Confused on Calorie Intake

FitCowgirl8 wrote: »

Strudders67 when I put my stats into MFP they give me a calorie intake of 1200 per day. After reading threads on this site I felt that was too low so I was trying to calculate it on my own and confused myself along the way

What MFP gives you also depends on what you choose as your weekly weight loss goal. If you choose 2 lbs per week it will likely give you 1200, but that doesnt mean that's healthy. Unless you have a lot to lose, selecting a goal of .5 to 1 lb per week will give you more calories and be more sustainable/healthy.

you probably have your weight loss set at 2lbs a week and the lowest MFP will go for that is 1200. Change your goal to 1lb a week and the minimum should increase.

FitCowgirl8 wrote: »

Strudders67 when I put my stats into MFP they give me a calorie intake of 1200 per day. After reading threads on this site I felt that was too low so I was trying to calculate it on my own and confused myself along the way

But you're also supposed to add exercise calories to that...so if you exercised and logged it and burned 300 calories you would actually be eating 1500 calories. MFP uses the NEAT method...most other calculators use TDEE which includes exercise in your activity level and thus you get more calories from the start. Done correctly, the methods are basically 6 of 1 , half dozen of the other with the only real difference being where you account for exercise.

Change your goal to lose 1 or 0.5 lb per week. That way you get to eat more. It's easier.

FitCowgirl8 wrote: »

This month I have been trying to find the correct calorie count for my body in order to lose weight. I have used online calculators and most of them tell me I should be eating around 1600 calories to lose weight. The past few weeks I have been tracking my food and have been eating on average anywhere from around 1700 to 2300 per day. I have been maintaining my weight wavering up and down a few pounds. This makes me think that somewhere around 2000 is my maintenance calories. If I subtract 500 calories from these calorie averages that makes it 1200-1800 per day to lose. I hear so many negative things about people that eat 1300 calories or less and how it is bad for your body in the long run so my main question here is can that actually be how few calories my body needs? Is it going to be a bad choice if I set my calorie goal to 1300 each day? I am 5' 4" and weigh 203lb currently. Thanks in advance for any advice you have!

I did read all of the above posts, and it sounds like you're now on a more useful track (1 pound a week). I just wanted to add this:

If you've been tracking a few weeks, and eating quite variable amounts (1700-2300), your scale weight likely will've been bouncing around because of varied amounts of carbs/sodium (which change water retention, in a healthy body), and varied amounts of digestive contents in transit. If you're premenopausal, and "the past few weeks" is shorter than a full menstrual cycle plus a little, you also have hormonal water weight fluctuations in the mix. So, you may or may not have sound data from which to estimate your true maintenance calories.

As you start on your new calorie goal, and are eating more consistent amounts, you should start getting more consistent data to estimate current maintenance. The first couple of weeks of reduced calories can be a bit of a roller coaster (because of the reduced water weight and less in the digestive system), but the 4-6 weeks after that should be a better indication. (You add your intake + (3500 x pounds lost) and divide by the number of days, in order to get a ballpark maintenance estimate.)

Best wishes!

I am 5 foot 2, and started at 210lbs. I am lightly active (getting 8k plus steps without the gym" and I was eating about 1500 cals. I would then eat back half of my exercise cals burned per my Fitbit. I am currently 158 lbs and still going strong. I'd pick something that sounds attainable to you, do it for 4-6 weeks, see how much your losing and adjust.