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need help deciding what to set calores at?

lin7604
lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
ok i have been on the other bmr thread and i am totally confused..... i started to loose weight back in nov and dec, i was set to 1200 on mfp. i lost a steady 2-2.5 lbs a month. I have a smaller goal of 10-15 lbs. so i was doing ok loosing, it was just a slow process. well when jan came i stopped loosing and no inches either. I started at 140 and 1st goal was 130 then last and final goal to be no less then 125 but preferable 128 ish. I was down to 132 and everyone kept telling me i wasn't eating enough so i changed my setting from 1 lb loss t a .5 loss. my calories went from 1200 to 1310. about 1 week later i lost 1 lb and i thought, wow they were right but since then 3.5 weeks later i have only gained weight. i have put on 3lbs. i am up to 134.4-135.... now i am confused as to what to do.

I now realize that i shouldn't be eating under my bmr, which on mfp is 1252 and on another site is 1361?
http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/bmr-calculator.html

I exercise 1 hr a day, 30 ds for 27 min and the rest on a elliptical or treadmill. i only have time for 1 hr a day from 8-9 pm. so what is one to do? how should i set my calories on here to get the losing started back up. i thought this was going to be easy, as i didn't have a lot to loose in the 1st place but it has been nothing but a struggle.
i log everything and i eat my exercise calories back, i made sure i netted 1200 a day min.... what should i do?

suggestions.... please and thanks!

Replies

  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I'm probably not going to be a huge help, but when you set up your profile, did you set your activity level at sedentary? I was having the same problem. I increased my cals twice, and both times I lost that first week, then yo-yo'd with the same 2.5 lbs. I just increased my cals again on Sunday to lose 1 lb/wk, using moderately active, and I won't eat back my exercise cals. Probably starting Ripped in 30 while I'm figuring things out wasn't a good idea, but I'm hoping to see some changes.
  • ruffalicious
    ruffalicious Posts: 779 Member
    try to eat back only half of the calories you burned. do different things every time you work out. for example on Monday do some cardio (treadmill,bike and etc) then Tuesday lift some weights... Wednesday do some swimming and so on,,,, try to have a rest day too maybe one or two...

    what i do is i make sure to stick to 1200cal per day if i don't exercise, if i barely burned calories ill eat about 1300 cal, if i burned a lot i always try to eat half back....
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    I'm probably not going to be a huge help, but when you set up your profile, did you set your activity level at sedentary? I was having the same problem. I increased my cals twice, and both times I lost that first week, then yo-yo'd with the same 2.5 lbs. I just increased my cals again on Sunday to lose 1 lb/wk, using moderately active, and I won't eat back my exercise cals. Probably starting Ripped in 30 while I'm figuring things out wasn't a good idea, but I'm hoping to see some changes.

    yes that is what it is set at cause that is what i am right now100%... i did also start 30ds in the same time, trying to kick start it too....
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    try to eat back only half of the calories you burned. do different things every time you work out. for example on Monday do some cardio (treadmill,bike and etc) then Tuesday lift some weights... Wednesday do some swimming and so on,,,, try to have a rest day too maybe one or two...

    what i do is i make sure to stick to 1200cal per day if i don't exercise, if i barely burned calories ill eat about 1300 cal, if i burned a lot i always try to eat half back....

    the thing is i have heard you should eat under your bmr. mine on mfp is 1252....on another site it's 1361? how is one suppose to make a correct decision with different numbers.
  • jeccalou
    jeccalou Posts: 92 Member
    Lin, I was just about to suggest in the other thread that you start your own thread for advice. I am definately not an expert so I will just read along. But maybe some of the super knowledgeable folks here will be able to help you through this.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    i sure hope so :")
This discussion has been closed.