When did you up your calories?

Givemewings
Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I joined MFP in July 2011 and have lost almost 50lbs since then . I have been on 1200 calories, but exercise and always eat my calories back. As I'm nearing my goal I am wondering whether it is time to up the calories a little. I have 8lbs to go before I meet my goal, but I'm still not sure whether this will be my ultimate goal, i am waiting to see how I feel ( and look!).
My question is, if you have reached your goal or are close to it, when did you up your calories, and by how much? I know that MFP works the calories out for you if you change settings. I just can't work out whether it would be best for me to stick at 1200 and a loss of 2lbs a week or change to 1480 and a loss of 1lb a week. Advice anyone? Thanks!

Replies

  • SueGremlin
    SueGremlin Posts: 1,066 Member
    I won't up mine until I reach my goal. The last few pounds are the hardest! I don't think I wanna prolong that.
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    Thanks SueGremlin. I am finding it very hard to stick to the 1200 cals these days, that's all. I was wondering if I might lose the weight more quickly if I were less harsh on my body.
  • SwankyTomato
    SwankyTomato Posts: 444 Member
    I have 16 to lose and I have it set at 1/2lb week. Believe me the calorie difference is not that much. If you want to change it, change it.

    You won't lose more quickly, it will be slower.

    I prefer to lose slow.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    15 pounds from goal I plateaued and went to a 0.5 lb/week loss which started things moving again. That amount is much more sustainable for me, as 1200 does not keep me properly fueled. Near the end, upping calories is a good idea so you can slowly transition to maintenance. It is kind of jarring to suddenly have hundreds of extra calories every day and takes some getting used to.
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
    Thanks melsinct...this was what I was thinking but strangely worried about upping the cals !!!
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Thanks melsinct...this was what I was thinking but strangely worried about upping the cals !!!

    Don't be afraid! You will still be in a deficit so you won't gain.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I never had enough to lose to aim for 2# a week. At the 2# setting, the most I could do was 1.3# a week in theory (according to MFP calculations), and in reality, the only time I lost more than 1# a week was when I had a stomach flu. :tongue:

    So after about a month at 1200, I switched to 1# a week for about 1350, and then averaged 5# a month, so a little over 1# a week. When I got within 10# of my goal, I switched to .5# a week, and typically lost .5# a week as promised. But I also noticed the most changes to my body in that time, since most of the weight lost was from fat instead of fat and muscle, especially when I aimed for at least 100g of protein a day, and even more when I started using heavier weights for strength training.

    Since going on maintenance in October, I have gained maybe 5#, but my body continued to shrink. So now my goal is to weigh as much as I possibly can while staying this size. I'd rather be heavier than I look than look heavier than I am. :smile:
  • j4nash
    j4nash Posts: 1,719 Member
    My opionion, based upon what I have seen, up your calories the closer you are to your goal.
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