-active days, and 1300-1500 calories on active days. One day a week, usually Sunday, I eat upwards of 3000-4000 (it is my cheat day after all). So far, since February 17th, I have lost 130lbs.
  • Laoch_Cailin
    Laoch_Cailin Posts: 414 Member
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    TarheelramTr wrote: »
    Will the calorie intake decrease as I lose weight?

    Yeah, if you update your weight ever so often your cals will decrease.

    If your struggling to meet your goals maybe try prelogging. Add loads of calorie dense foods to your day, I always find nuts are great for using up cals.
  • TropicalParaMonster
    TropicalParaMonster Posts: 151 Member
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    TarheelramTr wrote: »
    Sorry, I am 259 pounds right now and my activity is set to active. And thanks I'll check out the site see if it makes more sense. And yes I was eating around 1000 calories or less for 2 weeks because I did not ever feel hungry but I'm trying to change that.

    Eating 1000 calories isn't safe by any means and I'm glad you know that. Your weight loss was probably a lot of water weight and you're going to need to get that eating up because remaining at a severe caloric restriction will stop your metabolism. So in the future when you do develop an appetite, looking at food will make you gain weight! (been there)
    MFP does seem to have a right calculation there. Even if you can't make it to that amount, try and at least eat above 2000 calories. Fill up SOME of your numbers with fruits, veggies and shakes if you're not that hungry all the time.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
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    The calorie number is probably pretty close, given your age (young), you are male, and very tall (and probably on the heavy side, you are trying to lose). I'm over twice your age, and much shorter and probably half your weight, and I can lose on 2,000 calories.

    Also, it is very important to be as accurate as possible when logging. We all suck at this at first. Are you sure you only ate 560 calories for two meals plus snacks? I only ask, since I've only logged 550 today so far (NOT done yet, lol), and it's practically NOTHING (two small handfuls of soybean nuts, a protein shake, and the milk for my coffee).

    The main point is that yes, you probably can lose on 2,650. BUT...it must be accurately logged. Underestimating food intake is so easy to do.
  • TarheelramTr
    TarheelramTr Posts: 18
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    TropicalParaMonster wrote: »
    TarheelramTr wrote: »
    Sorry, I am 259 pounds right now and my activity is set to active. And thanks I'll check out the site see if it makes more sense. And yes I was eating around 1000 calories or less for 2 weeks because I did not ever feel hungry but I'm trying to change that.

    Eating 1000 calories isn't safe by any means and I'm glad you know that. Your weight loss was probably a lot of water weight and you're going to need to get that eating up because remaining at a severe caloric restriction will stop your metabolism. So in the future when you do develop an appetite, looking at food will make you gain weight! (been there)
    MFP does seem to have a right calculation there. Even if you can't make it to that amount, try and at least eat above 2000 calories. Fill up SOME of your numbers with fruits, veggies and shakes if you're not that hungry all the time.
    Thank you and one more thing is it important to increase your calorie intake with exercise? Lets say one day I felt like burning 500 calories am I supposed to eat more than I usually do?
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
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    Calorie number seems ok for me. I got your maintenance at just over 3000 for sedentary.

    Oh and the eating 1000 calories not ok, but its your body and if you dont want to diet in a safe and sustainable way then go right ahead. Alternatively go and see a dietician or talk to your Dr so they can supervise you.
  • mymodernbabylon
    mymodernbabylon Posts: 1,038 Member
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    Yes. You should eat back 1/2 of your workout calories or you will be in too big a deficit.
  • TropicalParaMonster
    TropicalParaMonster Posts: 151 Member
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    TarheelramTr wrote: »
    TropicalParaMonster wrote: »
    TarheelramTr wrote: »
    Sorry, I am 259 pounds right now and my activity is set to active. And thanks I'll check out the site see if it makes more sense. And yes I was eating around 1000 calories or less for 2 weeks because I did not ever feel hungry but I'm trying to change that.

    Eating 1000 calories isn't safe by any means and I'm glad you know that. Your weight loss was probably a lot of water weight and you're going to need to get that eating up because remaining at a severe caloric restriction will stop your metabolism. So in the future when you do develop an appetite, looking at food will make you gain weight! (been there)
    MFP does seem to have a right calculation there. Even if you can't make it to that amount, try and at least eat above 2000 calories. Fill up SOME of your numbers with fruits, veggies and shakes if you're not that hungry all the time.
    Thank you and one more thing is it important to increase your calorie intake with exercise? Lets say one day I felt like burning 500 calories am I supposed to eat more than I usually do?

    It usually adjusts that for you with MFP. Enter the exercise as cardio and you'll get more calories to eat! For me, somedays I'm far hungrier so I eat more when I exercise, other days I don't. Listen to your body and go from there. Your body needs fuel to exercise. So on days you go hardcore it might be a good idea to add some decent carbs in before you workout.

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