We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

MFP Calorie Goal change as we lose

donjtomasco
donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
edited December 2024 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: 35,677 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.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories