Gym and dieting HELP???

missnaynay
missnaynay Posts: 28 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all I'm sort of new to this I'm 5ft 2 and 185lbs I'm going to the gym 3-4 times a week for 1hr how many calories should I have daily? I'm so confused with the way MFP has calculated my calories also with other people saying I shouldn't eat below my BMR. Need some opinions please thank you!

Replies

  • annacole94
    annacole94 Posts: 994 Member
    Did you tell it you wanted to lose 2 lb a week and it says 1200 calories?

    Go change it to 1 lb a week. And then log your exercise after you do it, and then eat what it gives you. See how that goes for a month, then adjust as necessary.
  • GoCleanGoLean
    GoCleanGoLean Posts: 71 Member
    Alrighty. Let me sit you down and learn you a bit about them calories. So. Here's whatcha gonna do. You're going to go online and find out what your BMR is. Got that? Cool. Now sit back down cuz I'm not done yet.

    Alright. You're then gonna get back on yo laptop and find out your TDEE. With all that exercise, you're bound to be a-burning them calories! Now if you want to lose them weight, take that TDEE, subtract 500 and BAM! Lose a pound a week (on average).

    And that's that. Your BMR should not be what you're looking at when it comes to how many calories you burn in an average day, because you don't spend your days laying in bed doing nothing. Use your TDEE instead to give yourself an accurate count.

    Oh and don't bother trying to eat below 1200 calories. It won't work. Trust me.

    Ok. You can get up now
  • BonnieDundee78
    BonnieDundee78 Posts: 158 Member
    Yeah, I'm a shorty too and started a few pounds heavier than you. MFP recommended a 1200 target for a 1.5lbs a week loss. I scoffed at that and manually changed it to 1400. Still in deficit, but much more doable. :) After I got into the swing of things, I was able to comfortably go to 1300, and once I reach my halfway mark, I'll probably go down to 1250, and then to 1200 for the final push to my goal weight.

    And so far, it's working great. I've lost 23lbs in 10 weeks, with very little intentional exercise. After a huge (water) loss in my first week, my average loss has since been 1.48lbs a week so I'm right on track.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    In my opinion you can do this one of two ways.

    A) aim for 2 pounds lost per week. MFP will probably tell you to eat 1200 + your exercise calories. Eat extra to fuel your exercise!

    B ) aim for 1 pound per week and do NOT eat extra for exercise.

    You'll probably end up around the same calorie intake goal in the neighborhood of 1400-1700 calories per day.

    The main thing though is honesty, accuracy and patience. Honesty means logging everything you consume. Everyday. Even if some days you eat more than you'd care to admit lol. Accuracy meaning actual quantities, solid food weighed in grams. And patience because this is not an overnight process. You'll be at this for 6-12 months, maybe longer. Because of that, give yourself permission to eat an extra 500 calories one or two times a month if you feel you need it. Either for mental wellbeing or otherwise.
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