Low net calories although eating over my 'goal'

saracatherine89

So- I suck at dieting. I like to eat, and I don't claim to be a healthy eater or on any special diet. I've cut down substantially on my soda, fast food, and limit my portions significantly, and even on my 'worst' days I usually eat 1800-2200 calories. I've also paid more attention to my sodium levels and have tried to eat more protein and fruit/veggies instead of carbs. There are rarely days when I go to bed feeling hungry. I guess while I am not on a diet, I've changed my diet to make better choices and have a lot better self control.

I also like to run and work out. For being 'overweight', I am in very good shape. I'm about 6 feet tall and 190 lbs and I've grown to love exercise. I run a lot, I do a bit of circuit/strength training on the side, and I've recently started Insanity. Occasionally, I have days where my net is only 500-600 calories, because I'll run 6 miles and then do one of my DVDs. For instance, yesterday I ate about 1700 calories, but then I ran a few miles, did the elliptical and did an Insanity DVD and burned close to 1100 calories via exercise, so my net was in the 500-600 range. (can't remember exacts!). I have some friends on MFP that are staunch about eating back your exercise calories, and that is rarely something I do. By the time I am done with my workouts it is often about 8 at night and I don't like to eat late unless it is fruit or cereal. I also have friends that say you should eat at LEAST your TDEE and then just use your exercise calories as 'bonus' calories. My current goal is to net 1550 and I think that amounts to losing 1.3 lbs a week.

I've been on MFP since mid April, and since then I've lost about 25lbs. I've struggled with weekends since it is summer and they tend to involve more food, booze and exercise-restricting excursions, but otherwise I've done a very good job of staying under my goals. Basically- what I am doing now is working for me. However, I don't want to be doing something unhealthily. I've noticed that on days like yesterday, even when my net is low, MFP never tells me that I'm eating too few calories. I'm never really hungry on those days. Does anyone else do something similar to this, and is this okay?