Mfp deficit!

freakymistkd
freakymistkd Posts: 586 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just out of curiosity. I've read in alot of threads that after putting in all of your details the calorie goal that mfp sets gives you a deficit of 500 calories a day. So provided I don't go over by more then 3500 calories a week then I should still lose some weight?
Just interested in other people's interpretation and experience's.
Cheers

Replies

  • SlimSage
    SlimSage Posts: 30 Member
    I look at how much it would take for me to maintain or gain weight; and I stay under that. I can eat up to 2100*ish calories a day without gaining but I stay between 1600-1800.

    I'm 5'6", 195lbs. Started in March at 215lbs.

    Hope that helps :smile:
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    freakymistkd wrote: »
    Just out of curiosity. I've read in alot of threads that after putting in all of your details the calorie goal that mfp sets gives you a deficit of 500 calories a day. So provided I don't go over by more then 3500 calories a week then I should still lose some weight?
    Just interested in other people's interpretation and experience's.
    Cheers

    If your account setting was to lose 1 lb per week, yes! That's a deficit of 500 cals per day. So yes you'd still lose something even so long as you're not up by over 3500.

    Reality is that weight loss is not 100% linear. The trend you've mentioned may not be observable every single week, but over a period of say five months, definitely, yes.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    That's it, provided your logging is as accurate as possible
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    freakymistkd wrote: »
    Just out of curiosity. I've read in alot of threads that after putting in all of your details the calorie goal that mfp sets gives you a deficit of 500 calories a day. So provided I don't go over by more then 3500 calories a week then I should still lose some weight?
    Just interested in other people's interpretation and experience's.
    Cheers

    Deficit will depend on the rate of loss you selected.
    0.5 lb per week = 250 calorie deficit
    1 lb per week = 500 calorie deficit
    1.5 lb per week = 750 calorie deficit
    2 lb per week = 1000 calorie deficit

    Now say you pick 2 lbs per week and MFP gives you the minimum calorie goal (1200 for women/1500 for men) then your deficit is probably not 1000 calories. This is because to achieve the deficit you would have to eat below the minimum calorie goals. This typically is a sign that your weight loss goal is to aggressive.

    Providing your logging is accurate as possible (food scale is more accurate than measuring cups, but measuring cups are more accurate than eyeballing portions) and you have MFP set for 1 lb per week loss, then yes as long as you don't an extra 3500 calories over your weekly goal, you will lose some amount of weight. If your using the mobile app you can see your weekly avg under the Nutrition section (this helps if you want to plan in high calorie days and still maintain your deficit).

    Keep in eye on your overall trend because some weeks you will lose, some you won't and some you might see a slight gain. Use an app like Happy Scale (iOS), Libra (Android), Monitor Your Weight (Android...maybe iOS), or trendweight to smooth out all the little ups/downs.
  • senennieves
    senennieves Posts: 106 Member
    I set mine to 2 lb lost per week and it gives me 2130 calories, as i average 7500-10,000 steps, walking at work, but lately i been hitting 12,000 - 15,000 depending how active at work i am and i don't eat back my calories burned as i see 2130 calories allowed as plenty i rarely get to 1900 calories,, but i am also 308.5 lbs so i have a lot of weight and fat to lose.
  • freakymistkd
    freakymistkd Posts: 586 Member
    That's great, thanks everyone for your feedback. I do weigh my foods when I can so probably 80 - 90% of my logging is weighed and the rest estimated. I'm set at 0.5kg a week which equates to 1.1lb so would he a 500 calorie deficit as my goal is 1500. I do understand that some weeks I'll lose and others not.
    The reason for my post was more for the days or weekends where I go over and I just thought rather them stress out about that and try and claw my way back during the next week then I can check the weekly average as suggested.
    Thanks again, all of your feedback has been great.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    freakymistkd wrote: »
    The reason for my post was more for the days or weekends where I go over and I just thought rather them stress out about that and try and claw my way back during the next week then I can check the weekly average as suggested.

    For me the weekly average is what is important. I don't care much about particular days. I try to stay around my limits every day but I don't bother to nail them.

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