Confused.

Imperfect_Angel
Imperfect_Angel Posts: 220 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi guys, I'm just coming from my 1st session with my Personal Trainer and he has calculated for me to eat 2,100 calories!!! That seems a bit high in my opinion, also since MFP gave me 1,480. I'm not sure, is there a chance he could have miscalculated because 2,100 calories are a bit high, and if I continue to eat as I currently am, would struggle to hit those numbers.

I'm 5"8 and 213 lbs.

Help.

Replies

  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    MFP "gave you" 1480 calories because you probably picked lose 2 pounds a week. The higher amount of calories is usually a more sustainable way to lose weight.
  • distinctlybeautiful
    distinctlybeautiful Posts: 1,041 Member
    I'm about 5'7" and 145-150 pounds, and I maintain on about 2100 calories. Everyone's different, but he could be close to the right numbers.
  • wriggers53
    wriggers53 Posts: 3 Member
    Your PT has put you on 10kc approx per pound of bodyweight personally i think this is a tiny bit low,i go for 11-12 kc per pound for slow weightloss which is by far the best,most reliable and most sustainable form of weightloss and 14kc for maintainence......stick with him,sounds like he knows what he's doing :smile:
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    Your trainer has probably considered the amount of calories you will burn given the activities he will prescribe for you.

    Another thing to consider, if your trainer has you on a path to gain muscle mass, he will not put you on a significant deficit, if any. Best you can do in a caloric deficit is try to maintain the muscle you have.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    wriggers53 wrote: »
    Your PT has put you on 10kc approx per pound of bodyweight personally i think this is a tiny bit low,i go for 11-12 kc per pound for slow weightloss which is by far the best,most reliable and most sustainable form of weightloss and 14kc for maintainence......stick with him,sounds like he knows what he's doing :smile:

    What works for you might not work for others.
  • Vegplotter
    Vegplotter Posts: 265 Member
    I'm sorry I'd be highly suspicious of a personal trainer who recommends such a high calorie limit. Though I can see that it's in a trainers interest to ensure that you lose weight as slowly as possible and/or that you have to train hard many times a week in order to see results.
    Personal trainers are about exercise. You need to see a dietician in order to get good advice about losing weight. Lowering calories is essential in a diet. Activity is essential for health. Training is optional.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    Vegplotter wrote: »
    I'm sorry I'd be highly suspicious of a personal trainer who recommends such a high calorie limit. Though I can see that it's in a trainers interest to ensure that you lose weight as slowly as possible and/or that you have to train hard many times a week in order to see results.
    Personal trainers are about exercise. You need to see a dietician in order to get good advice about losing weight. Lowering calories is essential in a diet. Activity is essential for health. Training is optional.

    THIS.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    You're reasonably tall for a female and when I was your weight I think I was grossing (so including exercise calories) about 1900-2000 per day for 1lb per week weight loss and I am about as sedentary as it gets outside of purposeful exercise. So it sounds about right.

    Where I think your confusion is coming is he is using the TDEE method and possibly aiming for a slower rate of loss where MFP uses the NEAT method which adds your exercise in after the fact. It also relies on your accurately choosing an appropriate rate of loss and setting your activity level correctly.
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    I am 5'6" and weigh 140. That is in the ballpark of what I eat on a daily basis; I've lost 25 lbs and am seguing into maintenance. Some days I eat more, depending on my level of activity. Presumably, your trainer will be having you work out rigorously on a regular basis with a combination of weights and cardio. You will need to eat correctly to fuel that exercise. Naturally, there's more than one way to skin a cat, but based on my own experience, it sounds like a very reasonable amount.

    If you were just going to sit around on your butt, then the 1400 amount would be appropriate. But, that's probably not going to give you the kind of body that you want, unless you want loose flab, muscle loss, and to be skinny-fat. But you have very nice curves that you will want to maintain, and you have athletic objectives, so it sounds like this will help you get there.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,162 Member
    edited November 2016
    The trainer is figuring your goal using your TDEE. He is accounting for exercise. Mfp uses NEAT which does not account for exercise. If you use MFP then you should log your exercise and eat back the calories you earn. If you use TDEE then you don't eat back exercise calories. Your NEAT plus exercise calories should be about the same as your TDEE.

    edit:typo
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited November 2016
    Nope, its not high for starting out especially at your height/weight, obviously your PT is taking you on the steady and slow weight loss route which is generally the best approach and leads to longterm success at keeping it off. As you keep losing this number will reduce so you might as well enjoy the extra cals now and still lose - win win :smile:
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    In all reality, all the calculators are just guesses and you should adjust based on actual results. Personally, I would maybe shoot for in between, use a food scale, log daily and adjust calories based on actual results after a 4 to 6 week period. I suspect your trainer is aiming for the max amount of calories to help with workout performance and still allow for weight loss, while your MFP account is probably set up to be a bit more aggressive.
  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
    edited November 2016
    Vegplotter wrote: »
    I'm sorry I'd be highly suspicious of a personal trainer who recommends such a high calorie limit. Though I can see that it's in a trainers interest to ensure that you lose weight as slowly as possible and/or that you have to train hard many times a week in order to see results.
    Personal trainers are about exercise. You need to see a dietician in order to get good advice about losing weight. Lowering calories is essential in a diet. Activity is essential for health. Training is optional.

    Personal trainers are for exercise, but it sounds like this one is at least giving decent advice on the food end. Many trainers tell you to eat far too few calories because they just hear the "1200 minimum for women" and put all women on 1200.

    The OP is tall and weighs over 200 pounds. Depending on her activity level, there's no reason she can't lose 1 pound/week eating 2100 calories (which would be her maintenance calories if sedentary).
  • Imperfect_Angel
    Imperfect_Angel Posts: 220 Member
    edited November 2016
    Thank you everyone for your input. I have spoken to my PT and he has confirmed that he is using the TDEE method, also because my work-outs are quite vigorous (2x of strength and 3-4 days cardio) so I need to be properly fueled to sustain this. He also mirrored what everyone on here has said that slow and steady is better for my overall health than quick drops of weight which will make me skinny, not necessarily healthy or attractive. I have to agree with him.

    Like I said, I will find it hard to net 2,100 everyday so I am shooting for somewhere between 1,600 and 1,800.

    I appreciate everyone's advice.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    You need to gross 2100 per day. Net would be 2100+ exercise which is not what you want to do!
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    Eat the amount your PT has told you but do not log exercise/eat back exercise calories in myfitnesspal. If you can't reach that calorie goal every day that's fine but try setting your calories there for a month and see how you do.

    They might not want you in a deep deficit because you are training and the point is to gain strength and build muscle- if you eat too few calories and workout all you'll do is burn up your muscle. You want to keep muscle, not lose it.

    Yes you will lose weight more slowly eating more calories, but you'll lose more fat and retain muscle- which is how you get the best physique!

    Make sure you eat enough protein too- VERY IMPORTANT.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    courtneyfabulous wrote: »
    Eat the amount your PT has told you but do not log exercise/eat back exercise calories in myfitnesspal. If you can't reach that calorie goal every day that's fine but try setting your calories there for a month and see how you do.

    They might not want you in a deep deficit because you are training and the point is to gain strength and build muscle- if you eat too few calories and workout all you'll do is burn up your muscle. You want to keep muscle, not lose it.

    Yes you will lose weight more slowly eating more calories, but you'll lose more fat and retain muscle- which is how you get the best physique!

    Make sure you eat enough protein too- VERY IMPORTANT.

    Sorry to be a pain but you don't "burn up" muscle working out. In fact, strength training helps you maintain muscle whilst eating at a deficit. Too large a deficit and inadequate protein can lead to more lean mass loss than is ideal but you're never "burning it up".
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