MFP Calorie Goal change as we lose

donjtomasco
donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
So I started at 211.2 and set my goal at 2 pounds per week loss. Calories per day to eat were automatically set by MFP to be 1,500 calories per day. So far so good. This morning I am at 201.2. I updated my goals as my weight is coming down (and have reset it several times as my weight has gone down) at it was still at 1,500 calories a day.

It seems like the last time I did a weight loss on MFP, as I lost weight my goal CALORIES PER DAY changed, but this is not happening now.

When I reset my goals this morning at my new weight, and it said 1,500 calories, I scrolled down to the red numbers and it said I should lose 1.9 pounds per week now instead of the 2.0 per week that it says when I enter what my starting weight was, of 211.2.

So it looks like the calories per day need to be adjusted by us now? And how is this done? I don't want to increase my 2 pounds per week, since I am NOT going over 1% of my body weight loss per week as I lose.

So this is now confusing to me as it seems MFP has changed. I did not pay extra money for the extra MFP that you pay for, maybe I need to.

Thank you!

Replies

  • confidenceinrain
    confidenceinrain Posts: 104 Member
    If your goals put you at a lower calorie count than the minimum (1500 for men, 1200 for women) then your goal per week is probably too high. 1.5 or 1 pounds per week at your weight are perfectly fine goals to have.
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    THANK YOU!
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    Yes I'd also recommend changing your goals to 1lb a week. Mine is and I weigh 232.
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    I am 56 (male) 5'10", now 201, started at 211 Dec 1. Goal weight 185 ish. I set 2# per week loss on Dec 1 and plan on going to 1# per week Jan 1. All CICO and walking and eating right for December, Jan 1 will add weights and low impact machines to workout.

    Thanks for all your comments which were very helpful!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    donjtomasco wrote: »
    I am 56 (male) 5'10", now 201, started at 211 Dec 1. Goal weight 185 ish. I set 2# per week loss on Dec 1 and plan on going to 1# per week Jan 1. All CICO and walking and eating right for December, Jan 1 will add weights and low impact machines to workout.

    Thanks for all your comments which were very helpful!

    That deficit is pretty steep given your stats
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    Why?
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    2% of body weight is supposed to be the max to set. I am at that for a month (actually under) then in January will be resetting at 1% which is more lower. Not sure why the deficit seems so steep to you.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    Yes, 1% is rule of thumb around here (and ideally slower than that within 25-50 pounds of goal). It's conservative, but health and strength are good things to conserve, in most folks' opinions.

    Research suggests you can only burn a certain number of calories per pound of fat you have, per day. So, as you have less fat, a smaller calorie deficit is a good plan, unless you want to increase risk of burning other tissue (like muscle) to make up your calorie deficit.

    The estimates of calories/fat-pound vary (it's not something they can measure directly, but I've seen numbers in the 20s to very low 30s. The 1% rule, for most people, is going to work out to be materially slower than that . . . because, like I said, it's good to be conservative when it comes to risking health/strength.
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