How important is hitting you calorie goal ?

Xo_c_e_b_xo

I know that eating enough calories is important but I don't seem to get anywhere near my calories but I'm not staving myself , I'm not an idiot if I'm hungry I'll eat because I know not eating enough can damage your body, and obviously I ended up being overweight because I love my food too much. I eat all day I don't skip meals and I have a lot of snacks they are just all low calorie.

Please help and give me advice , I'm losing weight on what I'm eating at a healthy rate 1-2 pounds a week

Thanks you

cwolfman13

starving yourself has nothing to do with whether you feel hungry or not...starving yourself simply means you're not providing your body it's requisite nutrients or energy (calories).

At any rate, your question is far too vague and lacks details necessary to truly answer it. Your calorie target in MFP is already a substantial deficit from maintenance built in...and theirs a reason it's called a GOAL. Eating well below what is already a substantial deficit really isn't healthy. If you have a lot of fat...obese/morbidly obese you can sustain massive deficits longer without much issue...otherwise, bad *kitten* ultimately happens. Just check out all of the "I don't have a period anymore" or "my hair is falling out" threads for some motivation.

But again, there's a difference between being hundreds of calories off your target GOAL and a handful of calories. You also should consider inherent errors that likely exist in your logging.

TeaBea

With 36 pounds to lose a healthy rate for YOU is (see chart):

Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

MFP gave you a goal based on your weekly goal (whether it's healthy or not). A goal is something you are supposed to meet. If you have an aggressive weekly goal MFP will bottom out at 1200 calories BEFORE exercise. 1200 is a one-size-fits-all. 1200 is fine for petite senior ladies.

It's not about skipping meals, it's not about hunger. Your stomach doesn't know if you are properly nourished.

My definition of healthy weight loss is losing mostly fat. Aggressive weight loss makes it tough for your body to support existing lean muscle mass. Aggressive weight loss doesn't lower body fat percentages the way moderate weight loss can.

ronrhoda

I'm usually off my calorie count by a couple hundred. I eat, I'm full, therefore I'm content! I just really try to eat healthy. Exercise has been hard, we have been on vacation for 13 days and have like 5 more days.
Just try to keep your calories at its count. Do your best!

professionalHobbyist

Eating bough protein so your body does not source proteins from itself is important.

Having that 500 calories a day deficit works for me. I want to drop a pound a week.

It is pretty simple. Just stick with it. Fat does just go away.