Calories set by MFP

rutcutterford
rutcutterford Posts: 3 Member
edited November 21 in Food and Nutrition
Hello all, new to the MFP group. Like most here I want to lose weight. This is the first time using a food diary. I set up my goals and have been logging everything. I have a set daily goal of 1700 calories a day. I am finding it hard to reach that amount daily. I eat to the point of not being hungry, but after logging my dinner meal and totaling calories, I am always low of the goal and feel I should eat more to reach the goal.

I guess my question is, should I worry about the goal numbers if they are lower than suggested by MFP.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this issue,

Mike

Replies

  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    You'll lose weight faster than target but it's not a huge problem unless you're regularly dropping below 1,500 (the minimum amount of calories that a male should eat per day per this site and other sources).

    First things first is to make sure that you're not actually getting to 1700 because if you are struggling to eat this many calories then you probably wouldn't have gained weight in the first place.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    edited August 2017
    I'd suggest getting a food scale and weighing your food to be sure you're really eating as many/few calories as you think you're eating. One of the first things I learned was how depressingly small actual serving sizes are when you go by the weights listed on food packaging.

    I only say this because if you are here to lose weight, but are used to eating less than what MFP suggests you should eat to lose, it's likely you're well over 1700 without realizing it. If that makes sense.

    But to answer your main question, no don't worry about being under the goal - it only increase how quick you lose. Just don't make it a habit of being WAY under
  • jordandills
    jordandills Posts: 103 Member
    How are you measuring your food? If you're not weighing everything with a food scale and are eyeballing portions, guessing, or using measuring cups and spoons for solids, you're likely eating more than you think.

    If you set MFP to lose weight and it gave you 1700 calories, you've been eating 1950-2700 calories a day (depending on what you set your loss rate to in the app). If you're weighing everything exactly and still struggling to hit 1700, add back in some of the foods you used to eat before you started losing.

    The minimum calories for men to get adequate nutrition is 1500 a day. Meet that at a minimum, and if you are below 1700 some days you'll lose a bit faster than you set your goal to.
  • Zhatan
    Zhatan Posts: 46 Member
    Now without knowing your weight I would say that 1700 isn't very low so going below that should be fine, don't eat if you are not hungry is my advice.
    When trying to loose weight I try to be on a 1000 kcal deficit until I get close to my goal then gradually increase kcal intake.
  • rutcutterford
    rutcutterford Posts: 3 Member
    edited August 2017
    A little more info. I am using scales, cups/spoons and the barcode reader to try and be as accurate as possible. I know I was way over eating in the past. Types of food and portion sizes were a problem for me. I'm here now to aid in changing a life time of bad habits.

    My goal is a 2 lbs lose a week. I'm 58 yo and at 299 lbs and 5'9" with a goal of 175lbs

    Mike
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    rutcutterford wrote: »
    A little more info. I am using scales, cups/spoons and the barcode reader to try and be as accurate as possible. I know I was way over eating in the past. Types of food and portion sizes were a problem for me. I'm here now to aid in changing a life time of bad habits.

    My goal is a 2 lbs lose a week. I'm 58 yo and at 299 lbs and 5'9" with a goal of 175"

    Mike

    In that case, if you're struggling to eat 1,700 calories a day then so be it. You'll lose faster.
  • rutcutterford
    rutcutterford Posts: 3 Member
    I can get to 1700 cals, it is the pesky exercise that keeps subtracting from the total. :):)
  • PennStateChick
    PennStateChick Posts: 327 Member
    A lot of times when new people have a difficult time reaching their calories it is bc they have chosen really healthy food (which is great). I did that too. I ate a ton of vegetables and fruit in the beginning and struggled to get to my 1600, especially when exercising. Then one day I decided I would eat peanut butter.. and just like that, I hit my calorie goal. I don't say that to be negative. I just think it's something that tends to balance out a bit after a little while so don't worry too much.
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    rutcutterford wrote: »
    I can get to 1700 cals, it is the pesky exercise that keeps subtracting from the total. :):)

    It sounds like you have a good handle on estimating the Calorie Intake side of the CI less than CO equation.

    How are you estimating Calorie Output (i.e MFP Activity Level + Exercise)? What is your MFP Activity Level setting? Are you estimating exercise using the MFP Exercise Database or an activity tracker? If an activity tracker, what brand/type?
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