How accurate are the cal limits on MFP?

try2again
try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
edited November 16 in Getting Started
Just getting started, and the cal limit it gave me based on my profile seems a little high for a woman in her mid 40s and a slowing metabolism. In your experience (especially if you're older), how well are your cal limits working out for you? Do they seem pretty accurate?

Replies

  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
    If in doubt, check it out somewhere else to compare. I have used this one for almost the whole two years I have been at this.

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited April 2015
    MFP is pretty accurate for me. There are other calculators out there.......I tried a bunch just to get a feel for things.

    This one includes exercise.....so to get a direct comparison to MFP don't include exercise and choose a similar weekly weight loss goal
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    It was accurate for me, 36, and my mother 61. We both lost pretty steady setting it to lose .5lbs week. I'm down 17 and maintaining, and she's down 12. I'm 5'11, she's 5'4.

    I've lost in total about 50lbs with MFP using their calculations and being patient.
  • cbills65
    cbills65 Posts: 164 Member
    Mine was initially set pretty low and I'm older than you. I had to bump it up because it wasn't working for me - I wasn't losing...just stuck with no progress. I increased it and starting seeing results right away. I guess the term "high" is relative. Maybe your height and weight and lifestyle (activity level) warrant a higher caloric intake. If you think it's too high, see what you eat on average for a week and what the difference is and then reduce it accordingly.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    edited April 2015
    Just curious, what did MFP give you calorie-wise? Also did you put to lose a 1lb a week or half a pound. That makes a difference.

    I'm a woman in my mid 40's also and MFP gave me 1440 calories for the day. But that's for if I don't exercise, when I do exercise it gives me more to eat back my calories.

    That said, there are some really good stickies in this particular forum, I suggest reading them to get a more accurate idea of how many calories you could/should be eating.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    Just curious, what did MFP give you calorie-wise? Also did you put to lose a 1lb a week or half a pound. That makes a difference.

    I'm a woman in my mid 40's also and MFP gave me 1440 calories for the day. But that's for if I don't exercise, when I do exercise it gives me more to eat back my calories.

    That said, there are some really good stickies in this particular forum, I suggest reading them to get a more accurate idea of how many calories you could/should be eating.
    I'm 5'9" and currently 240 and it gave me a cal limit of 1760. In the past, everything else (activity and such) being equal, I've been able to lose weight at 1800, but that just doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I guess time will tell- I want to start small anyway.
    Thanks, everyone, for your input! :)
  • alicaramik2
    alicaramik2 Posts: 71 Member
    I'm 47 and it's been very accurate for me. I have mine set for 1.5 lbs. per week and I've been losing about 7 lbs. per month.
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