Does 1300 calories a day sound right?

1992cmw
1992cmw Posts: 19
in Health and Weight Loss
MFP suggested 1,310 calorie intake. I was wondering should I up that to 1500 or 1600. I am going to be working out 5-6 times a week for 30-45 mins. Maybe longer once I get my endurance up. I don't really understand BMR, but mines is 1809 calories at Sedentary level. Is that how many calories I should be taking in which is about 500 more than original suggested? I believe when I was on the Slim Fast 3-2-1 plan I was taking in about 1200 calories with only about 20 mins of exercise about 2-3 times a week. I lost 10lbs in about 2 weeks from that meal plan.

Replies

  • CurlDiva
    CurlDiva Posts: 33 Member
    I think it will adjust daily as you log in your excercise. Currently my recommended is 1200 a day. When I actually log in my excercise it tells me how many more calories I have earned that day. So, you are on track that number is too low but it considers the amount you must take in daily if you forget to excercise to maintain that weight.
  • 1992cmw
    1992cmw Posts: 19
    Okay, I thought it was like that! So 1310 is my calorie intake if I don't exercise for that day. The more you exercise the more calories you can consume.
  • Crissthetealcat
    Crissthetealcat Posts: 21 Member
    How many lbs did you tell it you wanted to lose per week? I started with 1 lb and adjusted to 1/2 lb which made my number much easier to meet (1420.) The last few days (after doing this for 6 months) I am able to now meet a number such as 1300 without being hungry. Make slow changes that will be habits for a lifetime and they are much easier to meet. Any day that you are working out 45-60 minutes, you are going to be able to eat another 185-250 Cals over and above your 1300.
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    It's different with everyone. I suggest you not go by their calculations. Go to fat2fitradio.com and use their calculator to determine your exact needs. Be conservative in your activity level. And don't eat any calories back. Those are the calories they feel you should have daily and it's likely to be more than you'll find here.

    I personally do not count calories. I eat more and exercise less and follow the Smarter Science of Slim program.

    But far too many people on here eat way too little. Yes, they lose weight. Trouble is, it's mostly much needed muscle. The fat stays.
  • carolemack
    carolemack Posts: 1,276 Member
    Okay, I thought it was like that! So 1310 is my calorie intake if I don't exercise for that day. The more you exercise the more calories you can consume.

    You got it! :smile:
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Well if your BMR is 1800 then you should eat that much. It will lower as you lose more weight.
  • Icelandic_Saga
    Icelandic_Saga Posts: 2,926 Member
    Mine is 1440! When I first saw that I thought I was going to STARVE lolol
  • bodiva88
    bodiva88 Posts: 308 Member
    How much did you tell it you want to lose a week? It sounds low for that BMR and that much exercise unless you have possibly unreasonable or unhealthy goal per week.
  • bodiva88
    bodiva88 Posts: 308 Member
    How many lbs did you tell it you wanted to lose per week? I started with 1 lb and adjusted to 1/2 lb which made my number much easier to meet (1420.) The last few days (after doing this for 6 months) I am able to now meet a number such as 1300 without being hungry. Make slow changes that will be habits for a lifetime and they are much easier to meet. Any day that you are working out 45-60 minutes, you are going to be able to eat another 185-250 Cals over and above your 1300.

    Agree with this!
  • davidr730
    davidr730 Posts: 126 Member
    MFP suggested 1,310 calorie intake. I was wondering should I up that to 1500 or 1600. I am going to be working out 5-6 times a week for 30-45 mins. Maybe longer once I get my endurance up. I don't really understand BMR, but mines is 1809 calories at Sedentary level. Is that how many calories I should be taking in which is about 500 more than original suggested? I believe when I was on the Slim Fast 3-2-1 plan I was taking in about 1200 calories with only about 20 mins of exercise about 2-3 times a week. I lost 10lbs in about 2 weeks from that meal plan.

    Many people will disagree with me but my nutritionist has strongly emphasized the importance of staying above your BMR. That is the minimum energy needed for normal body function. My Nutrition professor would advise you to be below your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) but ABOVE your BMR. The auto calculator on MFP sets your goals based exclusively on weight loss goals. When in doubt ask you Doctor.
  • tami101
    tami101 Posts: 617 Member
    When I first joined mfp I had my weight loss goal set at 2lbs. per week. That gave me 1450 calories before exercise. I had a really hard time staying within my goal on days that I was unable to exercise so I lowered my goal to 1lb. a week and brought my calorie goal up to around 1950 and that made it much easier. I had a lot more energy too. If you have difficulty staying in that number on non exercise days you might consider lowering your weeklly weightloss goal. Good luck to you and welcome to mfp! =)
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    If your bmr is 1800 then u told it u want to lose a pound a week it would take 500 off that leaving u 1300, but if u stick to your exercise regiment n log it too then it will subtract those calories from your net calories

    something like this.

    Goal Food Exercise = Net
    2260 1159 - 0 1159

    (I have mine set to maintain so that I can see the deficient)
    I aim to have a 500-750 deficient per day, depending on how much I exercise.
    Give it a good two weeks at least n take measurements now n then. then if it doesn't work for you, may have to try something else, but I log everything n eat back my exercise calories(don't want my muscles to get munched on) So far I've burned 4400 calories from exercise and I lost a full inch on my waist the first six days I was doing this! n I feel great(I was way under eating when i started exercising n was feeling tired all the time n getting nightly headaches)

    EDIT: Also I would not set it to sedentary unless you were laying around in bed all day, exercising that much is not a sedentary life style, change that n it will boost your calories too! Exercise effects our metabolism beyond just the calories burnt in the moment of exercise.
  • 1992cmw
    1992cmw Posts: 19
    My metabolism is so slow right now. I can eat 2 meals a day and won't get one hunger pain. I don't plan on it though. Anyways I told it 2lbs a week. Should I put in 1 pound? Last year my BMR was around 1400 so that is probably why I got away with only eating 1200 calories. I am going to be working out a lot. I will recalculate it with 1lb a week although I know I probably will be losing more because I shed weight fast even though my metabolism is slow. Thanks everyone for the answers.
  • 1992cmw
    1992cmw Posts: 19
    I put in one pound it suggested 1,810 Calories / Day with me working out 5 times a week for 30 mins which is very close to the other site. My first goal from MFP is 5lbs by August 24. It was 10lbs. Thanks everyone!!!! Another question when should I up it after my first goal is achieved or around the 20lbs mark?
  • Ilysandrew11
    Ilysandrew11 Posts: 133 Member
    My suggested is 1610 :)

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