Under my allowed calories???

mleparton
mleparton Posts: 81
in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering is it bad to be under your allowed calories for the day? Or does your body need that amount in order to lose weight?? I just started logging on here yesterday and both yesterday and today I have been around 200-300 under! Also when I start excercising more do I need to increase the calories that I eat? This should be easy to figure out but I think I'm just confusing myself! Also how do you track more things on here like sodium and calcium?? Thanks guys!

Replies

  • riverman79
    riverman79 Posts: 1
    you should always log your food and exercise. The app will adjust for the calories you burn during exercise. If you fall short of your calorie goal you are in danger of not getting enough nutrition to support your body. Also, I've noticed if I am less than 1200 calories and I log it the app gives a warning about starvation mode. Starvation mode is when your body stores whatever it can and slows down your metabolism. Its best to be within 100 calories of your daily goal.
  • BeccaCares
    BeccaCares Posts: 23
    If it says that you need to increase your calorie intake, then you should. Your body needs a certain amount of energy (calories) each day to function properly and efficiently. If you are constantly under that amount for a period of time, your body will go into starvation mode. It will be very difficult for you to lose weight because your body will try to conserve as much as it can.

    However if it says that you are under your allowed calories, and doesn't say you need to eat more, then that is fine (:
    You will lose weight faster that way as long as you are eating nutritious foods and staying away from sugars and high fats.

    Keep up the great work!
  • ElainaHunt
    ElainaHunt Posts: 2
    It has been my experience that 'some' under my goal calories is generally okay, but I do watch that carefully. You probably know that too little calories causes your body's 'furnace' to burn out (store energy as fat). If you set your weight loss goal wisely (1/2 - 2 lbs per week), then you should aim for your target calories to maintain a healthy, long-lasting weight loss. Your calorie target is figured with your exercise goal in mind. If you are meeting that goal, no need to take in less/more calories. If you are far exceeding your exercise goal, you may need more fuel (calories) to keep your body's blood-sugar stabilized, thus burning calories. As a rule of thumb, a 3000 calorie deficit (from your body's at-rest metabolic need) will result in loss of one pound. This is the rule this program uses to determine your target calorie range. Hope this helps and doesn't add to your confusion. :)

    I would love to find a way to also track sodium, etc.
  • HarlowAudrey
    HarlowAudrey Posts: 42
    I was wondering this also!

    I find sometimes I am under my calories by 200-300, but I am full because I have eaten big nutritious meals.

    Should I eat for the point of eating? or can I "save"these and have an indulgence on the weekend?
  • OspreyVista
    OspreyVista Posts: 464 Member
    I was wondering this also!

    I find sometimes I am under my calories by 200-300, but I am full because I have eaten big nutritious meals.

    Should I eat for the point of eating? or can I "save"these and have an indulgence on the weekend?

    There are quite a few people who save the calories and indulge on the weekends. In my own opinion, if your not hungry, you shouldn't force yourself to eat. I don't even worry about if i'm under too low, I focus on if I'm hungry or not. If I am, I eat more, if not, then I don't.
  • ChadB74
    ChadB74 Posts: 128 Member
    What is your calorie goal? if you're 200-300 under 2000 that's not bad, if you're 200-300 under 1200, I think you need to add maybe a healthy protein bar or something small to eat but gives you about 200-250 calories. I'm no expert, but I find the days I do fall short on my calorie goal, I don't have as much energy the next day or I get an urge to eat late at night, which I won't do but it interupts my sleep thinking about my little bit of hunger urge. Good Luck
  • mleparton
    mleparton Posts: 81
    I would love to find a way to also track sodium, etc.

    I found that one...at the top of the page click on settings, under that it should have an option for diary settings!

    I add a snack tonight cause I wasn't sure if I need to reach that calorie goal! I will remember for next time though that it is ok to be alittle bit under. Thank you guys that helped alot
  • CkepiJinx
    CkepiJinx Posts: 613 Member
    It has been my experience that 'some' under my goal calories is generally okay, but I do watch that carefully. You probably know that too little calories causes your body's 'furnace' to burn out (store energy as fat). If you set your weight loss goal wisely (1/2 - 2 lbs per week), then you should aim for your target calories to maintain a healthy, long-lasting weight loss. Your calorie target is figured with your exercise goal in mind. If you are meeting that goal, no need to take in less/more calories. If you are far exceeding your exercise goal, you may need more fuel (calories) to keep your body's blood-sugar stabilized, thus burning calories. As a rule of thumb, a 3000 calorie deficit (from your body's at-rest metabolic need) will result in loss of one pound. This is the rule this program uses to determine your target calorie range. Hope this helps and doesn't add to your confusion. :)

    I would love to find a way to also track sodium, etc.

    This site does not take your exercise goals into account when giving you your calories, it does take into account your activity setting, sedentary, lightly active, or very active, it also takes into account your height, weight, and goal choice of # of pounds per week you wish to lose.

    You should log your exercise and eat back some of those calories, as the calories given here are an estimate, a heart rate monitor can give a more accurate reading.

    I think she mistyped 3000, I can't remember the exat number for deficit but I know a 2 lb per week loss requires a 1000 calorie deficit.

    I go under my calories some days but try to stay within reason. If you are new to measuring it can give you a little wiggle room while you get used to it.

    To track sodium go to food tab then settings and you can choose to track sodium.

    Good luck
  • fatmom51
    fatmom51 Posts: 173 Member
    I think she mistyped 3000, I can't remember the exat number for deficit but I know a 2 lb per week loss requires a 1000 calorie deficit.

    I go under my calories some days but try to stay within reason. If you are new to measuring it can give you a little wiggle room while you get used to it.

    What she may have been referring to is the average deficit of 3,500 per week to lose one pound. As for going under, it's fine to go a little bit under provided you're getting all the nutrients you need and getting at least the recommended 1,200 calories.
    That was one of the things I liked back in the old days of WW. It would give you guidelines that fell in line with the FDA Food Pyramid, or whatever they're calling it this month. :smile:
    Granted there were days you could get your 4 oz. (or whatever amount) of protein with lean chicken or fish. Other days the calories would be higher if I picked ground beef or steak. Same with the whole grains. Some days I'd eat a hearty bread, or a large portion of pasta. Other days, I'd have light bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice, etc. And so on for the other food groups. I could have a banana, or I could have an apple, or maybe a tangerine. Each counted as one serving even though the calorie amounts might vary somewhat.
    Like someone else said, it's fine to be a bit under if you're allowed 2,000 calories, but not so much if you're only eating 1,200 to begin with.
  • CkepiJinx
    CkepiJinx Posts: 613 Member
    True I was thinking in terms of daily not weekly ;)

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