What does it mean to eat 'at maintenance'?

bosque1234 · September 2019

I've seen lots of folks refer to this, and it must have some kind of a formula attached to it, but for those of us who are kind of new, what exactly does this mean and how do we translate this into specific amounts, cals, etc? Thanks.

I'm especially interested in how to do this on the way to getting to my goal weight that is still 25-30 lbs away. I'm doing 1250 cals a day, losing slowly.

Appreciate!

middlehaitch · September 2019

Eating at maintenance means your calories in, what you eat, are equal to the calories out, the amount of energy you expend in a day. CI=CO.

MFP has a maintenance goal as well as a lose or gain weight goal.

It often takes a bit of time to get your maintenance established as any calculator, like MFP or off site TDEE, are only estimates.

You can also look at your data and work out your maintenance by your rate of loss.
Say you on average lost 0.5 lbs a week for the last 6 weeks, so 3lbs, of your deficit, cals 1250. You would know adding 250 cals to that would give you your maintenance- or at least a good starting place.

Most people have a maintenance range rather than an exact number as even in maintenance weight varies depending on conditions like TOM, water weight, new workout, etc. (My range is 100-105lbs thought I generally weigh 102-103).

Cheers, h.

bosque1234 · September 2019

Thanks!!!!

Most people have a maintenance range rather than an exact number as even in maintenance weight varies depending on conditions like TOM, water weight, new workout, etc. (My range is 100-105lbs thought I generally weigh 102-103).

Cheers, h. [/quote]

MikePTY · September 2019

Every MFP calorie estimate that you are given starts with projected maintenance calories. Basically MFP takes you weight, height, age, and gender and generates a BMR, which the an estimated amount your body burns if you were in a coma. Then it multiplies that amount by a specific multiplier depending on the activity level you select. That will give you your maintenence calories before exercise. MFP then will subtract an amount of calories based on how much weight you told it you wanted to lose, and then will give you a calorie goal. MFP subtracts 250 calories per half pound of loss. So let's say you told MFP you wanted to lose a pound a day when you started, and it gave you your goal of 1250. That means that your maintenance calories would be 1750, plus eating back exercise calories, the same as anyone losing weight.

Now most people when they actually get to maintenance may find their personal number a bit different, just like during weight loss. But that is the general idea.

lorrpb · September 2019

Just change your MFP profile from weight loss to maintenance and you will see what MFP estimates for you. Then you can change it back to weight loss.

What does it mean to eat 'at maintenance'?

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