1200 calorie goals

strandedinaber
strandedinaber Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place or not, but I'm trying to determine whether I need to manually adjust my MFP goal or not. I have set a goal of losing 2lbs per week, and my BMR varies according to different calculators but is between 1450-1600. My activity level is sedentary by MFP's standards.

However, MFP have set a daily calorie goal of 1200 calories. It's the same goal if I say I just want to lose 1.5lbs per week, and increases to 1388 if I want to lose 1lb per week. It increases to 1,800 if I say I want to maintain my current weight.

I feel like 1,200 is too low a goal, particularly as my tendency is to eat a tiny bit less because it makes me feel awful when MFP tells me off for being over the daily calorie goal. I've been eating at that level for a few days now and am really struggling to get in 5x fruit and veg as well as protein and carbs, and I'm constantly hungry and tired. I'd like to eat up to about 1,400 calories but am worried that I just won't lose any weight if I do that. I'm exercising and eating up to the 1,200 calories when I do.

Anyone have any suggestions? Is 1,200 calories per day a suitable goal? I'm a 5'7 female.

Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    1200 might be suitable if you add calories back in when you log exercises. The MFP app calculates your "maintenance" calories when you don't exercise is about 1888 (sounds about right to me). With only 7 lbs to lose, I personally would recommend you change the setting to "lose 0.5 lbs per week" and then NOT eat back exercise calories unless you find you're hungry and binging and snacking at night.
  • ashleypetrie4
    ashleypetrie4 Posts: 119 Member
    I'd change you goal to reflect a 1 lb/week loss and eat back some of your exercise calories. Your weight may come off a little slower, but it's more sustainable long term and you won't be going crazy hungry or anything like that.
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    I wouldn't stick with 1200 for 5 minutes, but that's just me. Try losing slower at a higher calorie rate. And do some exercise to earn more calories.
  • strandedinaber
    strandedinaber Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks all, I'll do that! I ended up skipping a gym session this evening because I was just too tired for it, so the lower calorie goal seems to be rather self-defeating...
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    i generally start at 1200 and then eat 25 to 50% of my exercise calories back
  • pug11
    pug11 Posts: 23 Member
    1200 is way too low for someone of your height and you don't need to eat your exercise cals back, too confusing.

    Set your loss for 1 pound a week and try to eat the same amount of cals everyday, not less on non workout and more on workout days.

    Noticed you say you're hungry and tired so you can play around with the macro's, add more healthy fats and make sure you are eating enough protein.

    I'm 5'6 and lost weight on 1700, start higher then re evaluate later on if you stall. No that as you only have 7 pounds to lose it may come off slower but that's okay.

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    You have 7 pounds to lose??? It should be set to a half pound a week.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    pug11 wrote: »
    1200 is way too low for someone of your height and you don't need to eat your exercise cals back, too confusing.

    Set your loss for 1 pound a week and try to eat the same amount of cals everyday, not less on non workout and more on workout days.

    Noticed you say you're hungry and tired so you can play around with the macro's, add more healthy fats and make sure you are eating enough protein.

    I'm 5'6 and lost weight on 1700, start higher then re evaluate later on if you stall. No that as you only have 7 pounds to lose it may come off slower but that's okay.

    The way MFP is set up, you're supposed to eat them back.

    OP, 1200 is the lowest MFP will give you, so 1.5 pounds per week is too aggressive a goal. Aim for a pound a week, make sure you net at least 1200 after exercise.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    pug11 wrote: »
    1200 is way too low for someone of your height and you don't need to eat your exercise cals back, too confusing.

    Set your loss for 1 pound a week and try to eat the same amount of cals everyday, not less on non workout and more on workout days.

    Noticed you say you're hungry and tired so you can play around with the macro's, add more healthy fats and make sure you are eating enough protein.

    I'm 5'6 and lost weight on 1700, start higher then re evaluate later on if you stall. No that as you only have 7 pounds to lose it may come off slower but that's okay.

    Without knowing how many calories someone is burning through exercise, telling them not to eat back exercise calories is unwise. When I was losing weight, there were many days there not eating back my exercise calories would have put me well below 1,200 net. I don't know if that would be the case for OP or not, but it's important to know that MFP is designed to eat those calories back -- and if one doesn't, you should use care in setting your calorie goal to ensure you're properly fueling your body.
  • strandedinaber
    strandedinaber Posts: 3 Member
    Not sure where the 7lbs to lose came from (I've been signed up to this account for yonks, so some setting somewhere is probably out of date). I was originally aiming to lose 20lbs, but I actually found that I gained when I started going to the gym more often (unsurprisingly, since muscle weighs more than fat). I actually honestly don't care about the number but want to fit comfortably back into my old clothes, so need to lose 1.5 clothing sizes. I'm also closer to 5'8 than 5'7, and hit the gym/swimming pool about 3 times a week, usually burning about 300-400 calories each time.

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