Do I let MFP pick calorie intake

flosoup24
flosoup24 Posts: 44 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Just that do I go with the default or do I use a calculator please. Which has best results

Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Why over-complicate things? Pick a weekly weight loss goal appropriate for how much you have to lose and make that your calorie goal.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    It depends on whether your activity/exercise is stable/consistent, or if it isn't, and on what your comfort level is.

    Some people who do consistent exercise find that it's easier to work from a deficit from TDEE -- the figure that calculators will provide. I do a deficit from TDEE because I know I work out regularly, and I'd rather average it out over a week. I hate seeing negative numbers, so the stress of preplanning my day, seeing a negative number, and then have it come back only *after* I exercise was really too much for me.

    MFP uses "NEAT", which treats your exercise as a bonus add on. For people who don't work out regularly, it may be easier to use the MFP intake instead.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    The main difference between the MFP method and other calculators is that MFP has you adding back in your exercise calories, whereas other calculators spread them evenly between each day. They're both getting you to the same answer in the end, but they go about it differently; it's like MFP is having you add 1+3 and the other calculators are having you add 2+2. Both get you to 4. So, it all comes down to personal preference -- do you want to have more exercise calories on some days, or do you want to have a consistent number of calories every day?

    Having said that, no calculator is perfect. Your consistent execution of whatever method you choose is far more important than finding the "best" calculator. Pick one, follow it for 4-6 weeks, and see if you are getting the results you want. If so, carry on. If not, make adjustments based on your results.

  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    serindipte wrote: »
    flosoup24 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Why over-complicate things? Pick a weekly weight loss goal appropriate for how much you have to lose and make that your calorie goal.

    You're right I am but it comes down to I don't trust the programme to work. So im half assed doing it

    Then you're right, it isn't going to work, or will only work half-assed.
    Whether you think you can.. or can't.. you're right.

    That said, IF you use this program correctly and accurately, it WILL work.

    ^^ This
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Maybe give it a shot and if your weight loss is not matching your goal reconsider. I use the proram. my activity changes day to day and i like the way it adds or deducts calories
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    There isn't a default - it's a calculator that gives different numbers based on your stats and the data you enter. Just like the alternative calculators.

    The results depends on you and not which calculator you choose.
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
    Whatever you choose, make the choice that's going to be best for you. I choose to use a different calculator based on the Harris-Benedict formula, because trial and error has led me to believe that it's most accurate for me. I calculated my TDEE calories for my goal weight and didn't include exercise. So, I"m not dieting so much as learning to eat at my healthy weight. My weight loss comes primarily from exercise, and I try to exercise off at least half a pound a week. And that works for me. I don't like feeling like I'm depriving myself of food, so eating at goal TDEE makes it feel like I'm not dieting at all.

    It will probably take a little experimenting for you to find what works for you, but you've gotta start somewhere. My advice to you is to start with MFP's recommendations and see what happens. If it doesn't work for you, you can tweak it, or you can toss it and use a calculator. But keep in mind that you might need to tweak that, too.
  • flosoup24
    flosoup24 Posts: 44 Member
    Thank you everyone for trying to help me out. I need to just keep my head down and stick with it. I'm juggling ill health with it and the minute and im letting that be an excuse. It is time to stop.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Hope you get well soon - take your ill health into account when setting your rate of weight loss, going for the fastest rate of loss may not be the best choice.
    It's of course easier to get good nutrition to support your health from a larger calorie allowance rather than choosing 2lbs/week rate of loss and getting the minimum 1200/day goal.
  • flosoup24
    flosoup24 Posts: 44 Member
    Thank you
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    Mfp goals are working for me. I find that the simpler I keep the process the better. Good luck with your goals and I hope that your health issues are soon resolved
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    MFP can work, but so can other sites/calculators. If the problem for you is more mental (trusting the process/numbers) rather than execution (managing intake and all that), then I'd go with whatever site/calculator/number you trust the most. The mental battle can be every bit as hard as the physical one... so don't make it any harder than it has to be.

    For what it's worth, IME, most all sites/calculators end up being pretty darn close to one another. They may get to that end number slightly differently, but the end results are usually pretty similar.

    Good luck.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,147 Member
    It might help you, to see exactly how MFP calculates a calorie allowance:
    sk7m4nm3m703.jpg

  • flosoup24
    flosoup24 Posts: 44 Member
    Brilliant thanks
  • dsboohead
    dsboohead Posts: 1,899 Member
    flosoup24 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Why over-complicate things? Pick a weekly weight loss goal appropriate for how much you have to lose and make that your calorie goal.

    You're right I am but it comes down to I don't trust the programme to work. So im half assed doing it

    Try it but follow it and be diligent. Heck....give it a shot! Doing it your way in the past has worked in the past eh?
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Give it a try and see how it goes.
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