1200 cals for all loss rates??

That's lightly active burning 200-400 calories a day in exercise otherwise it is also saying 1286 as you are now sedentary

as you are short, your maximum calorie deficit will be less. I put your stats into http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ and it gave a TDEE of 1585 for you at your height/age/weight. TDEE is the amount of calories you need on a daily basis - this is BMR (ie. what your body needs to function even if in a coma) plus calories needed for your activity level (sedentary).

In order to lose 2lbs a week you'd need a 1000 calorie deficit per day - this takes you way below the recommended minimum of 1200 in order to get good nutrition. This is why MFP gives you 1200 all the time.

You also don't have a massive amount to lose, so would be better aiming for a slower target. Personally I would aim for around 1400 calories, maybe a little more but keep an eye on your average. Exercise calorie estimates are just that, an estimate, and generally a pretty poor one. Aim for around 1400 calories, then see how you are losing. If you are losing too fast, then up the calories a bit. Slow is better, don't shoot for 2lb a week.

Hm that's really odd it gives you 1200 for all. I'm almost exactly the same stats as you I'm 5'2, 29, and weigh 139. When I put in a weight loss rate of 1 lb or 2 lbs it gives me 1200 but when I do .5 lbs it gives me 1400 and this is all at sedentary since I have a desk job.

melissa112 wrote: »

But MFP says 1200 a day even for 0.5lbs weight loss, which I'm assuming is 200cal deficit per day? So is it saying my TDEE is 1400 calories? I'm really confused.

I don't plan on eating any exercise calories, but is there harm in doing so if my fitbit calories adjustment is 400 say? Is it bad to eat 100 of them, so 1300 a day?

I see other people who are the same height, similar weight and MFP gives them a much higher calorie goal, even on sedentary.

The reason I picked sedentary is because I only walk my mums dog on occasion, I'm planning on exercising with my OH, but this won't be consistently on a certain number of days per week, so I wanted to switch to sedentary, and then eat the extra cals my fitbit says, as if I walk the dog for 90minutes at a fast pace 3 times a week, then do some strength or other exercise on 2 days a week, shouldn't I go by what the fitbit says each day? If I had a lazy day, then surely my fitbit would account for that?

MFP isn't a TDEE calculator!
You need to understand how the tool works or you will continue to be confused. There's lots of sticky threads at the top of each forum to help you.
Your MFP calorie goal is expecting you to eat back your exercise calories. As your exercise regime is irregular then the "MFP method" may well suit you and perhaps motivate you to do more which will have fitness, health and muscle retention benefits whle still keeping the calorie deficit goal you choose.

Also don't confuse the MFP activity setting with exercise - it's completely separate and relates to your lifestyle / job.

Also learn how you should use your fitbit or you will be doubly confused. Might be an idea to do one thing at a time. Keep it simple, let your actual results over time be your guide not a random set of numbers which are easily undermined by logging inaccuracy.

I was eating AT LEAST 1300-1400 a day and managed to still lose 54 lbs & now I eat 1700-1800 and haven't gained back. Focusing more on WHAT you're eating is key in my opinion.

melissa112 wrote: »

Hi

I am 28yrs old, female, 5'2. 140lbs. I want to get to 126lbs. I would say I am sedentary. I work at a desk all day, and don't do exercise in the evenings (although this will eventually change.)

I set my loss rate to 2lbs a week originally and got given 1200 cals. I thought this might be a bit extreme loss as I've not far to go, so I changed to 0.5lbs a week, which still gave me 1200 cals.

I know MFP won't put a number below 1200, but now I'm worried that I should be eating around 1000 calories just to lose weight??

I got myself a Fitbit and yesterday I took my mums dog out for a long walk after work and did some squats, mountain climbers and lunges. I got a calorie adjustment of 484 (based on BMR plus exercise calculated both by fitbit).

My MFP is still set to 2lbs as the amount of cals didn't change, so surely I can't eat 1684 cals and still lose 2lbs a week?

I'm just confused as to why all settings, 2lbs a week, 1lb, 0.5lbs a week all give me 1200 calories a day. In the case that it's just not showing me a lower limit (say 1000), maybe I shouldn't eat back any fitbit calories?

I just don't know...any help would be really great.

MFP is trying to tell you that you cannot lose more than 0.5 lbs per week without changing your activity level.

aggelikik wrote: »

melissa112 wrote: »

Hi

I am 28yrs old, female, 5'2. 140lbs. I want to get to 126lbs. I would say I am sedentary. I work at a desk all day, and don't do exercise in the evenings (although this will eventually change.)

I set my loss rate to 2lbs a week originally and got given 1200 cals. I thought this might be a bit extreme loss as I've not far to go, so I changed to 0.5lbs a week, which still gave me 1200 cals.

I know MFP won't put a number below 1200, but now I'm worried that I should be eating around 1000 calories just to lose weight??

I got myself a Fitbit and yesterday I took my mums dog out for a long walk after work and did some squats, mountain climbers and lunges. I got a calorie adjustment of 484 (based on BMR plus exercise calculated both by fitbit).

My MFP is still set to 2lbs as the amount of cals didn't change, so surely I can't eat 1684 cals and still lose 2lbs a week?

I'm just confused as to why all settings, 2lbs a week, 1lb, 0.5lbs a week all give me 1200 calories a day. In the case that it's just not showing me a lower limit (say 1000), maybe I shouldn't eat back any fitbit calories?

I just don't know...any help would be really great.

MFP is trying to tell you that you cannot lose more than 0.5 lbs per week without changing your activity level.

This.

And also as mentioned, MFP doesn't figure your TDEE.

MFP says BMR is 1318 so sedentary TDEE without exercise 1582. Should manage a 0.5 lbs/week loss with a goal of 1332 so something isn't right.

When you are short and you are already close to a healthy weight (vs at an obese BMI), weight loss moves at a glacial pace because the calorie deficits are very small. As a fellow short gal (though shorter than you at about 5 foot) that is also relatively sedentary, I would accept that your base calorie intake should be around 1200 (especially since you have had success with that!) for loss and then log all of your exercise into MFP. Once you log those exercise calories, eat up to half of them back if you are hungry. MFP does overestimate how many calories you burn doing exercise, so if you eat all of them back you will likely "undo" the calorie burn from the exercise.

Remember that when you only have a few calories to eat, choosing the right things to eat will help you to feel full! This means lots of protein and fiber. You also don't have to give up things you love! You can have the things you crave if you really want them, just in smaller portions.

Also, remember that the first few weeks of weight loss also include water loss, so don't be discouraged if your rate of loss lows down a little bit. So long as the scale as moving in the correct direction (even in decimals), then its a success!