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Calories - How low can you go?

csbradshaw5
csbradshaw5 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
What is considered to be a safe amount for caloric intake? Assuming that you are eating clean. Male, 5'11, 210 dropping to 180.

My main concern is health with a side of muscle lioss versus fat.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    With 30 pounds to lose, set your goal to a pound a week and eat those plus half your exercise calories
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    WHy would you want to go low?! I love eating to much to go 'low'. I agree with above if you are using MFP settings.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Plug in your stats and eat what MFP tells you. It's fairly accurate. No reason to go low. It will just result in your giving up and not making sustainable changes. People get in too much of a hurry.
  • csbradshaw5
    csbradshaw5 Posts: 2 Member
    I plugged my stats in and it states 1580 per day. Is that acceptable?
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    edited March 2015
    Idk waht clean has anything to do with this, but I cannot go below 2000 (gross) before I start getting cranky. 157ish lbs.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    I have been at 210 as a 5'11" male, and 1580 would be detrimental to the health of those around me, I'd literally kill someone. A good cut for me at that weight was 2500 (Lifting 3X per week and playing basketball on Tuesdays) I can cut between 2700-2300 and maintain at roughly 2900-3000. Your mileage may vary.

    Rigger
  • slondro
    slondro Posts: 45 Member
    edited March 2015
    OP, how active are you? If you exercise a lot, 1580 might be a little too low.

    The main thing here is that MFP, TDEE calculators, and all that do a very good job with the information they have, but all they can really do is estimate based on a cookie-cutter picture of who you are. Everyone's body works differently, everyone has slightly different mechanics when they exercise, etc. No website can give you a number that's 100% perfect for you.

    If 1580 per day is in line with your level of activity, try it out for a couple weeks. Keep track of your weight, your hunger levels, and how your body/mind are adapting. If you're losing weight steadily and feel good, that'll be your answer. If you're losing weight rapidly and feel sluggish or ravenously hungry, you're not doing your body any favors.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    slondro wrote: »
    OP, how active are you? If you exercise a lot, 1580 might be a little too low.

    Except using MFP he would then be eating back at least half of his exercise cals.
This discussion has been closed.

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