Not sure what to set my calorie allowance at

annasuffolk
annasuffolk Posts: 2
edited November 2024 in Getting Started
Hi,

I've got a bit of an unusual situation. I'm 27, 5"11.5 tall and weigh 138lbs (from 140lbs). This sounds like a good weight, BUT due to illness I am pretty much inactive all the time, so I have very little muscle. Its all fat.

Up until 10 days ago I'd eat huge portions, finish my husband's leftovers, follow meals with half a packet of cookies etc...

I'm at the best weight at 126lbs. This is just based on the weight at which I don't have big rolls of fat on my back!

Where should I set my calories? I can eat at 1200 and not feel that hungry, but my BMR is 1457 so does that mean I shouldn't eat below this? If so, how would I lose weight if I do very little exercise above that?

Thanks in advance x



Replies

  • Docbanana2002
    Docbanana2002 Posts: 357 Member
    You are at a normal BMI now and your desired BMI would make you underweight. Might be a bad idea with medical issues. Maybe set your calories to maintain and work on nutrition and getting a little bit of exercise to improve muscle tone.
  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    As the previous poster said you don't really want to get down to 126, but if you really do want to lose a few pounds then you shouldn't be aiming for more than 0.5lbs/week, which would be a daily deficit of 250 calories, so you could eat about 1500 a day. You also don't need to exercise to lose weight, just stick to your calories. I don't know what your illness prevents you from doing, but you might be able to find some low-impact exercises you can do.
  • Cryptonomnomicon
    Cryptonomnomicon Posts: 848 Member
    Sorry if I am being presumptuous but the fact your user name is "annasuffolk" sends up a red flag for me, as a lot of proana users have anna or in their user name.

    That and stating you want to reach a well quite low weight range for your height even with a small frame.

    May I inquire what illness prohibits you from exercising? because even if you drop weight without exercise you will drop LBM as well as fat, making it extremely difficult to appear muscular or "toned" as you put it. Most probably putting you at a dangerously low body weight.
  • annasuffolk
    annasuffolk Posts: 2
    Firstly, thank you for your replies.

    But yikes, sorry...my first name really is "Anna"! I had changed my username as the one they automatically gave me revealed my first name and surname. Unfortunately I can only change it once, I hadn't considered the connotations on a site like this. Definitely not pro anorexia.

    I have ME/CFS. I have to "pace" myself a lot, even something like doing the washing up is exhausting for me. I function at the top end of my limits and take a short walk each day.

    So is a below normal BMI ALWAYS unhealthy? Even in someone who has excess body fat? Just interested as until about 6 months ago I was 126lbs even with my unhealthy diet. If it is then my health comes first and I won't try to lose the weight I've gained. Either way I will continue using MFP to eat a healthier more wholesome diet.
  • Cryptonomnomicon
    Cryptonomnomicon Posts: 848 Member
    edited April 2015
    Well I am glad to hear you do not suffer from an ED. FYI:MFP supports recovering ED sufferers but frowns upon its promotion.

    I am sorry to hear about you having ME/CFS as it is a very complex and difficult illness to treat or even manage.

    The only advice I can offer is make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet to help maintain LBM, talk to your treating physician or specialist about any available methods of increasing your physical activity without negatively impacting your quality of life. Try to eat nutrient dense foods. etc sadly your condition prohibits me from really recommending any sort of approach to weight-loss, hopefully somebody better informed reads this and can help you.

    I will leave this link for how to set up your calorie/macro optimally but you may want to discuss this further with your physician/specialist.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1

    This link could also be of some use as it concerns eating below your BMR

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1058378/oh-noes-i-am-eating-below-my-bmr/p1





  • Docbanana2002
    Docbanana2002 Posts: 357 Member
    annasuffolk wrote: »
    So is a below normal BMI ALWAYS unhealthy? Even in someone who has excess body fat? Just interested as until about 6 months ago I was 126lbs even with my unhealthy diet. If it is then my health comes first and I won't try to lose the weight I've gained. Either way I will continue using MFP to eat a healthier more wholesome diet.

    Being underweight won't ALWAYS lead to health complications, just like many people are morbidly obese and manage to not have health problems. Yet I don't recommend that anyone easily maintaining a healthy weight intentionally become obese either! Underweight people are especially prone to being tired and sluggish because of the low calories and potentially poor nutrition that is required to maintain that weight. You don't want that piling on top of CFS. Osteoporosis is also a big risk, made worse by the fact that you probably aren't able to lift weights (which can reduce the risk).
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    You are on the very low end of healthy now. I'm 5'11 myself, about 10 years older and maintain around 150. I CAN'T see that you would be "fat" at 138. I would suggest eating at maintenance and lifting. Or do a body recomp.

    Please also see a doctor and discuss with them your "body issues" because I'm really sorry, wanting to be 126 and 5'11.5 isn't healthy. You aren't a "special snowflake". Something is really wrong. You have to have body dysmorphia.

    1200 calories isn't enough for you. You are doing your body a disservice keeping that up. Being tall, we need more calories, even if we are sedentary.
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