might be a dumb question here...

Cambrisha
Cambrisha Posts: 5
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
MFP gives me 1600 cal a day to maintain my weight and 1300 to lose .05 lbs a week. I decided since I have so many holiday parties (church, work and family) during this holiday season that I'd aim for maintaining my weight until the holidays are over with and then resume weight loss. My question is even though I've been trying to stay under my goal I've gone about 50-100 cals over daily! How fast will I gain weight that way? Is that enough calorie surplus to gain weight? Its making me very stressed out because I've worked so hard to lose and have lost 17 lbs so far and need to lose at least 15 more.

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    100 calories over = approx 35 days to gain 1lb of fat.

    Are you working out at all? Workouts should increase the amount you need to maintain a bit.
  • Cambrisha
    Cambrisha Posts: 5
    I usually work out 3 times a week but I'm someone's guest so I can't go unless she goes. The past 2 weeks I've only been able to go 2 times because of her not going. :/
  • debubbie
    debubbie Posts: 767 Member
    It takes 3500 calories to equal a one pound weight gain. I agree with shadow2soul in her comment that working out will help to give you some extra calories each day. If you are currently working out you may want to add some additional exercise to help you maintain your current weight. If you don't go crazy and ridiculously over indulge at every party you attend this holiday season, you should be ok. Knowing what you want to accomplish this season and having a plan will definitely help you to maintain your current weight loss.
  • johnnylakis
    johnnylakis Posts: 812 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    100 calories over = approx 35 days to gain 1lb of fat.

    Are you working out at all? Workouts should increase the amount you need to maintain a bit.
    yup
  • Mediocrates55
    Mediocrates55 Posts: 326 Member
    Even if you can't work out (sucky that you're a guest tied to her whim!), do 100 jumping jacks, or some bodyweight squats, or go for a walk in the evening. Every little bit will help keep you in maintenance. Good luck with the holidays!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,281 Member
    Cambrisha wrote: »
    MFP gives me 1600 cal a day to maintain my weight and 1300 to lose .05 lbs a week. I decided since I have so many holiday parties (church, work and family) during this holiday season that I'd aim for maintaining my weight until the holidays are over with and then resume weight loss. My question is even though I've been trying to stay under my goal I've gone about 50-100 cals over daily! How fast will I gain weight that way? Is that enough calorie surplus to gain weight? Its making me very stressed out because I've worked so hard to lose and have lost 17 lbs so far and need to lose at least 15 more.


    Assuming you are logging accurately - 50 to 100 calories per day, how fast will you gain weight?
    Very slowly.
    yes it's enough surplus to make you gain weight - a small amount of weight over a period of time.

    My advice - go for a 15 - 20 minute walk per day - 50-100 calorie surplus deleted (*)
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    edited December 2014
    How tiny or how extremely sedentary are you that you'd only maintain on 1600? I'd recommend that you calculate on an external calculator to see if that estimate is actually correct, because MFP is really not the ideal place to gather caloric intake estimates from.

    I'd recommend health-calc.com or exrx.net. I have links for both on my profile.

    ETA if I use the MFP sedentary number, it tells me that at my current weight I'd maintain on 1900. If I enter my info on health-calc without including exercise, I get an extra 150 calories. I was also eating 1900 calories for 2ish weeks while not working out... lost weight.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    50-100 calories is less than the likely margin of error in logging. I wouldn't worry about it, especially if this is for a 1-2 week timeframe.
  • chrissysue
    chrissysue Posts: 85 Member
    Are you also taking into consideration calories burned? 50-100/day should not make you gain. Happy Holidays!
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    Cambrisha wrote: »
    MFP gives me 1600 cal a day to maintain my weight and 1300 to lose .05 lbs a week. I decided since I have so many holiday parties (church, work and family) during this holiday season that I'd aim for maintaining my weight until the holidays are over with and then resume weight loss. My question is even though I've been trying to stay under my goal I've gone about 50-100 cals over daily! How fast will I gain weight that way? Is that enough calorie surplus to gain weight? Its making me very stressed out because I've worked so hard to lose and have lost 17 lbs so far and need to lose at least 15 more.

    First you can test the 1600/1300 numbers to see if that guesstimation is correct for you but you must 'count' everything you eat to be sure.

    Maintenance for the next 10 days would be super for many of us. :)
  • ukaryote
    ukaryote Posts: 874 Member
    edited December 2014
    I very much doubt 1600 kcal is a maintenance level. As other have mentioned, it is probably your RESTING metabolic rate. Add in normal daily routines and you should look at your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Here is a calculator for TDEE.

    Sure, during the holidays I think it is perfectly fine to just aim for maintenance or expect a slight gain. Developing good habits is for your whole life, a blip of a few weeks is not a terrible event.
    have lost 17 lbs so far and need to lose at least 15 more.
    Your ticker says you lost 4 lbs and have 10 to go. I would change my ticker to show my true progress, it is more encouraging.

    Keep logging. You are doing very well!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,281 Member
    Why do people doubt 1600 (net ) is a maitenance level?

    I am 5 ft 3 in and lightly active and maintain on 1710.

    Not a stretch of feasibility that another female could be shorter and bit less active than me and be maintaining on 100 calories less .
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    This is but a season. A Festive Occasion. Do what you can. Maintain to the level that is socially appropriate and get back on track at the New Year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    Do social activities, like going carolling or walking after dinner or skating or tobogganing.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Going over 50-100 calories isn't much, so go for a quick walk around the block to offset.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    ukaryote wrote: »
    I very much doubt 1600 kcal is a maintenance level. As other have mentioned, it is probably your RESTING metabolic rate. Add in normal daily routines and you should look at your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Here is a calculator for TDEE.

    Sure, during the holidays I think it is perfectly fine to just aim for maintenance or expect a slight gain. Developing good habits is for your whole life, a blip of a few weeks is not a terrible event.
    have lost 17 lbs so far and need to lose at least 15 more.
    Your ticker says you lost 4 lbs and have 10 to go. I would change my ticker to show my true progress, it is more encouraging.

    Keep logging. You are doing very well!

    Whys the way her ticker set matter?
    I have a friend whose ticker shows she's lost about 200# because thats what she lost with MFP, it doesnt show the like 50# she lost first. Some people set their tickers in 20#, 50# increments. Its a personal choice, dont try to dictate how she should use her ticker.
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