Confused.

Katie -

Look at the Food tab and Your Daily Goal, that's the number you want to hit (or under) If you work out (cardio only) MFP will take that into account and essentially you can eat additional calories.

So basically you can eat more, but you don't necessarily have to.

1260
that low... are set to lose 1 lb , 1.5lbs or 2 lbs a week.

if you are new.. shoot to lose 1lb inthe begining. Also eat atleas some of the cals back. if you burn 400.. eat 200 back

the purpose... MFP has already taken out your deficit to lose per day.

so I am set at 1590.. if I burn 500, technically Ive eaten 1090 cals for the day. SO I do try to eat back some of those cals.

Now I only count cal from a true workout. Not cleaning and walking in grocery store. the 500 is from 60 min of zumba and 30 mins weights.

1260 is low - What did you set your goal settings at? Active, sedentary, etc.. what is your weightloss goal for the week?

If you have set yourself to sedentary, and a 2lb per week loss then 1260 sounds like what theyd give you -
With that said: If you exercise (delibrate walks, gym time,etc) log those and eat back the estimated calories burned. If you are ever unsure about how to fill in calorie gaps, eat almonds, walnuts, peanut butter, etc..

If you find your settings aren't working for you, reevaluate your goals, expected weight loss, and tweak it til it works

I recommend against lower than 1200 calories unless you are on some kind of medically supervised diet, but that is my aversion to eating so little food. I like food.

Good luck and well wishes :drinker:

I don't think 1260 is to low but dont go less then 1200 for sure. 1260 is a decent amount of food if you are eating real food. If you eat lean cuts of meat, eggs, brown rice, quinoa, salads with homemade dressings (Lemon or lime juice, or vingar and oils), steel cut oats, small amounts of nuts, with fruit and lots of veggies 1200 hundred should be enough for a female. When you exercise I would try and eat at least little bit of the calories back because you'll need the energy for vigerous exercise if not you might feel faint or ill from it. I eat 1200 a day and I am fine. I eat whole foods, not processed. I eat 3 meals a day and one snack. You can view my diary if you'd like. Mind you I do minimal non-vigerous exercise at this point. Ive been eating this way for almost 6 weeks and lost just shy of 15 pounds. I don't have cravings. I don't binge eat. I'm not straving. Proof of this is I haven't cheated on my change of lifestyle. My thing is I don't eat dairy or wheat while staying at 1200 calories but again you should do whats right for you.
Monitor how you feel with and without eating back the calories. Our bodies have pretty good communication with our brains once we know how to listen to them.

Did you read the instructions on the stickies on the forum on how to use this programme? It states quite clearly that you SHOULD eat back the calories you burn during exercise.

People should - Follow the MFP method - follow the In Place of a Road Map method or - follow any other method of their choice.

The forums are full of people who choose to do their own thing of making it up as they go along and that things are not going to plan.

:noway: