Really confused about recommended calorie intake

Mrs_Millmoor
Mrs_Millmoor Posts: 2 Member
edited June 20 in Health and Weight Loss

Hi all,

Since the birth of my last child I have really struggled to get back into shape.

I have never been so out of shape and unfit in my life.

I'm low on energy and tired, recently rushed to hospital with chest pains and palpitations - turned out to be nothing to worry about, but my waistline signals higher risk of heart problems, so to me; a possible warning sign.

I decided to sort myself out once and for all - but I'm struggling to see results so decided to start tracking to see if I could see if it was a simple case of eating too many calories.

Clearly I need to eat less calories than I burn. Right?

However when I complete my diary I see a warning that my calorie intake is dangerous. I feel pretty stupid but I really don't understand. Can someone please explain it for me? I'm pretty new to all of this and have never seriously tracked calories...

I can't attach screenshot for some reason...

Warning:

Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are likely not eating enough.

For safe weight loss, the National Institutes of Health recommends no less than 1000-1200 calories for women and 1200-1500 calories for men.

Completing your diary with fewer than the minimum calories noted above will not generate a news feed post for that day, or show a five-week weight projection.

Even during weight loss, it's important to meet your body's basic nutrient and energy needs. Over time, not eating enough can lead to nutrient deficiencies, unpleasant side effects & other serious health problems.

My calorie intake yesterday....

Totals 1,762

Your Daily Goal 2,148

Remaining 386

*You've earned 598 extra calories from exercise today

Replies

  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 3,393 Member

    Sounds like a glitch..usually just says that if you log under 1200!:)

  • Mrs_Millmoor
    Mrs_Millmoor Posts: 2 Member

    Ah OK. It's happened twice this week so far but I'm eating more than the suggested amount so it didn't make sense! Ill just ignore it then!

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,002 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48656967#Comment_48656967

    She did almost 600 calories worth of exercise. Her total was under 1200. That's why she got the message.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,772 Member

    Here is the rather long but thorough explanation of how myfitnesspal calculates. It expects you to eat more when you exercise. You put gas in your car, right? Well it won't make it to the next state on one gallon and your body needs food as fuel. Read this explanation:

    How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals

  • henrysr07
    henrysr07 Posts: 4 Member
    edited June 20

    My goal is 1800 calories. I regularly consume about 1600 average. Then after exercise credit I end up with between 1300-1400 daily on my weekly report. I have maintained a very slow but steady fat loss (I'm almost at goal weight). I am 74 yo male. And I have never received a low calorie alert. I have been in the blue for 126 days in a row.

    You might try reloading the app if it persists.

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,002 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48657247#Comment_48657247

    I think it only pops up if you "close out" your food diary at the end of the day.

  • LiveOnceBeHappy
    LiveOnceBeHappy Posts: 473 Member

    I know it’s supposed to be a feature of the app, but I don’t import my exercise into MFP. In general I don’t adjust what I eat based on my exercise anyway. I’m short and get just 1200 calories per day. Pretty much whatever I do, I eat 1200 calories. I track fitness goals in my Apple Watch.

  • age_is_just_a_number
    age_is_just_a_number Posts: 993 Member

    try turning off the feature to adjust for calories burned. See if you stop getting the message. If it is a tech issue, there is a tech thread that you can look at or contact MFP support.

Categories