"and was under her calorie goal..."

imwithgizmo
imwithgizmo Posts: 146 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Why does it tell everyone that? Are we trying to always eat under? I sometimes go over, just by a few, and it doesn't broadcast the message that I went over (which I guess is good), lol! But really, what is the purpose of telling us someone was under?
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Replies

  • blg5
    blg5 Posts: 89 Member
    I totally agree. As long as you are under your TDEE you are still on the right path.
  • Eerinelizz
    Eerinelizz Posts: 114 Member
    Yeah, that kinda bothers me. It shouldn't, but it does. If I go even one calorie above my goal, then I don't get the little extra phrase at the end of my post, my friends don't comment aout what a great job I did that day, and I feel like I've failed. Of course, then go hop on the elliptical for 5 minutes and I'm back in the green! But really, it does bug me at bit. Not cool, MFP, not cool.
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    It irk me as well, it's like why penalize us for eating what we are SUPPOSED to eat. This also sets people up to eat less than they need, because they don't want to be in the red.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    If you don't click "complete this entry," then it won't post that message. MFP still saves everything if you don't click that.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    True. You should be trying to meet the goal and not freaking out if you're a little over or patting yourself on the back if a little under.

    Also, the Complete button does nothing except publish your diary to your timeline and give you the "in 5 weeks" estimate. So if those messages are driving you batty, just don't hit Complete.
  • megleo818
    megleo818 Posts: 595 Member
    Frankly, I'm just glad the little message doesn't tell me, "If every day were like today, you'd be a fat *kitten* again in 5 weeks" when I go over!

    But seriously, I still congratulate my friends when they eat along whatever guidelines they've set for themselves, even if they go over on calories -- that's only ONE piece of the puzzle. And I tell myself it doesn't really matter what MFP says about my caloric intake. Meanwhile, it still bugs the shi*t out of me, so I'm right there with you!
  • SLE0803
    SLE0803 Posts: 145 Member
    It irk me as well, it's like why penalize us for eating what we are SUPPOSED to eat. This also sets people up to eat less than they need, because they don't want to be in the red.

    Totally agree!
  • IslandDreamer64
    IslandDreamer64 Posts: 258 Member
    I totally agree! I'd like to be congratulated for staying within, say, 100 calories of my goal. As a person with a disordered relationship with food it's not a good thing to praise me for being under my goal. Glad I'm not the only one bothered by it!
  • girlnamedlee
    girlnamedlee Posts: 96 Member
    Ah, but it praises you right after it reprimanded you in some cases. I'm set to 1200, so any time I'm below, the auto-generated message is sure to let me know that this is a path to certain death. Then if I go to the home screen, it's all excited & using exclamation points. MFP might have a mood disorder.
  • dalila747
    dalila747 Posts: 153 Member
    It's an automated message from a computer. It's not going to make or break my day. It makes it public because it means you didn't overheat, which is the whole point of having a calorie goal.
  • gldnlark
    gldnlark Posts: 53
    Yes, it's called "positive reinforcement." It praises you for staying under, but silent (in anger and shame - j/k) for going over... It's motivational!
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    Haha I love some of the responses, the only time it bothers me is when I look at someones diary and they've eaten maybe 1000 cal for the day. However they think they are doing great because MFP told them so. It makes me want to tell them...please EAT.
  • kmhenry84
    kmhenry84 Posts: 96 Member
    Yes, it's called "positive reinforcement." It praises you for staying under, but silent (in anger and shame - j/k) for going over... It's motivational!

    I understand that, however for those of us whose are set at 1200, we are already at the minimum. I try to keep it around 1210-1250 since I keep hearing 1200 should be minimum, and it tells me that I'm not eating enough if I go under. Friends will cheer me on for being under goal, but really... I don't need to be under because it's not healthy.
  • rubyautumn4
    rubyautumn4 Posts: 818 Member
    Haha I love some of the responses, the only time it bothers me is when I look at someones diary and they've eaten maybe 1000 cal for the day. However they think they are doing great because MFP told them so. It makes me want to tell them...please EAT.

    Yes! Amen! Some people come in under every single damn day but they've eaten three carrots, a diet coke, a cupcake and a burger which is clearly unhealthy. And I want to tell them to eat actual real meals....but then I think what if this is the best they can do? Maybe they have an ED or some other issue and that day was a good one for them. *sigh*

    Although when I see I will be in the red, if it's only by 100 or so calories,I will work that off just to be in the green. Yes, I have issues....
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    One of the reasons why I manually changed my MFP goal to my estimated sedentary TDEE. I always go under and of course I'm losing weight :)
  • PaleoRDH
    PaleoRDH Posts: 266
    you can change your settings to not put that message..............
  • zombie_porno
    zombie_porno Posts: 199 Member
    No way, I LOVE seeing that at the end of my day. Awesome motivation.
  • citizencrp
    citizencrp Posts: 228 Member
    I had JUST "finished" my logging for the day and was thinking about this. Then I saw this post on the right of my screen.

    My daily calorie goal is pretty high (1700) so I'm pretty comfortable with being 150 calories under, but so many people are set between 1200-1400 and likely should be making sure to get each and every one of those energy nuggets.
    I mean, I even added some honey to my dessert to boost the calorie (and sweetness!) but I'm not hungry now and it's late, so yeah, I'm done, but so many people are under eating and thinking it's the right thing to do.

    MFP should change that. It does seem like a little badge of honor in the old school of dieting to boast about not meeting your calorie goal. It should either be specific about TDEE or just say "SoAndSo finished logging for the day, check out their diary".
  • kmhenry84
    kmhenry84 Posts: 96 Member


    MFP should change that. It does seem like a little badge of honor in the old school of dieting to boast about not meeting your calorie goal. It should either be specific about TDEE or just say "SoAndSo finished logging for the day, check out their diary".

    yes !
    that would be better. That or a range of calories. I feel that eating 1250 for me is healthier than eating 1000, and getting that 'badge of honor' for being under goal.
  • inagaddadavegan
    inagaddadavegan Posts: 46 Member
    I wonder about that too. Here is my dilemma (and I'd love input on this) - I can reach my nutrition goals (protein, calcium, iron, fiber, etc etc) in less than 1000 calories a day. I typically exercise for about an hour or two a day right now. So MFP is simultaneously praising me for being under my calorie goal and yelling at me for not eating enough. Based on net calories you'd think my diet is a train wreck but it's nutritionally complete.

    I feel fine, not hungry, I love food and eat as much as I want. Should I worry about this? Should I fill in the calories anyway? Put a brownie in front of me, I'm sure I could wedge it in LOL
  • selig0730
    selig0730 Posts: 509 Member
    you can change the setting so it wont post that you went under, but its good to go under your calories since thats how you lose weight. but people need to make sure they eat enough calories though
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    Funny thing is that yesterday, I met my calories EXACTLY (first time ever!), and was a bit miffed that I didn't get some sort of "congratulatory" type message. No "and was under..." - nothing. :grumble:
  • norcal_yogi
    norcal_yogi Posts: 675 Member
    yeah it's straight-up annoying.
  • dalila747
    dalila747 Posts: 153 Member
    Yes, it's called "positive reinforcement." It praises you for staying under, but silent (in anger and shame - j/k) for going over... It's motivational!

    I understand that, however for those of us whose are set at 1200, we are already at the minimum. I try to keep it around 1210-1250 since I keep hearing 1200 should be minimum, and it tells me that I'm not eating enough if I go under. Friends will cheer me on for being under goal, but really... I don't need to be under because it's not healthy.

    There's a quick fix for that. If you don't feel comfortable going under your 1200 goal and being commended for it by a computer, you can simply change your goal to something like 1250. That way, when the computer tells you well done, you wont feel like you're doing something bad.
    Again, folks, it's a computer. I doubt the programmers have the time to go in and fix every little quirk.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Every time I see it I get a little annoyed, since so many people are set at 1200 calories. That just means my friends aren't eating enough!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Yes, it's called "positive reinforcement." It praises you for staying under, but silent (in anger and shame - j/k) for going over... It's motivational!

    I understand that, however for those of us whose are set at 1200, we are already at the minimum. I try to keep it around 1210-1250 since I keep hearing 1200 should be minimum, and it tells me that I'm not eating enough if I go under. Friends will cheer me on for being under goal, but really... I don't need to be under because it's not healthy.

    There's a quick fix for that. If you don't feel comfortable going under your 1200 goal and being commended for it by a computer, you can simply change your goal to something like 1250. That way, when the computer tells you well done, you wont feel like you're doing something bad.
    Again, folks, it's a computer. I doubt the programmers have the time to go in and fix every little quirk.

    I just never click the button that says "Complete this entry". Works for me!
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    It bothers me when the friend does not have an open diary, so I'm not going to congratulate them on being under their goal when i have no clue if they are TOO far under. Or if they eat nothing but junk all of the time with very little nutrients.

    Yesterday I had an odd day where I was under 1,200. My diary is open to friends and one of them congratulated me on what a good day it was..... My goal is 1,600, so that wasn't a good day and not something I want to be congratulated for.

    But, it is what it is. I don't really pay attention to it that much, I'm more interested in the overall picture.
  • Darkskinned88
    Darkskinned88 Posts: 1,177 Member
    i changed my settings that it doesnt announce it, mfp hasnt realize some people are trying to bulk up, some people are waaaay under and others are "under" but they only had a pizza for the day
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    I actually stopped replying when I see this. Instead I praise my friends on their workouts.
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    Maybe turn it off if it bugs you?

    I don't know. I tend to tune out repetitive things.

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