How many calories should you have left at the end of the day?

cydneyeaton · June 2015

My calories allowed for the day are 1200 and I've been under this amount for four days now (I just started). The app is telling me it will not track my progress because I'm eating too few calories. I've been having 200 and 300 calories left and apparently it doesn't like this. How are you supposed to lose weight if it doesn't want you to have a calorie deficit?!

AllOutof_Bubblegum · June 2015

1200 IS a calorie deficit. Your deficit is already there. Eat the full 1200 every day, it's your bare minimum.

chrisssiex23x · June 2015

I eat under mines every day and i get told the same thing im 76lbs lighter for not eating my 120p calories

aliyahhill12345 · June 2015

AllOutof_Bubblegum is right. 1200 calories is your deficit. Try to have a low calorie snack afterwards or if its a huge problem go to your goals and change calories to 1000 calories instead of 1200.

deksgrl · June 2015

None.

deksgrl · June 2015

aliyahhill12345 wrote: »

AllOutof_Bubblegum is right. 1200 calories is your deficit. Try to have a low calorie snack afterwards or if its a huge problem go to your goals and change calories to 1000 calories instead of 1200.

Uhm what?

ManiacalLaugh · June 2015

cydneyeaton wrote: »

My calories allowed for the day are 1200 and I've been under this amount for four days now (I just started). The app is telling me it will not track my progress because I'm eating too few calories. I've been having 200 and 300 calories left and apparently it doesn't like this. How are you supposed to lose weight if it doesn't want you to have a calorie deficit?!

Yep - 1200 is the bare-minimum MFP will suggest for females (males get 1500). The limit is in place because they believe anything lower is irresponsible. Eating under 1200 makes it very, very difficult to intake your proper nutrition and everything your body needs to run and survive. Although "starvation mode" and "static metoblism" are myths, there are unpleasant side effects to eating too low:

Hair loss
Brittle fingernails
Increased and prolonged muscle fatigue
Exhaustion
Sleep disorder
Lowered immune system

If the MFP app is recommending 1200, I think you might have your goals set too aggressively. If you really only have 19 lbs to lose, you're probably only going to see a .5 - 1 lb a week loss. Set your goal accordingly and see if it doesn't allow you a few more calories per day - then eat there. (MFP's recommendations are already considering the deficit. There's no need for you to eat less.) If you work out, be sure you're also eating back about 1/2 the calories you burn.

AllOutof_Bubblegum · June 2015

aliyahhill12345 wrote: »

AllOutof_Bubblegum is right. 1200 calories is your deficit. Try to have a low calorie snack afterwards or if its a huge problem go to your goals and change calories to 1000 calories instead of 1200.

No. Horrible idea. Do not do this. Eat no less than 1200, ever.

ManiacalLaugh · June 2015

aliyahhill12345 wrote: »

AllOutof_Bubblegum is right. 1200 calories is your deficit. Try to have a low calorie snack afterwards or if its a huge problem go to your goals and change calories to 1000 calories instead of 1200.

Oh, please don't do this. 1,000 once in a blue moon is fine. Making it a daily goal can be detrimental to your overall health.

Remember too, losing weight is a lifestyle change. Meaning it has to be sustainable. So whatever deficit you live under, ask yourself, "Can I do this for the rest of my life?"

paris458 · June 2015

you have to be within less than a 100 calories or you will get that message. sometimes I am a little short of the 1200 but I always try to get close to that. plus I like eating, I dont want to waste too many lol

getup25 · June 2015

I believe it won't log if you're under 1,000.

zyxst · June 2015

You should have as close to zero calories left. MFP builds a deficit in already, so eat all 1200 and you should lose weight, I swear.

kshama2001 · June 2015

cydneyeaton wrote: »

My calories allowed for the day are 1200 and I've been under this amount for four days now (I just started). The app is telling me it will not track my progress because I'm eating too few calories. I've been having 200 and 300 calories left and apparently it doesn't like this. How are you supposed to lose weight if it doesn't want you to have a calorie deficit?!

Are you logging exercise? If so, try just logging 50% - many people suggest this as the estimated burn is too high.

ForeverSunshine09 · June 2015

Eat as close to 1200 cals as possible. That is your deficit unless you like losing your muscles and hair. It is not a competition to see who can eat the least. You either lose the weight too fast and gain it all back or you can lose weight at a steady pace learning portion control and daily cal needs to survive.

mom2kpr · June 2015

zero. You're goal is the minimum you should eat. Plus, if you are exercising, you should be eating back a portion of that. If you burn 250 calories during your workout, eat another 125 - 175 calories for a total of 1325 - 1375.

mistikal13 · June 2015

The only time I don't eat all of my calories is if I'm feeling really ill.

peaceout_aly · June 2015

You have to eat at least 1,000. My MFP suggest cal intake was 1,060 when I first started and is now 1,200. I eat a little under it almost every day and it still calculates. You just have to make sure you eat 1,000 calories. Anything under is unhealthy for your body. 1,200 itself is already a deficit, and you will lose.

Ninkyou · June 2015

A goal is meant to be met and/or exceeded. So you shouldn't have any left. Don't let the red/green colors deter/spur you on. If your goal is 1200 calories, you need to be eating that 1200 calories.

TeaBea · June 2015

cydneyeaton wrote: »

My calories allowed for the day are 1200 and I've been under this amount for four days now (I just started). The app is telling me it will not track my progress because I'm eating too few calories. I've been having 200 and 300 calories left and apparently it doesn't like this. How are you supposed to lose weight if it doesn't want you to have a calorie deficit?!

1200 is the goal you want to MEET.

MFP gave you 1200 based on "I want to lose XX pounds per week." If you eat 1200 (+ exercise calories) you lose weight (about the same as your weekly goal. If you eat 1500 (+ exercise calories) I bet you still lose weight (just not as fast).

1200 is MFPs lowest default minimum (when the system is not screwed up...ignore the 1,000 calorie advice unless you are 4'2" tall). If you put in 2 pounds a week and that goal is totally impractical...then weight loss will not be 2 pounds.

Just pick a goal that is sustainable.

shadow2soul · June 2015

alykief wrote: »

You have to eat at least 1,000. My MFP suggest cal intake was 1,060 when I first started and is now 1,200. I eat a little under it almost every day and it still calculates. You just have to make sure you eat 1,000 calories. Anything under is unhealthy for your body. 1,200 itself is already a deficit, and you will lose.

That was a glitch in the system. Under normal working conditions MFP will not give any woman a goal that is under 1200.

shadow2soul · June 2015

cydneyeaton wrote: »

My calories allowed for the day are 1200 and I've been under this amount for four days now (I just started). The app is telling me it will not track my progress because I'm eating too few calories. I've been having 200 and 300 calories left and apparently it doesn't like this. How are you supposed to lose weight if it doesn't want you to have a calorie deficit?!

MFP gives you a goal to eat at that will result in weight loss without exercise. In your case, it says you should eat 1200 on days you don't workout and at least 1200 on days you do workout.