How much should I eat?

I have calculated my macros and it says to eat 1340 calories a day. I’ve done that all week and lost nothing. Yesterday I had a cheat meal and ate 1900 calories for the day.

I finally lost weight over night! Am I not eating enough at 1300 per day?

Does anyone have a good macro calculator they use for weight loss? Every calculator I fill out has a different calorie count.

I understand how it works. I’ve taken nutrition classes and I am a recovery anorexic. I know a lot about weight loss! Lol but I don’t know how much I should actually be eating to lose weight, but to also make sure my body has enough fuel.

I’m 5”2.

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,571 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,278 Member
    if you have been at it for only one week, you need to take a deep breath and just keep doing the same thing. i would recommend not weighing yourself again for a month. it may help your panic!
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    csplatt wrote: »
    if you have been at it for only one week, you need to take a deep breath and just keep doing the same thing. i would recommend not weighing yourself again for a month. it may help your panic!
    It hasn’t been one week. It’s been about a month. I was steadily losing, then this week nothing til today. I was actually gaining at 1340 a day!
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.


    So I should be eating my exercise calories? I have been exercising too but eating the 1340
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,571 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.


    So I should be eating my exercise calories? I have been exercising too but eating the 1340

    Yes. This site uses a different calculation than other sites. Myfitnesspal uses the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation and it requires that purposeful exercise be accounted separately, hence the "Exercise" tab. Enter your purposeful exercise when you do it and eat more on those days.

    Here is the official explanation along with many hyperlinks within the article: https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    If you already know about weight loss, you know that exercise uses calories. Under-eating is just as bad as over-eating but it's a fine line and that's why we say to pick reasonable goals, and use your own logging data to make adjustments after 4-6 weeks.

    You mentioned not losing for a week, then losing after a "cheat." Your body doesn't turn on a dime like that - it was a coincidence...but 1340 is pretty low and if you're exercising, I think you are definitely under-fueling.

    Set it to "Lose 1 pound" and "Lightly Active." Eat 200-400 more on exercise days. Adjust in 4-6 weeks.
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,278 Member
    csplatt wrote: »
    if you have been at it for only one week, you need to take a deep breath and just keep doing the same thing. i would recommend not weighing yourself again for a month. it may help your panic!
    It hasn’t been one week. It’s been about a month. I was steadily losing, then this week nothing til today. I was actually gaining at 1340 a day!

    it’s totally normal to lose steadily then have a week where you don’t lose or you gain a little. especially as women, our menstrual cycle can impact the scale different times of the month. i started my period yesterday and I will not weigh myself again until a few days after it stops
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.


    So I should be eating my exercise calories? I have been exercising too but eating the 1340

    Yes. This site uses a different calculation than other sites. Myfitnesspal uses the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation and it requires that purposeful exercise be accounted separately, hence the "Exercise" tab. Enter your purposeful exercise when you do it and eat more on those days.

    Here is the official explanation along with many hyperlinks within the article: https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    If you already know about weight loss, you know that exercise uses calories. Under-eating is just as bad as over-eating but it's a fine line and that's why we say to pick reasonable goals, and use your own logging data to make adjustments after 4-6 weeks.

    You mentioned not losing for a week, then losing after a "cheat." Your body doesn't turn on a dime like that - it was a coincidence...but 1340 is pretty low and if you're exercising, I think you are definitely under-fueling.

    Set it to "Lose 1 pound" and "Lightly Active." Eat 200-400 more on exercise days. Adjust in 4-6 weeks.

    Thank you! As a former anorexic, I definitely have a hard time with the mindset that I can eat a decent amount of food and still lose weight. So that’s why I like to ask and stay aware of my habits. I have “successfully” lost weight through out my life, but always gain it back. I tend to not eat enough and lose weight super quickly but it’s hard to maintain. This time I am trying to ease into it and focus on being healthy while still losing weight. I’m working with a therapist and psychiatrist as well. So don’t think I’m trying to do this alone. But they don’t know about calorie intake! Lol

  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 950 Member
    edited September 2023
    You can set it up by selecting the more button which looks like this “…”, at least on my mobile.

    Then select Goals

    Fill in this info here:
    gz7vhc4h1hji.jpeg

    Under Goals, you can also see where it says Nutrition Goals, this is what MFP has set for your macros. Personally I don’t follow my macros, it’s just more work for me.

    ETA: Please take what others have said to heart on this and your other posts. Take your time. Do it right. Make this time different. No one can do this but you, so make a plan you can commit to and stick with it. This will be the difference between success or chasing your own tail.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,571 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.


    So I should be eating my exercise calories? I have been exercising too but eating the 1340

    Yes. This site uses a different calculation than other sites. Myfitnesspal uses the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation and it requires that purposeful exercise be accounted separately, hence the "Exercise" tab. Enter your purposeful exercise when you do it and eat more on those days.

    Here is the official explanation along with many hyperlinks within the article: https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    If you already know about weight loss, you know that exercise uses calories. Under-eating is just as bad as over-eating but it's a fine line and that's why we say to pick reasonable goals, and use your own logging data to make adjustments after 4-6 weeks.

    You mentioned not losing for a week, then losing after a "cheat." Your body doesn't turn on a dime like that - it was a coincidence...but 1340 is pretty low and if you're exercising, I think you are definitely under-fueling.

    Set it to "Lose 1 pound" and "Lightly Active." Eat 200-400 more on exercise days. Adjust in 4-6 weeks.

    Thank you! As a former anorexic, I definitely have a hard time with the mindset that I can eat a decent amount of food and still lose weight. So that’s why I like to ask and stay aware of my habits. I have “successfully” lost weight through out my life, but always gain it back. I tend to not eat enough and lose weight super quickly but it’s hard to maintain. This time I am trying to ease into it and focus on being healthy while still losing weight. I’m working with a therapist and psychiatrist as well. So don’t think I’m trying to do this alone. But they don’t know about calorie intake! Lol

    Yeah, I get it on the mindset and good job going to the psyche appointments.

    Slow and steady. Think turtle, not hare - in all of life, not just weight.

    Any extremes in food or exercise are what your medical team will want you to avoid. That's what got you in to trouble in the past.

    Does your medical team say it's okay to be on this site, keeping such close tabs on your numbers? I would think it could be really trigger-y for you.


  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    Like we said on your other thread, you were likely retaining water from your throat infection, steroids for that, and possibly because you were also ovulating.

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10899283/help-me

    You might want to print this out and put it by your scale:

    7rpmte3rqx8w.png
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    I would say if you're going to use myfitnesspal, just set your Goals here. You know that it wants you to log exercise separately, right? As far as calories, take a look at this *general* guide:
    cfpqwo9vvrsi.png



    Then, what we say to everyone: Log food and exercise daily for 4-6 weeks and calculate your results. We can't choose a number for you.


    So I should be eating my exercise calories? I have been exercising too but eating the 1340

    Yes. This site uses a different calculation than other sites. Myfitnesspal uses the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation and it requires that purposeful exercise be accounted separately, hence the "Exercise" tab. Enter your purposeful exercise when you do it and eat more on those days.

    Here is the official explanation along with many hyperlinks within the article: https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    If you already know about weight loss, you know that exercise uses calories. Under-eating is just as bad as over-eating but it's a fine line and that's why we say to pick reasonable goals, and use your own logging data to make adjustments after 4-6 weeks.

    You mentioned not losing for a week, then losing after a "cheat." Your body doesn't turn on a dime like that - it was a coincidence...but 1340 is pretty low and if you're exercising, I think you are definitely under-fueling.

    Set it to "Lose 1 pound" and "Lightly Active." Eat 200-400 more on exercise days. Adjust in 4-6 weeks.

    Thank you! As a former anorexic, I definitely have a hard time with the mindset that I can eat a decent amount of food and still lose weight. So that’s why I like to ask and stay aware of my habits. I have “successfully” lost weight through out my life, but always gain it back. I tend to not eat enough and lose weight super quickly but it’s hard to maintain. This time I am trying to ease into it and focus on being healthy while still losing weight. I’m working with a therapist and psychiatrist as well. So don’t think I’m trying to do this alone. But they don’t know about calorie intake! Lol

    Yeah, I get it on the mindset and good job going to the psyche appointments.

    Slow and steady. Think turtle, not hare - in all of life, not just weight.

    Any extremes in food or exercise are what your medical team will want you to avoid. That's what got you in to trouble in the past.

    Does your medical team say it's okay to be on this site, keeping such close tabs on your numbers? I would think it could be really trigger-y for you.

    Also ask your medical team if they think a weight trend app, such as Happy Scale for iphone or Libra for Android, would be a help or a hindrance.

    In general, weight trend apps can be very helpful to wrap your mind around the normal ups and downs of weight loss, and show that you've actually made progress, but because you've had an ED I want to defer to your team.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,783 Member
    edited September 2023
    You *have* discussed with your doctors what you're doing honestly and forthrightly, right?

    Because I notice a couple of hints that make it sound as if you MAY be shaping what you're sharing with them--things like your calorie intake for example or that you're counting/restricting calories.

    I would be very surprised if people who deal with eating disorders professionally don't have an understanding of calories as you sort of implied. Not shocked, sadly, but at least surprised.

    I'm not going to hide that I would also be very surprised if a mental team specializing in ED is on board with what you're doing.

    In recovery and doing good for a few months? years? Neither equals fully recovered with no underlying vulnerability and ready to dive into potentially triggering behaviors.

    There is more to life than just your weight especially if your weight is not at a level that creates a health risk.

    And while calorie counting can be an extremely effective method of control there exist many other methods that would allow someone to influence the direction of their weight.
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    You *have* discussed with your doctors what you're doing honestly and forthrightly, right?

    Because I notice a couple of hints that make it sound as if you MAY be shaping what you're sharing with them--things like your calorie intake for example or that you're counting/restricting calories.

    I would be very surprised if people who deal with eating disorders professionally don't have an understanding of calories as you sort of implied. Not shocked, sadly, but at least surprised.

    I'm not going to hide that I would also be very surprised if a mental team specializing in ED is on board with what you're doing.

    In recovery and doing good for a few months? years? Neither equals fully recovered with no underlying vulnerability and ready to dive into potentially triggering behaviors.

    There is more to life than just your weight especially if your weight is not at a level that creates a health risk.

    And while calorie counting can be an extremely effective method of control there exist many other methods that would allow someone to influence the direction of their weight.


    You’re right. They don’t know. I see her tomorrow. I’ll be honest I promise. I really DO want to be different this time. But I’m also 80 lbs over what I should be right now. So I know I need to do something to stay accountable. She wants me to just be cutting out processed foods. She doesn’t know I’m using this app. Thank you for your honesty and calling me out. I really do want help. I am my biggest hinderance for sure.
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    You *have* discussed with your doctors what you're doing honestly and forthrightly, right?

    Because I notice a couple of hints that make it sound as if you MAY be shaping what you're sharing with them--things like your calorie intake for example or that you're counting/restricting calories.

    I would be very surprised if people who deal with eating disorders professionally don't have an understanding of calories as you sort of implied. Not shocked, sadly, but at least surprised.

    I'm not going to hide that I would also be very surprised if a mental team specializing in ED is on board with what you're doing.

    In recovery and doing good for a few months? years? Neither equals fully recovered with no underlying vulnerability and ready to dive into potentially triggering behaviors.

    There is more to life than just your weight especially if your weight is not at a level that creates a health risk.

    And while calorie counting can be an extremely effective method of control there exist many other methods that would allow someone to influence the direction of their weight.


    You’re right. They don’t know. I see her tomorrow. I’ll be honest I promise. I really DO want to be different this time. But I’m also 80 lbs over what I should be right now. So I know I need to do something to stay accountable. She wants me to just be cutting out processed foods. She doesn’t know I’m using this app. Thank you for your honesty and calling me out. I really do want help. I am my biggest hinderance for sure.

    Sorry, not tomorrow; Monday. I go Monday. I’ll be honest.
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,278 Member
    We lose after a “cheat” because the extra food prompts a larger bowel movement the next day 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,952 Member
    csplatt wrote: »
    We lose after a “cheat” because the extra food prompts a larger bowel movement the next day 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

    I never really thought about this... but I think you're right! You learn something new every day.
  • Lildarlinz
    Lildarlinz Posts: 282 Member
    Please remind me of your height and weight again.

    I have been on 1200 calories for 3 weeks and lost 6lb…and I don’t exercise apart from walking..(I work on a heavy ward in a hospital)
    Yessss before anybody comments it’s only temporary until I get to a certain weight and then I will up my caloriesssss!!!

    BUT…..

    You have to be consistent! 1200 calories Monday-Sunday…
    Not 1200 calories on Monday-Saturday and then 2500 on Sunday… unless you have logged and tracked your exercise calories and not eaten them during the week…

    Also..pick one day to weigh.My day is a Sunday…now i could be say 10 stone 7 on a Saturday night but then on Sunday weight 10 stone 5…

    Water weight…needing to empty bowels are two things for this…but consistency is the key!

    And the most important thing is…DONT GIVE UP HOPE!!!

    When you constantly weigh yourself and you’re like pffttt I’ve put on a 1lb or I’ve put on 2lb…it makes you think f**k it I’m gunna have some chocolate!! DONT!!!!! Don’t have that chocolate! Keep going with the calories u have been given…

    Remember
    Consistency
    Positivity
    Determination!
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,278 Member
    sollyn23l2 wrote: »
    csplatt wrote: »
    We lose after a “cheat” because the extra food prompts a larger bowel movement the next day 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

    I never really thought about this... but I think you're right! You learn something new every day.

    yep. it reveals to us that the work we have been doing on deficit days has been working. it doesn’t mean that higher cal days creates better loss.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    Thanks for the update!
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,783 Member
    edited September 2023
    For whatever it's worth given that I'm I'm neither a professional nor have direct knowledge of you or your situation other than some general information you've shared....

    Would alert husband to the existence of weight trend application. And would remind them that similar points in the menstrual cycle are more likely to have similar degrees of water retention

    Even though you have 60 or 90 lb to lose, I would still proceed with a slower rate of loss that may take longer but will avoid creating larger deficits that exceed 20% or so of your daily expenditure totals and would even built in maintenance-not free for all but maintenance days.

    Realistically this means a less than 1 lb a week actual loss rate over the course of a year, though you will already be reaping the majority of the health benefits way sooner than that.

    This means you can lose even slower in year two and start stabilizing while keeping food ideation and restrictions or rebound binges to as low a level as possible.

    In the end, the total health package is what counts. Both body and mind.


  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    For whatever it's worth given that I'm I'm neither a professional nor have direct knowledge of you or your situation other than some general information you've shared....

    Would alert husband to the existence of weight trend application. And would remind them that similar points in the menstrual cycle are more likely to have similar degrees of water retention

    Even though you have 60 or 90 lb to lose, I would still proceed with a slower rate of loss that may take longer but will avoid creating larger deficits that exceed 20% or so of your daily expenditure totals and would even built in maintenance-not free for all but maintenance days.

    Realistically this means a less than 1 lb a week actual loss rate over the course of a year, though you will already be reaping the majority of the health benefits way sooner than that.

    This means you can lose even slower in year two and start stabilizing while keeping food ideation and restrictions or rebound binges to as low a level as possible.

    In the end, the total health package is what counts. Both body and mind.



    Thank you! Yeah, I think I’m going to add 100-200 more calories a day then what mfp figured me at. I think 1340 is too much of a deficit right now. Once I lose 30-40 lbs I can reassess. Thank you for your support. By the way, my husband won’t weigh me, I don’t want him to know why weight (not that he cares, he loves me for me), but he’s going to be in control of hiding it from me. I failed my homework. She told me to weigh myself every other day, and I was honest and told her I still was weighing in 3-4 times a day :/ . So she’s making him hide it from me

    Small steps!
  • peggy_polenta
    peggy_polenta Posts: 325 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    For whatever it's worth given that I'm I'm neither a professional nor have direct knowledge of you or your situation other than some general information you've shared....

    Would alert husband to the existence of weight trend application. And would remind them that similar points in the menstrual cycle are more likely to have similar degrees of water retention

    Even though you have 60 or 90 lb to lose, I would still proceed with a slower rate of loss that may take longer but will avoid creating larger deficits that exceed 20% or so of your daily expenditure totals and would even built in maintenance-not free for all but maintenance days.

    Realistically this means a less than 1 lb a week actual loss rate over the course of a year, though you will already be reaping the majority of the health benefits way sooner than that.

    This means you can lose even slower in year two and start stabilizing while keeping food ideation and restrictions or rebound binges to as low a level as possible.

    In the end, the total health package is what counts. Both body and mind.



    Thank you! Yeah, I think I’m going to add 100-200 more calories a day then what mfp figured me at. I think 1340 is too much of a deficit right now. Once I lose 30-40 lbs I can reassess. Thank you for your support. By the way, my husband won’t weigh me, I don’t want him to know why weight (not that he cares, he loves me for me), but he’s going to be in control of hiding it from me. I failed my homework. She told me to weigh myself every other day, and I was honest and told her I still was weighing in 3-4 times a day :/ . So she’s making him hide it from me

    Small steps!

    im surprised your trained therapist is putting the responsibility of this on your husband. this is not his problem to manage or monitor. its yours. its not fair to him either. she/he should be teaching you how to deal with your own triggers not putting this responsibility on your husband.
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    edited September 2023
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    For whatever it's worth given that I'm I'm neither a professional nor have direct knowledge of you or your situation other than some general information you've shared....

    Would alert husband to the existence of weight trend application. And would remind them that similar points in the menstrual cycle are more likely to have similar degrees of water retention

    Even though you have 60 or 90 lb to lose, I would still proceed with a slower rate of loss that may take longer but will avoid creating larger deficits that exceed 20% or so of your daily expenditure totals and would even built in maintenance-not free for all but maintenance days.

    Realistically this means a less than 1 lb a week actual loss rate over the course of a year, though you will already be reaping the majority of the health benefits way sooner than that.

    This means you can lose even slower in year two and start stabilizing while keeping food ideation and restrictions or rebound binges to as low a level as possible.

    In the end, the total health package is what counts. Both body and mind.



    Thank you! Yeah, I think I’m going to add 100-200 more calories a day then what mfp figured me at. I think 1340 is too much of a deficit right now. Once I lose 30-40 lbs I can reassess. Thank you for your support. By the way, my husband won’t weigh me, I don’t want him to know why weight (not that he cares, he loves me for me), but he’s going to be in control of hiding it from me. I failed my homework. She told me to weigh myself every other day, and I was honest and told her I still was weighing in 3-4 times a day :/ . So she’s making him hide it from me

    Small steps!

    im surprised your trained therapist is putting the responsibility of this on your husband. this is not his problem to manage or monitor. its yours. its not fair to him either. she/he should be teaching you how to deal with your own triggers not putting this responsibility on your husband.

    What’s your degree in?

    It was actually my idea, my therapist and I came up with the stipulations together :). My husband is my best friend and is the most supportive man I’ve ever met. He doesn’t mind at all. I have absolutely no control of my triggers to weigh myself, so why is it bad to take the temptation away if that’s possible? My therapist is an addiction/eating disorder specialist. But she believes in being realistic and using whatever help you can get! I’d love to know your certifications :)

    At least I’m making steps towards changing my life and I don’t judge other peoples journeys :)

  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
    How are you feeling about this? Do you think you can stay balanced? Do you have a plan to avoid past issues? I wish you well.
  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 950 Member
    Have you received Nutritional therapy? This involves working with a registered dietitian to learn more about nutrition and food preferences to create a personalized meal plan. It’s typically part of the treatment plan, along with medical treatment, psychotherapy, medication, etc.

    Because you have a diagnosis it feel’s irresponsible to provide advice. If you have questions about what your macros, calories, or anything else might be, please make a plan with them. Strangers cannot know the complexity of your situation and it’s not safe for you.
  • AlyssaP1987
    AlyssaP1987 Posts: 271 Member
    ddsb1111 wrote: »
    Have you received Nutritional therapy? This involves working with a registered dietitian to learn more about nutrition and food preferences to create a personalized meal plan. It’s typically part of the treatment plan, along with medical treatment, psychotherapy, medication, etc.

    Because you have a diagnosis it feel’s irresponsible to provide advice. If you have questions about what your macros, calories, or anything else might be, please make a plan with them. Strangers cannot know the complexity of your situation and it’s not safe for you.

    Thank you! I’ll look into it. I met my deductible this year already so all my appointments are free, so it’d be the perfect time :) lol