I know I am new to this, but I am really struggling.

First of all, I did WW too.

The whole concept of cheat day, did not bode well for me because "Hey, I can cheat!" I didn't learn the whole, "make it fit into your day" and I ate too much convenience crap. And most of all, it was expensive in that I had to drive 40 miles to a meeting.

So I found MFP.

Second, what WW does, and what is going on here is not that different, it's just the different numbers. You're logging your food, just like with WW. You're reading your labels just like with WW. You're watching your portions, just like WW. The database here is one of the best ones around, so it's pretty much done for you. And like WW I watch how much I have left.


Now, on to my peeve. I hate the whole "cheat" ideal. Why must we "cheat" if we want to have something? Why can't we just have what we want and learn moderation. This is something I will have to do for the rest of my life. I cannot see myself dieting for the next 30 - 40 years.

You're gonna do great!

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/

This is a site that will let you know how many calories you can eat to maintain your weight, of you're going over this amount daily, then maybe you should be worried. 1200 is the bare minimum a women should eat, maybe bump it up a little, and when you get used to that cut again.

I agree with this Kaylene. I think you are going to run into 'starvation mode'. When I first started I was allowed somewhere around 2000 calories a day. I followed the calorie count that MFP suggested. If you don't eat enough calories during the day your body with think it is starving and will hold onto your fat. Not good. Also, exercising is what is making this happen for me. The second I quit working out everyday (because of my tendonitis) I stopped loosing. You really need to eat more then 1200 cals a day. I think that is just two little. I am down 51 lbs and I still eat more then 1500 cals a day. hugs....

Kaylene! 1200! No no no no. I'm pretty sure MFP did no give you that number. When I started I got 2200 calories a day. As I've lost it has shrunk down but I'm still at well over 1200 and I'm actually going to up it because I'm not losing. Yep. You heard me. I'm going to up it bc I've plateued and I can jumpstart by adding some calories. Weird but for me it works. When my body doesn't get enough it starts to hold on to everything. So up my exercise and up the calories. I suggest you add. Add calories and add exercise. It's hard work but it is well worth it.

Love you!!! Xo. Don't give up. Eat more! Live more! Be healthy!

when i started MFP gave me 1200...i didn't up in until i lost about 20 lbs and i still only upped it to 1400 (.5 lbs a week)...it depends on her goals and starting weight but 1200 is a rather normal starting number from what i've seen

Check your MFP settings and make sure you're set to lose 1lb a week - I bet it gives you more than 1200 calories! A far as "cheat" meals and snacks go, MFP is designed to automatically give you a calorie deficit so you are recommended to eat your exercise calories back, so an extra bit of a workout can "buy" you more to eat!

Opinion on MFP is fiercely divided on whether you should eat your exercise calories back and whether MFP gives an accurate burn, but you can't go wrong if you eat half back. Myself and several friends have had a lot of success eating them all or most back, but we're all different, and I'll do anything to eat a bit more!

Good luck!