calories

TeresaC79
TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm so confused. The goal of lots of folks trying to lose weight on this site seem to be that they want to be "under their calorie goal" for each day, often by hundreds of calories. But if the deficit is already worked in to your goal and the calorie number is a GOAL, should we be eating as close to that number as possible?

I'm curious, NOT because I care what others are doing, but because I want to make sure I am doing this whole thing right. At what point am I eating too little? When I'm under my BMR? Under my daily goal? Under 1200?

Replies

  • widgetmeister
    widgetmeister Posts: 2
    Confuses me too. I try to stick pretty close, and under the calorie goal as much as possible. Seems to work out fine. You need to be patient for weight loss too. Don't start getting annoyed if you don't lose much weight within a week. You'll be happily surprised if you stick with it properly for a month though.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    Assuming your daily goal is correct, eating under is under eating.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    Yeah, I'm not overly impatient to lose weight. I'm already seeing great results in just over 2 weeks. I just want to make sure I'm not under eating and you know, when I'm super hungry and within 200 calories of my goal, I want to make sure it is "okay" to eat those 200 calories.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    Assuming your daily goal is correct, eating under is under eating.

    I posted another topic trying to figure this out. I wasn't 100% positive where to set my "lifestyle." I'm a teacher so I spend a lot of my day up and moving and some of it (while planning) at my computer. How do you know if your goal is right?
  • sandram82
    sandram82 Posts: 615 Member
    I think this will answer any and all of your questions about calories!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Great read and lots of detail!
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    My theory has always been to listen to MFP - it gives you a goal that you should try to reach. The deficit is built in, so there's no need to add to the deficit by coming in way under it. A very small green number or a very small red number at the end of the day are good goals to have - basically, within a handful above or below the goal MFP has set for you.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    I think this will answer any and all of your questions about calories!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Great read and lots of detail!

    I don't have questions about eating exercise calories. I already know you should. :)
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    1200 is a good baseline to use - try not to go under that. And anyone that I've seen eating way under their goals is usually questioned by other MFPers, not congratulated.

    Dont get too worked up about finding the right number - try what you have now for 2 or 3 weeks, and see how your body reacts.
  • widgetmeister
    widgetmeister Posts: 2
    Hey all I wasn't trying to encourage under eating. What i meant by finishing under was just a few calories. my allowance is 1790 cal daily, so I might finish 50 - 100 cal under it quite often. Rather than eating an apple for the sake of filling those calories I leave it be. I've usually eaten quite well by that stage.Seems to be a lot harder for women because you get so much less of a daily allowance! I don't know how you all do it to be honest. Then again if MFP is giving you such a low daily allowance you are prob in pretty good shape at this stage. Once again not encouraging under eating. Very against skipping meals etc. Going for a run is a much healthier option to under eating and you'll look/feel better for it too.
  • tunktunk5583
    tunktunk5583 Posts: 76 Member
    I'm so confused. The goal of lots of folks trying to lose weight on this site seem to be that they want to be "under their calorie goal" for each day, often by hundreds of calories. But if the deficit is already worked in to your goal and the calorie number is a GOAL, should we be eating as close to that number as possible?

    I'm curious, NOT because I care what others are doing, but because I want to make sure I am doing this whole thing right. At what point am I eating too little? When I'm under my BMR? Under my daily goal? Under 1200?

    No bodies are the same and it's impossible to set a standard that applies for everyone. For some, it works when you eat back calories and for others it doesn't. Personally, I noticed that every time I eat back all of my calories I gain weight or lose nothing. Therefore I eat some back but not all.

    Don't think there is no right or wrong way-as long as you're not starving yourself and overworking your body then you're good to go!
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