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Should I eat more calories?

rose313
rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Today I used the BMR calculator and it said I burn 1,445 calories with no physical activity, just staying in bed all day. Obviously, since I exercise, I burn more than that, but I've only been eating 1200. I started out eating only 1000 and then realized that was too little, so I have been eating 1200 for the past few weeks. Should I increase my calorie intake to 1,445, so my body doesn't think it's starving? I don't feel like I'm starving but then again I've only lost 3 pounds in a month and a half, so maybe eating more would be good for me. What do you think?

Replies

  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    i just did what MFP told me to do. They recommend 1200 calories for me also and my basal is also higher than 1200. then if i exercise, i am allwoed a little more food. so i'm not sure but i'm just going off of what MFP tells me to do.
  • Jeanneh65
    Jeanneh65 Posts: 1
    without exercising what does my fitness pal tell you to eat. First thing in the morning before you put anything in. That is how many calories you should be eating. Not the calories you burn. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water to flush your system
  • cjack19
    cjack19 Posts: 158 Member
    Good question! I just used the tool on here and it told me 1332, but I eat around the 1200. I have the same problem in that I am not losing any weight.
  • j_courter
    j_courter Posts: 999 Member
    three pounds in a month and a half seems like good progress to me. i don't have any advice for you because i've only lost 4 pounds in 2 months, but for those of us who don't have a lot to lose, slow and steady is good! keep up the good work!
  • TinaLTaylor79
    TinaLTaylor79 Posts: 140 Member
    Never eat below 1200 cals..and when you workout and earn more calories, you can eat more, because you can eat back some of your workout calories!
  • shreyaj
    shreyaj Posts: 196
    I was eating 1200 calories and burning 500 calories six days per week and one "cheat" day I guess you can say, 1 rest day, and 1 meal of whatever I want. I was always hungry and I couldn't figure out why I wasn't losing two pounds per week I bumped it to 1400 calories and I lost more weight, it took me trial & error to figure that out you may want to increase your calories with healthy foods and drink plenty of water and see how that works out for you!
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I think MFP told me to eat 1265 or something like that, but I don't remember because one of the first things I did was change it. I didn't know any better and thought less calories consumed, more weight lost. Now that I know better I don't really remember what it told me to do. I almost always eat back my exercise calories.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I vote yes.

    What is your weekly loss goal set to?

    I eat a LOT. It works for me. I like it and like to encourage others to do so as well. If you CAN eat a lot and still lose, why not? And you'll never know if you can until you try it (for a few weeks, not just a few days).
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Thank you! It may only be a few pounds but it's better than nothing! I don't have a whole lot to lose either, I have 20 to lose, maybe 30 if I feel especially ambitious lol.
  • Faeriegirl74
    Faeriegirl74 Posts: 187 Member
    I eat whatever MFP says to eat as far as calories... and if I earn more in exercise, I eat those too. I've lost 9 pounds since August 23rd just sticking to whatever it suggests. I get 1340 calories per day before exercise and it's working so far. Nothing is off limits, but I try to make smarter choices to make my calories go further. If I have a scoop of ice cream, then I either have to burn it off through exercise or if it's a non exercise day, I have to cut back elsewhere.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I vote yes.

    What is your weekly loss goal set to?

    I eat a LOT. It works for me. I like it and like to encourage others to do so as well. If you CAN eat a lot and still lose, why not? And you'll never know if you can until you try it (for a few weeks, not just a few days).

    My goal is set to 1.5 a week. I'd like to lose 2, but I don't know if that's possible.
  • CrazyDaisysMommy
    CrazyDaisysMommy Posts: 472
    I'm almost 6 feet and my BMR is around 1700 calories. To maintain my weight I should be eating around 2200. I usually eat between 1400 and 1700 even though MFP recommends 1200. That range seems to be working well for me, and I like to mix it up: 1400 one day, 1700 the next, 1500 the following day... I also plan to add more exercise and try to burn 500 a day. I think MFP gives you a pretty generic guideline and it's up to you to find what works best for you.
  • chadam1015
    chadam1015 Posts: 58 Member
    I have always ate the calories MFP has set for me. They build in a deficit depending on how much you would like to lose a week. That is why you have a differance. I would not eat more that 1200 (plus exersise) until you hit a plateau then you might have to in order to boost your matablism. I started out trying to lose 2 pounds a week and when I hit my first plateau I changed to 1.5 then when I hit again I changed back to 2. It has seemed to help me keep losing. Good luck!
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I eat whatever MFP says to eat as far as calories... and if I earn more in exercise, I eat those too. I've lost 9 pounds since August 23rd just sticking to whatever it suggests. I get 1340 calories per day before exercise and it's working so far. Nothing is off limits, but I try to make smarter choices to make my calories go further. If I have a scoop of ice cream, then I either have to burn it off through exercise or if it's a non exercise day, I have to cut back elsewhere.
    Wow, 9 pounds! That's awesome. I don't think my body wants to go that fast, I wish it would hurry up a little though.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    yeah, when you don't have a lot to lose your calorie deficit should be pretty small. You have to sweet talk your body into letting go of it's last remaining fat stores (it isn't natural to be "lean"). You have to convince it that it gets plenty of food so that it'll let go of the stores. Set your weekly goal to 0.5lbs a week, eat what MFP tells you to and eat your exercise calories.

    Sooooo many women heard this 1200 number somewhere so they just grab it and run. 1200 is the absolute minimum a woman should eat to avoid serious health risks. Doesn't mean it's the best number for ALL women to eat for weight loss and to be healthy and fit.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I'm almost 6 feet and my BMR is around 1700 calories. To maintain my weight I should be eating around 2200. I usually eat between 1400 and 1700 even though MFP recommends 1200. That range seems to be working well for me, and I like to mix it up: 1400 one day, 1700 the next, 1500 the following day... I also plan to add more exercise and try to burn 500 a day. I think MFP gives you a pretty generic guideline and it's up to you to find what works best for you.

    That's a good point. I'm still in the process of finding out what works best for me. I wish there wasn't so much guessing involved. I already exercise at least 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week, but maybe I should exercise more and see what happens.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    I'd like to lose 5 pounds a week, but it's not gonna happen. I eat all of my exercise calories, and I have beer and other fun treats on the weekends. I'm losing about a half pound a week, which is just fine for me. Slow and steady, and making real life changes in my lifestyle. I probably could tighten up on my diet, cut out all beer and ice cream, and lose more like 1.5 or 2 pounds a week, but without treats I'd be one sad panda. I'd also be more likely to regress and gain back all of my hard earned weight loss.

    Weight loss is a trial and error experiment. You have to try out eating one way for a few weeks, and see what kind of results you get. If it's not satisfactory, try something else for a few weeks. Eventually you'll find what works best for you.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    yeah, when you don't have a lot to lose your calorie deficit should be pretty small. You have to sweet talk your body into letting go of it's last remaining fat stores (it isn't natural to be "lean"). You have to convince it that it gets plenty of food so that it'll let go of the stores. Set your weekly goal to 0.5lbs a week, eat what MFP tells you to and eat your exercise calories.

    Sooooo many women heard this 1200 number somewhere so they just grab it and run. 1200 is the absolute minimum a woman should eat to avoid serious health risks. Doesn't mean it's the best number for ALL women to eat for weight loss and to be healthy and fit.

    I used to eat only 1000 every time I wanted to lose weight. I'd frequently eat even less. I'd drop 10 pounds no problem, and always wondered why I gained it right back. No wonder why, my poor body was confused :( I want to do this the right way!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    double post. DUmb wifi
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    You should be eating more. I work you too. On MFP you don't get credit for strength training but you do for cardio. I go to a gym and use an elliptical machine and a treadmill. If in log in all my information it tells me how many calories I burn...I know that the machine aren't exact but they give you an idea. Then I log that and it adds to my calories that I can eat. I do a lot of cardio and add sometimes 600 calories to my day.......I don't all eat these, I don't want to just break even. I usually try to have 400 calories left over every day. I've lost 8lbs. in a month. So around 1400 or 1500 is about what I eat. Hope that helped, cause if you are getting out of the bed you need more that 1200 calories. Good Luck!
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    I meant good luck
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I'd like to lose 5 pounds a week, but it's not gonna happen. I eat all of my exercise calories, and I have beer and other fun treats on the weekends. I'm losing about a half pound a week, which is just fine for me. Slow and steady, and making real life changes in my lifestyle. I probably could tighten up on my diet, cut out all beer and ice cream, and lose more like 1.5 or 2 pounds a week, but without treats I'd be one sad panda. I'd also be more likely to regress and gain back all of my hard earned weight loss.

    Weight loss is a trial and error experiment. You have to try out eating one way for a few weeks, and see what kind of results you get. If it's not satisfactory, try something else for a few weeks. Eventually you'll find what works best for you.

    I love beer. I have given up a long list of foods and drinks, but I will not give up my beer! :D
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
    Mine is around the same amount. Right now I've been eating a little below 1,200 or right above it. I really just go by what my body wants. I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not, as well as drink as much water as I can. It really does depend on you personally. I burn 300-450 calories every day from working out (walking mostly) and don't eat back exercise calories. I've been fine so far. I might make changes later if needed. My goal right now is just to not over eat (like I did in the past) as well as eat at least 1,200 calories to make sure my body is getting a consistent source of fuel to sustain a healthy metabolism.
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