1550 is ok for a while, if you eat back your exercise calories, if it gets to hard or you plateau up it back and see how it adjusts.
These are estimates, you'll find your own best level over time.

Give yourself 3-4 weeks with each change and track to see what works. It's a journey.

I'm in the same boat... MFP set mine up to around the same as yours, it was over 1500 I know but can't remember exactly. I cut it down to 1400 just because I felt like that was a good number to try for, but if I go over a little I don't stress since I know I would have been allowed more. I am actually under most days, and don't know how I could eat more since I'm never really hungry either.

I also don't eat back my exercise calories most days... I'm worried for the same reasons you are that I don't want to be doing harm, but I am losing so I'm going to stick with what I'm doing unless I stall out losing or something..

well i just read a post someone put up asking if their calories was too low for their weight and a lot of people are saying the mfp sets it on average and u can adjust to ur liking....some were saying high some were low i think it depends on the person, i mean its only 100 calories less than mfp tells me i can have so im sure its not that bad, 1400 is good too.

Im not sure if were supposed to eat back our calories but to me it sounds silly as whats the point burning it to eat it back again? i do do it if for some reason i eat something like tonight im going out with friends but i worked out this morning so i know i can go over a little.

This whole weight loss thing confuses me

Thats how I feel! I'm like, I just worked by booty off to burn those 500 calories, I am not gonna eat 500 calories worth of food just because I can.

Now, tonight my husband and I are going to my favorite bar/steak place and I intend on eating (drinking.. I need a beer after this week) them back..lol. But definately not an everyday thing. A few times a month maybe.

I've done some reading on this, I had he same worry a few days ago. I set myself on 1200 although MFP wanted me on 1750. I've read not to go under 1200 otherwise yo may struggle with starvation mode. I adjusted to 1500 although I am always under.

Make sure your diet is varied so you get all the nutrition your body needs. Also listen to your body, it will tell you if you're eating too little. Adjust if you need to, you need to find whats right fo you.

Mine is 1470 to lose 2lbs a week and I eat that everyday when I work out I may eat a few cal back if I'm super hungry. But I would eat what they tell me to eat.

Make sure to really evaluate what you are actually eating. The reduction in calories per week from where you are starting or your weight, is how your calories are determined. I am on a 1lb per week reduction. Therefore my calories are 1880. I am generally eating under, but if I work out I am eating back some of the calories earned if hungry after workouts. I also agree with the concept of trying it out as suggested and making decisions from there. We're so conditioned to see "diets of 1200" calories but this is a lifestyle change and tracking calories is about portion control and awareness of what your eating. If you are 120 lbs 1200 is probably good, but if you are 200 lbs, you may not have enough energy to get through the day on 1200 calories much less be active.

If you are starving your body I am completely depleted! Most of the time I have MANY cals left because I don't eat Breakfast or Lunch..Only now and then like today will I eat before 4pm...It says that but, I am seeing lbs fall off so I do what I am comfortable with. This weekend I will eat more due to holiday but, you can look back on my Diary and see I have many many cals left over and yes, it tells me I am eating to few cals but, I am Ok with that. The weight is falling off.

If you are starving your body I am completely depleted! Most of the time I have MANY cals left because I don't eat Breakfast or Lunch..Only now and then like today will I eat before 4pm...It says that but, I am seeing lbs fall off so I do what I am comfortable with. This weekend I will eat more due to holiday but, you can look back on my Diary and see I have many many cals left over and yes, it tells me I am eating to few cals but, I am Ok with that. The weight is falling off.

You are hurting your body by neglecting it for so many hours before feeding it the energy it NEEDS to merely function. If MFP allows you 1350 calories a day, eat them. If you want to "see the pounds fall off" then make better food choices, whole grains, veggies, fruits, eat clean and add strength training and cardio into your routine. You may loose weight fast but what your body is loosing is your lean muscle mass and water. Without lean muscle mass, it doesn't matter how little you weigh. You can weigh 110 pounds but still look flabby. We all can attest to the statement that flab is NOT sexy. If that is your goal I guess you're on the right path but I must say, it is not healthy and if you spoke with your doctor about it they would say the same.

I adjusted my macronutrients to 40/30/30. That is, I get 40% of my daily calories (1591) from carbs, 30% from fat and 30% from protein. I'm not on a huge loosing streak but I have some health issues that just about under control for now and I'll be able to start a new exercise routine soon. Until then, I'm maintaining and I think that's okay.

I agree with the gal who said to stick with a plan for a few weeks before deciding it isn't working out for you. I actually think 4 to 8 weeks is a better option, for me anyway, and then I'll try tweaking something to try for a different result.

There is another group on MFP, Eat More To Loose Weight and it is chalk full of great reads and tons of nutrition information. I have read a lot in that group and then researched it myself online and guess what? So far, nothing has been contradicted by science or the nutrition industries. That to me is worth MY weight in gold.

I'm also reading the book "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". A pleathora of information that I truly have always wondered about but didn't ever ask. Most public libraries have this book or you can get it on Amazon dot com for under $15 with cheap shipping.

I am NO expert but I do my body's own due diligence and when I have a question, I get online and research the heck out of it. I owe it to myself to find out the truths about the how's, when's, where's, why's and why not's. And so do you...as in, ALL OF YOU/US.

Oh sara I forgot to tell you..I misread your group here I thought it meant that you weighed over 200lbs ( at one time or now ) and I joined but, I didn't know it was you want to lose 200 or more..If I did that there would be no me LOL I would love to stay though because it is a very inspirational group..You did good