MFP: "You are eating too few calories..."

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Usually only part of them if any. I don't try to hit any percentage, I just try to keep it under 1400 no matter my exercise of the day because if I eat more, even if I have exercised, I gain. When I see that message, I just look at the part that says "If every day were like this you'd be X pounds in five weeks" and say, yeah, I could live with that...doesn't seem excessive or unhealthy and I'm full so I'm good. Thanks for sharing your opinion MFP but my way is working for me...I just keep you around to do the math calculations for me cause it's so much easier that way. )

I've only gotten that message a couple times, on days when I was either sick or fasting. I try to stick closely to my target, and I eat all my exercise calories back. Every delicious one. I'm in the home stretch, and I know that eating too few calories is counterproductive for me, and I want to be able to transition to maintenance without weight re-gain. For that, it's very important for me to meet my goals. Plus, I'm at the point where I can tell the difference in my workouts when my nutrition is sub-par. I have fitness/performance goals as well as weight goals, and having a crappy workout sucks.

^^ This exactly.
Well, except that I did reach my goal. Eating around 1800 cals a day.

I've only seen that message a couple of times. I always eat back at least some of my exercise calories. If I lose around 2 pounds a week eating 1700 or so calories a day, that is what I am going to do. I think eating under is just a recipe for weight gain when you go into maintenance.

it said that to me last week once but I'd either never seen it before or hadn't noticed. And I was prolly a couple hundred calories too low that day. But since I don't eat very many of my exercise calories it always says I have some ridiculous amt left, yet doesn't say it on those days. So last week I was 200 off and got the msg but tonight I could eat 3800 more without going over and it won't say anything? I dont think that makes sense.

I've only gotten that message a couple times, on days when I was either sick or fasting. I try to stick closely to my target, and I eat all my exercise calories back. Every delicious one. I'm in the home stretch, and I know that eating too few calories is counterproductive for me, and I want to be able to transition to maintenance without weight re-gain. For that, it's very important for me to meet my goals. Plus, I'm at the point where I can tell the difference in my workouts when my nutrition is sub-par. I have fitness/performance goals as well as weight goals, and having a crappy workout sucks.

I have never had the message as I have never gone low - but basically ^this and very much ^^this with regards to performance.

Yes I try everyday to keep my calories under my goal... I'am to eat 1200 cal, but I set my goal to 1000, to compensate for the accidentals I may get into... If I eat over 1000 cal I gain weight, (I don't know why but it's always been like this)
There is no way I would eat what calories I work off, I work off at times 1500 plus calories in a day... there is no way I could eat that! I would be as big as a bus if I did...

Considering my 1-2 lb weight loss a week I assume I am taking in the proper amount of calories, even if its a little less some days. Oh and i don't ever eat back the calories I burn, I didn't know it had to be that way :ohwell:

Two points:
1) Wouldn't the whole process be better if you could lose 1-2 lbs/wk and eat like 500 more calories more (I have no idea the actual numbers, but the fact that you're getting the message suggests that it's less than 1200, and lots of women, lots, lose around 1600 cals/day)
2) You might be losing a higher than desirable % of muscle mass. The problem with that is that when people lose a high % of muscle mass, they get to goal weight and still look doughy. Most people should be trying to lose as high as possible a % of fat, and for that, smaller calorie deficits work better.

Considering my 1-2 lb weight loss a week I assume I am taking in the proper amount of calories, even if its a little less some days. Oh and i don't ever eat back the calories I burn, I didn't know it had to be that way :ohwell:

Two points:
1) Wouldn't the whole process be better if you could lose 1-2 lbs/wk and eat like 500 more calories more (I have no idea the actual numbers, but the fact that you're getting the message suggests that it's less than 1200, and lots of women, lots, lose around 1600 cals/day)
2) You might be losing a higher than desirable % of muscle mass. The problem with that is that when people lose a high % of muscle mass, they get to goal weight and still look doughy. Most people should be trying to lose as high as possible a % of fat, and for that, smaller calorie deficits work better.

Exactly. What I've been doing for the past few month is going on bf% alone. I've stayed at almost the same weigh the whole time (I think I've literally lost 2 lbs) but I've list 2.4bf. from 16.5-14.1.

I've had that one time in my 3 years on MFP. I think it turned the starvation mode on or something.



But listen to Bean. She makes sense.

I get it a bit because I'm eating 1500 cals, and I do a bit of exercise and don't eat my exercise calories. I just look at the quality of food that I'm eating, and then decide whether it was good enough or not.

I get that saying at least 2 or 3 times a week. I eat till I'm full and even though this site says I need more calories I have no room in my stomach so I don't follow this.

I have gotten this 2 days in a row. I really don't know what to do to avoid it. I'm not going to overeat... I have 4 mini meals and 2 snacks a day and eat (healthy foods) until I am full. I have been weight training and drinking a protein shake, but I'm still kind of worried it is going to hinder my weight loss.

I eat when I'm hungry and don't when I'm not. My calories consumed are all over the place, they are over often enough that being under some of the time isn't really a concern.

I just started, and both days I have eaten "too few" calories. Today I have 380 left over and yesterday I had 519 left. Blah blah "starvation mode" I'll listen if I start packing on the pounds from, le gasp, eating around 1,000 cals per day. I do feel hungry eating like this but that's not what's important here.

What I don't understand is (unless you are here in order to gain weight after an ED/or have a medical condition) if you are on MFP to lose weight then, at some point, you were quite easily eating your TDEE in calories and beyond to have gained. So why is it now magically so hard to eat your goal calories which falls either 500 cals or 20% below your TDEE?

Seriously. If you have calories allotted - eat them. Your allocated calories are a goal to eat at not aim to be waaay under. Plan a little to have some more calorie dense foods on hand for those times when you think 'I can't eat 5 kilos of lettuce to make up another 100 cals'..then have a little 25g piece of cheese/30g of nuts - it is still healthy.