Custom calories or do you follow MFP's recommendations?

sephetlia
sephetlia Posts: 31 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, all! I'm new to this thing (sort of, at least the messageboards section) and was wondering if you all have had the most success following MFP's recommended number of calories for the day or if you've had more luck calculating the number you should have yourself? Different calorie estimators always seem to give me wildly differing options and I'm just not sure which way I should go. Thanks! :)

Replies

  • alecta337
    alecta337 Posts: 622 Member
    I had been following MFP's suggestion for 1200 calories, but recently I have been super stressed and I need to focus more on school and I dont want to be thinking about food all the time, so I bumped my calories to 1300.

    I would say do what feels good, i'd say around (1600-1200), and see how it goes. If its not working, bring down your calories. Most importantly, eat healthy!!! fruit, veggies, and lean meat!
  • vibrant80
    vibrant80 Posts: 42 Member
    You are going to get wildly varying opinions on this, but MY personal take is, don't mess with MFP's recommendations unless/until you take the time to do some reading so that you FULLY understand the logic behind them, and are making truly educated changes. You really cannot compare MFP's settings to other calculators - it's very "apples and oranges."
  • Heatherbledsoe
    Heatherbledsoe Posts: 106 Member
    I just ate 1200 or less, it dpeended on what i ate, some days i couldnt eat 1200 because i would veg out a ton and be too full. I just eat whatever I think or my doctor and trainer think i should eat. I was still eating 1200 when i started weight training and i lost 5 lbs in like 3 days, then gained 3 lbs because i wasnt eating enough, as soon as i bumped up to 1400 i droppped 7 lbs in like 2 weeks. it was crazy. You just have to watch how your body respods to certain things.
  • lclarkjr
    lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
    I would follow MFP's recommendations for a few weeks and then at that time evaluate it to see if they are working and you are reaching your goals. If you aren't then adjust accordingly.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    MFP has some great recommendations, and for those that are new at this, it's probably best to stick to that for the time being, monitoring your results. After more research and time spent with it, you'll get a better idea of what the best nutrient ratios are for your body.

    But I have to do custom because I'm on a low carb diet.
  • This can be different for everyone, depending on what type of exercise you're doing and what your body needs. My doctor recommended that I intake 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fat each day, and that around 1600 calories a day is good for me. If you don't have the guidance of a doctor or personal trainer, I'd say stick with what MFP sets for you and see how that works out. I had a terrible time keeping my protein up and carbs down, so I'm working my way up to the 40/40/20 split now :) Like alecta337 said.... do what feels right to your body. Honestly, after being on WW for a while, I feel like I eat so much more using MFP and have had better results, mainly because I'm watching more than just points and I'm learning how to eat what my body really needs, not just stay within my caloric limits.
  • brickok
    brickok Posts: 117 Member
    I have been on for a year and MFP has worked awesome for me.
    I think as long as you stay consitant with one program you should be OK.
    Good luck on your journey!!
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I follow MFP recommendations to a point... Like right now, I'm trying to up my calories since i'll be nearing maintenance soon, and after eating 500 less for so long, eating the recommended 2070 seems like a ton!

    For awhile I had it at 1570 and now I've recently added a hundred which makes it 1670... eventually I'll add another hundred and so on down the line until I reach full maintenance calories.
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