Question About Burning Calories VS Eating Them

I have had the same question recently, an dhave been told many diferent things. And after reading a lot of postings on here about it, I have come to the following. MFP figures in your exercise deficit already. Don't force yourself to eat more calories that aren't needed.

No one should ever go below 1200 calories per day! Your body will go into starvation mode and will begin to store fat in order to protect itself.

Just because you may not feel hungry during the day doesn't mean you shouldn't eat. Actually, you should eat BEFORE you get hungry. Once your stomach starts growling, your body is already in the process of storing fat. Eat at least every 2.5 - 3 hrs. and STOP eating at least 3 hrs. before you go to bed at night.

Losing weight is about calorie deficit. This means that when you eat a certain amount of calories a day those are intake. You then subtract the calories you burn doing excercise, whatever that may be. Those are calories going out. Basically when you set up to eat a calorie amount lower than 2000 that assumes you will not be burning calories w/exercise. When you enter the excercise you have done the calories burned are added to what you can take in that is why the number goes up; you have burned more than you have taken in. As long as you don't consume more calories than you burn you will lose weight. It is important to eat healthy foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and fiber, etc. These can be low in calories but give you the 'good stuff' you need to feel energized and lose weight. The deficit of calories accumulates throughout the week too. Burning a total sum of 3500 calories is equal to one pound of weight loss. It seems like a lot but if you can burn several hundred in one workout you are doing great! Good luck! Once you start to see changes you'll get a handle on what you can eat and not and that sort of thing. Remember veggies and fruit are your friend!