Do you consume all of your allotted calories?

SexyCook

I try to eat up to 75% of my calories more....Depending on my appetite...This does not work for all...I use to do 1200 that I was allotted before exercise and loss once I got to no movement on the scale..I increased based on that..You will have to play around with it to see what works for you...

Mandarz

I feel like such a slacker! my caloric goals are set to 1700 to lose .5-1 pound a week... I currently dont burn a very high number of calories from excersize ( 98-350 ish ) and often dont eat them all back, I have been weighing my food, wow talk about portion distortion! and its been a real wake up for me... i cut down on processed foods, grains/starches, and animal protein... while trying to eat more whole and raw foods- healthy fats etc... i have only been on MFP just over a month and lost 6 pounds, which is more then i thought i would!!!
I have lost 43 since my heaviest and one of my biggest triumphs was having a baby in the middle of that loss without gaining everything back!
SO, it all depends on hunger or boredom for me.. im really trying hard to not eat out of boredom anymore...

Smuterella

I beg the differ.. you most certainly can adjust all of your settings on here..

From Calories - Carbs-Fat- Cholestrol ect...

For those who don't know that you CAN adjust your Goals like, allowed cals, fat, carbs, cholesterol, sugar ... Go to MY HOME> GOALS> CHANGE GOALS. When you pull this page up it will allow you to put in your desired numbers for each catagory.

Ah, so you meant your chosen calories not "alloted" - I get you now.

KahuNZ

What? Did we suddenly forget how to eat?:laugh:
Just eat.
If you are like me, you did not get fat not knowing how to eat.
So, yes, eat your calories.
MFP calculates our total daily calorie intake WITHOUT exercise to lose 1 pound or so per week.
And after we log exercises, our daily calorie limit increases.
Why?
Because MFP telling us to eat our exercise calories in addition to our daily calorie goals.
Eating a McD cheeseburger is better than not eating to goal, because you will stifle progress not eating enough.
Large deficits are unhealthy, because while you will lose weight, what's the quality of the weight loss?
In many cases you'll lose lean body mass - MUSCLE - which LOWERS your metabolic rate, making weight loss harder.
These crash diets work well for a season -- and sure enough, the pounds melt away. But when you eat so
few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories
more slowly -- and you gain weight.:noway:
Be smart.
Exercise well both cardio and resistance, and eat back the calories.
The exercise will RAISE your metabolism and burn more fat at rest.

Well said! Eat healthy and within the guidelines and you should lose weight

athensguy

I originally had my calorie goal set for weight loss and ate all of my calories. Once I got to goal weight, I set it to maintain, and I eat all of my calories. If I go significantly under or over one day, I make it up later in the week.

kiwilaurie

Yes...I am always mystified by people who find it hard to eat 1200, 1500, even 2000 calories. I eat all my exercise calories back and I still want more. 1200 is nothing!

Totally agreed! I have 1200 cals + 200 for breastfeeding and could happily eat 50% more again. In fact, I exercise just so I can eat more! Getting fit is just a bonus side-effect. :-)

jessicataylor2

Yes...I am always mystified by people who find it hard to eat 1200, 1500, even 2000 calories. I eat all my exercise calories back and I still want more. 1200 is nothing!

That's exactly how I am! I make sure that I work out simply because I'm still starving and want more food

PepperRocks

I eat more then what is allocated by MFP (1200), then burn some exercising. I ensure that net is < 1200.


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Marinita1967

It's a never ending debate really. I spoke to my Dr about this..and I asked him if I should be replacing the calories I burn. his answer: Eat if you're hungry..don't worry about the deficit. Somedays you'll exceed the calorie count and other days you won't achieve it.
That made me feel good considering i burn about 1000 calories per day........so moral of the story...eat the calories if you're hungry..just be mindful of what you eat.....don't forget to treat yourself every now and then.

PepperRocks

Yes...I am always mystified by people who find it hard to eat 1200, 1500, even 2000 calories. I eat all my exercise calories back and I still want more. 1200 is nothing!

Totally agreed! I have 1200 cals + 200 for breastfeeding and could happily eat 50% more again. In fact, I exercise just so I can eat more! Getting fit is just a bonus side-effect. :-)

This. How on earth eating 1200 is difficult! Just how?


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ironanimal

Hi! I'm new too. I also find it hard to eat all the calories I'm supposed to! My goal is 1200 a day, plus all the extra that come from exercising. I'm trying really hard to eat healthy low calorie foods, so it feels like I'm always eating and not getting enough calories!

Ugh. Drop the 'lite' crap. Eat the full flavour versions.

marquesajen

I try to, but sometimes it doesn't happen. Generally if I don't, I feel hungry and I'm more likely to binge or I feel REALLY hungry in the morning. I know if I work out I need to so that my body has enough to do regular functions.

Smilemt

I personally don't usually eat all the calories allotted for the day because I'm exercising too and in order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in, says my doctor....so I don't enter my exercise calories until right before I go to bed. I eat all the other calories generally, esp Saturdays that's my less strict day :-) you ALWAYS need a day to kick back but not too much! GOOD LUCK!

FarmingFatty

Hi all, I'm new to this as well. I know what the original poster is saying about unable to eat all the calories. (Trust me, I have eaten PLENTY of calories in my life). I really find that my appetite has decreased dramatically since increasing my activity over the past two weeks. I think once my (our) bodies adjust to the diet and exercise change, we'll get back to having the normal appetite, and eating calories won't be a problem. For now, I'm just eating when I'm hungry, figuring if I eat more tomorrow, and less today, it all evens out.

aschyvinch

Hello!
I never use all of my alloted calories. My target calorie intake right now is 1310 calories. But, with exercise I also fall about 500 calories short of those calories. Which, is a good thing! Because not only are you exercising, but you're also eating healthier and lighter which will make you lose weight faster!! Good luck through your journey!!

Abby

daisydieter

I don't eat back my exercise calories. I'm shooting for a 2-3lb per week loss as I'm "obese"... well now I'm "very overweight" so can pull off a 1200-1500 per day calorie deficit (what it takes to burn 2-3lbs per week). Once I have 20 or less pounds to lose, won't be able to pull that off without overdoing it exercise-wise.

Gmonroe420

I usually have about 1,000 leftover at the end of the day, but i have 2400 calories a day to eat, thats probalby why

Sabresgal63

Oh heck yes! I'm on 1360 and fine with that on most days, but some days, I could sit in front of the fridge and .............well, it wouldn't be pretty...............lol!

shine_

I try really hard to reach the 1200 limit, but usually end up eating 800-900 a day. With PCOS though I pay more attention to the quality of my calories, not the quantity. I don't intentionally stay below 1200 though, I genuinely try.

m2kh

I know this works different for everyone but what works best for me is to not eat the calories I get from exercising. I try to stick to 1200-1300 calories.

csegear71

I also do not consume all of my calories however I am eating good nutritious food, scrambled eggs (1 whole egg and egg white) dried fruits, almonds, etc. (Basically whole foods, I stay away from anything processed or that has sugar, corn syrup or anything like that). I also stay on the elliptical for usually 45 mins to an hour and will be starting strength training next week so not sure what I should do. I wouldn't think my body is in the starvation mode if I am eating throughout the day but I am not a dietician either .

sailinjen

yes...i am saving mine up for some cocktails this weekend, it is Superbowl!:drinker:

KimmehL

Most days I eat well into my exercise calories, if not all of them. I love to eat. I have lost weight consistently and haven't felt hungry for a second. I also basically eat what I want, just smaller portions.

jovz10

i set mine to maintain weight and gives me 1700 and i eat all of that and some but i tend not to eat my exercise back. works for me! look at my ticker...

kairsme

WORD! I happily eat every calorie available. Its part of the reason this site works for me, why have a 700 cal cheese burger when I could have a big bowl of oatmeal, a chicken sausage, a huge smoothie, a big salad with chicken, popcorn, cheese stick, frozen grapes, carrots etc. I make healthy choices so I can eat MORE things all day long! If you can't hit your alotted calories try upping your serving sizes, or adding calories to what you are eating i.e. goat cheese to your salad, more yogurt/fruit to your smoothies, switch 1% milk to whole milk, have yolks with your egg whites.

EviePodd

My diary today says I have 740 spare calories. I can't eat anything else today. I never use them all.

Poobeeschmoo

I try to eat all my callories. Some days I am below my goal 1400 plus exercise, sometimes above. It's all balancing out eventually. If not I have an extra treat. There are some very healthy calorie dense foods out there like nuts and nut butters, avocados etc. Have some of those and you will soon fill your gap in a healthy way in no time. Not all healthy food is low fat, low cal.

FionaAnne22

According to MFP im burning 500-1000 calories every day with exercise, mix of cardio and strength training...I usually reach within 200 of my calorie amount + exercise calories, mainly because I think mfp overestimates the calories you burn...really would love to get a HRM so I had a better idea how much was actually getting used!

em9371

I personally don't usually eat all the calories allotted for the day because I'm exercising too and in order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in, says my doctor....so I don't enter my exercise calories until right before I go to bed. I eat all the other calories generally, esp Saturdays that's my less strict day :-) you ALWAYS need a day to kick back but not too much! GOOD LUCK!

the allowance given by MFP already includes the deficit for you to lose the selected amount of weight. if you don't eat back the exercise you are doubling the deficit which is not healthy and not leaving enough cals for your body to function.

BaisdensHealthzoneLLC

Yes you are supposed to meet all your calorie needs and somedays it is hard that is why most people decide to consume the most calories during the breakfast meal, then exercise, and snack in between the next two meals.