" You are eating too few calories" message

alaliberte
alaliberte Posts: 205
in Fitness and Exercise
How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

For the first time in about 6 months I finally feel like I'm losing some weight again, and I keep getting this message...it's not like I'm starving myself or anything. Most days I feel great with my "eating."

So, ignore the message or heed the warning....what's your take??
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Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    Just the people that are eating too few calories.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    how many calories are you eating?
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    I would think that message is pretty self-explanatory.

    You are obviously eating below 1200 calories otherwise it wouldn't be giving you that number.
  • NocturnalGirl
    NocturnalGirl Posts: 1,762
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    Just the people that are eating too few calories.

    This.
  • Fat2Fit145
    Fat2Fit145 Posts: 385 Member
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    Just the people that are eating too few calories.


    lol... correct.... its obvious if you dont eat the calories they set that you will get that message... I get it too cuz like u i dont eat the required calories they have set.... and i'm quite comfortable during the day. But I know i should be eating more.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    I would think that message is pretty self-explanatory.

    You are obviously eating below 1200 calories otherwise it wouldn't be giving you that number.

    Uh..... Obviously no. If you aren't eating back all of your workout calories you will get that message as well. I used to get that message every freaking day, but according to my health care professional I was eating great and in the range I needed to be to reach my goals, so just ignored it.
  • SHHitsKaty
    SHHitsKaty Posts: 301
    I get it but it depends on what your calorie intake is set at. If it's set at the bare minimum of 1200, eating anything below that is basically putting your body into starvation mode, especially if you are active. You aren't eating enough at all to replace what is being put out, meaning it's just gonna start eating away at muscle and your metabolism will slow down.

    My calorie intake is set at 1450, I average 1300-1400 calories a day and also work out 6 days a week, which gives me more calories to eat but I don't eat back my calories most of the time unless I'm really hungry that day. So far, it's done me well, I'm losing and I also don't feel like I'm hurting for food every hour of the day.

    Anyone who is eating below 1200 calories though is going about it ALL wrong. Sure, you're losing weight because you're basically starving yourself.
  • alaliberte
    alaliberte Posts: 205
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.
  • purplepeonypanda
    purplepeonypanda Posts: 14
    Was friends with someone on here who only got about 800 calories a day. I didn't really care. I felt bad in comparison, but that's my hang up. The person got a lot of "way to go" comments, which was kind of confusing.

    But then the comments of "ugh I ate too much today" or "today was a total cheat day" started. Then I'd look at their diary and they ate 900-1000 calories. That was their disgusting cheat today. So I unfriended that person, for my own reasons. No need to cause a scene or openly criticize her. What if she was dealing with something I didn't know about?

    I really think that beyond a simple mention if you're close, it's really no one's business.

    So what do YOU think? Also, what kind of too few calories are we talking about? 1000 calories of veggies and meat and dairy, or 500 calories of chips? You have to decide if you're nourishing yourself properly.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.

    I wouldn't worry about it
  • alaliberte
    alaliberte Posts: 205
    I would think that message is pretty self-explanatory.

    You are obviously eating below 1200 calories otherwise it wouldn't be giving you that number.

    Uh..... Obviously no. If you aren't eating back all of your workout calories you will get that message as well. I used to get that message every freaking day, but according to my health care professional I was eating great and in the range I needed to be to reach my goals, so just ignored it.

    OK--THIS is what I was trying to get at! I don't think I'm eating back my calories from exercise. I never really noticed this before. But, I'm definitely not starving myself and I exercise just about every day. This is it. THANKS!!
  • MemphisKitten
    MemphisKitten Posts: 878 Member
    Don't even pay attention to it. Not everyone's BMR is 1200 calories.
  • laarae
    laarae Posts: 332 Member
    I get that message when I don't eat back workout calories-I usually ignore it-my calorie intake goal is between 1200-1300 even though MFP says 1480 cals everyday before working out. Somedays I go over that 12-13 range mostly though I keep it between that range.
  • Rubyayn
    Rubyayn Posts: 433 Member
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.

    Netting 800 calories per day simply isnt healthy unless you have had surgery and are physically incapable of eating more than that. I would learn your BMR and TDEE numbers and try to NET inbetween them. This site will crunch the numbers for you:

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    My advice would be to eat more. I am 5'4", 138 pounds and losing while not netting below 1600 on workout days. Rest days I net at 2000-2100. Good luck!
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.


    I would eat back some of the calories. You don't have to eat all back, but 1200 calories is enough for basic functioning, so the extra calories are needed to help fuel your workouts and maintain your new active lifestyle.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    I would think that message is pretty self-explanatory.

    You are obviously eating below 1200 calories otherwise it wouldn't be giving you that number.

    Uh..... Obviously no. If you aren't eating back all of your workout calories you will get that message as well. I used to get that message every freaking day, but according to my health care professional I was eating great and in the range I needed to be to reach my goals, so just ignored it.

    OK--THIS is what I was trying to get at! I don't think I'm eating back my calories from exercise. I never really noticed this before. But, I'm definitely not starving myself and I exercise just about every day. This is it. THANKS!!

    Apologies. I should have written the word NETTING instead of EATING. I just assumed that she would be following the system that the site she is using has in place. That would be eating back your exercise calories.
  • SHHitsKaty
    SHHitsKaty Posts: 301
    I agree with all of those posting above. Eating only 800 calories a day is not healthy.
  • EnchantedEvening
    EnchantedEvening Posts: 671 Member
    and i'm quite comfortable during the day. But I know i should be eating more.
    If you're comfortably full and not getting enough calories, then you need to figure out how to add calories to your meals. Even just two tablespoons of peanut butter can add nearly 200 calories; you can put it on anything - mix it into oatmeal, put it on your celery or whatever you eat as a snack, etc.

    Drinking a glass of milk adds a bit too. Cheese cubes. Stuff like that. Change your thinking from "it means I have to eat more food" to "I have to eat more calorie-rich food".
  • Fat2Fit145
    Fat2Fit145 Posts: 385 Member
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.

    Oh cool. Well i ignore mine... cus i dont force to eat... but i am mindful of it though.... so some days i eat over, and the days i dont, well i dont sweat it.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't understand what the message is saying....what I mean is: Do you just ignore it or eat more? I'm wondering how many people are eating close to their recommended totals.

    I'm at 1200 cals per day but with exercise at the end of the day I've got 300-400 left over calories and that's when I'm getting the message.

    I would encourage you to eat back your exercise calories. Of course it's clearly your choice, but that is why you're getting that message. Would you be comfortable, on a non-exercise day, eating only 800 calories? That's basically what you're doing. And maybe that's OK for you (I suspect not, but some people are really small or have a low BMR). If that's OK with you, just ignore the message. You can also enter in your exercise, but change the calorie burn to only 1 calorie. Again, I personally don't think you should be eating that low, but if you want to, that will get rid of the message, since it seems to bother you.
  • helenaj26
    helenaj26 Posts: 2 Member
    I sometimes get that message, but I usually just ignore it. You don't have to be starving yourself to get this, one time I needed only 8 more calories for my goal, and it gave me that message. I'm not gonna find something that counts as 8 calories to not get the message.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    For the first time in about 6 months I finally feel like I'm losing some weight again, and I keep getting this message...it's not like I'm starving myself or anything. Most days I feel great with my "eating."

    So, ignore the message or heed the warning....what's your take??

    I think that 1200 is some sort of magical threshold of nutrition where if you're under then it's hard to get all the nutrition one might need. I think that MFP needs to inform you of that in the same way that exercise programs need to tell you to consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. It helps decrease liability should someone be starving themselves and then try to blame MFP when they get sick.
  • kelleymeg
    kelleymeg Posts: 24 Member
    then again, mfp will give you this message if you eat only 1 calorie less than your daily suggested. i literally got it when i had 1999 calories logged and my goal is 1200. lets be reasonable.
  • iancranerocks
    iancranerocks Posts: 22 Member
    I would think that message is pretty self-explanatory.

    You are obviously eating below 1200 calories otherwise it wouldn't be giving you that number.

    Uh..... Obviously no. If you aren't eating back all of your workout calories you will get that message as well. I used to get that message every freaking day, but according to my health care professional I was eating great and in the range I needed to be to reach my goals, so just ignored it.

    OK--THIS is what I was trying to get at! I don't think I'm eating back my calories from exercise. I never really noticed this before. But, I'm definitely not starving myself and I exercise just about every day. This is it. THANKS!!

    Yeah, figure out your BMR. I was getting that message and lost 30 pounds, but then I hit a hard bottom and had to increase my calories to start making progress again. I rarely go below 1200 any more because for me it does cause starvation mode and halts my progress. If you do it for long, you'll start to feel the need to eat even when you're full and that's a big clue. Listen to your body.
  • kelleymeg
    kelleymeg Posts: 24 Member
    whoops, that was supposed to read 1199
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    Just the people that are eating too few calories.
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  • VeganZombie13
    VeganZombie13 Posts: 297
    I agree with all of those posting above. Eating only 800 calories a day is not healthy.
    Totally agree! That is starvation, imo. Losing weight is hard. It took a long time to gain it, so it's going to take A WHILE to lose it..
    DO THE work! If it was easy, ALLOT of ppl would do it.

    Take the time and workout eat healthy food and the weight WILL come off..
  • all4my3boyz
    all4my3boyz Posts: 94 Member
    How many people are getting this message from MFP when they are done logging their food for the day?

    Just the people that are eating too few calories.

    Yup!
  • gauchogirl
    gauchogirl Posts: 467 Member
    I ignore it. It's a CYA from MFP based on some mythical number -- that 1200 is the de facto minimum any human being on the planet should not go below. I cycle my calories over the course of a week, so 1-2 days a week I will be under, get the warning, and the rest I am not.
  • alaliberte
    alaliberte Posts: 205
    Wow, I'm realizing how inefficient writing can be! why can't you all just read my mind or something? :)

    Just to clear any misconceptions of me starving myself--I am eating at least 1200 calories, most days more. I figured out the reason I'm getting the "message" --it's because I'm not eating back my exercise calories. I've been on this path of routine exercise for quite a while, but I haven't been tracking my eating very much...so the message is new to me.

    Thanks for your help.

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