Erm...eh??? Suddenly my calories have been upped!?

roguex_1979
roguex_1979 Posts: 247 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
When I first joined the site, when I put in all my details, it said that due to all my factors (sedentary during the day, age, height etc) I burn about 1450 cals just by being alive and breathing. It then said I need 1200 cals to lose weight, which I dropped to 1100 (because the previous calorie counting website I used said 1100 was the minimum I should eat).

Now, I've woken up and my stats say 1200 cals today and that my cals burned just by being alive and breathing now are 1700?? How does that work??

Anyone? Help?

Replies

  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I'm pretty sure that the minimum MFP will recommend for anyone is 1200, so even if you change it to lower, it will probably reset back up there.
    You may be looking a few different numbers here - your BMR (just being alive and breathing) may be 1450 but it also adds in an activity factor which makes your maintenance calories lower. Perhaps the maintenance number is 1700?

    Don't sweat it, eat at least 1200 and you're bound to lose weight - it just doesn't come off so fast when you aren't so big to start with.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Its better to follow your own BMR & base your calorie deficit on it. I notice that MFP default deficit is way too low, even when you are on the maintenance stage.
  • roguex_1979
    roguex_1979 Posts: 247 Member
    But my activity level is sedentary...do you mean it's taken my activity from the past few days to update my levels?
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    It is wierd if it has changed... it usually doesn't do that until your weight changes by (I think) 10 pounds.
    Maybe go back into your goals and re-enter your info (age, weight, activity level etc) and see what is suggests. Just don't look for it to come up with anything lower than 1200. And (in my opinion) unless you are really tiny, it's pretty unlikely that you need to eat such a small amount.
  • roguex_1979
    roguex_1979 Posts: 247 Member
    It is wierd if it has changed... it usually doesn't do that until your weight changes by (I think) 10 pounds.

    Ahhh...I have lost 11lbs since joining here...maybe that's what's happened...

    Ta!
  • bebeschtroumph
    bebeschtroumph Posts: 15 Member
    Yeah, as you lose weight, you're closer to your goal weight. If you're losing quicker than predicted, it will want you to lose less quickly to reach goal by the selected date. Thus it can bump things up. But seriously, a 1200 calorie minimum is what most doctors and websites would recommend.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    When I first joined the site, when I put in all my details, it said that due to all my factors (sedentary during the day, age, height etc) I burn about 1450 cals just by being alive and breathing. It then said I need 1200 cals to lose weight, which I dropped to 1100 (because the previous calorie counting website I used said 1100 was the minimum I should eat).

    Now, I've woken up and my stats say 1200 cals today and that my cals burned just by being alive and breathing now are 1700?? How does that work??

    Anyone? Help?
    Yes, anything under 1200 is foolish, and MFP won't allow such self sabotage.
  • JulesofWinsto
    JulesofWinsto Posts: 57
    As an aside, I love that your profile pic is hyperbole and a half. Awesome.
  • dancingj2
    dancingj2 Posts: 4,572 Member
    As an aside, I love that your profile pic is hyperbole and a half. Awesome.

    lol my kids made this our catch phrase for Chistmas : Lets play ALL the games, Lets shop ALL the stores, etc.

    I am not sure why MFP would change it excpet that 1,200 really should be lowest that I have heard is healthy.
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