Is setting your goal too low a bad thing?

Possible_Infinity
Possible_Infinity Posts: 83 Member
edited January 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Trying to solve an argument...

I understand some people eat over their calories when they exercise but does setting your goal so low that you break it nearly every day necessarily a bad thing if you exercise most days?


Ok... For instance for some one who works out does setting your goal for 1200 but eating 1500-1600 a bad thing.

The argument is if the goal was higher they would over eat.


For me It's like setting the clock back so your not 15mins late.

Replies

  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    To me, that's just silly. As if you've somehow craftily tricked yourself into doing what's right and don't know you've set your goal purposefully too low.

    But a bad thing? Not if it works for you (you're hitting your true goal) and you don't feel badly about seeing your calories in red every day.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    I'm not sure I understand the question.

    Are you asking if exceeding your goal calories every day is a bad thing, or are you asking if setting an unrealistic and unreachable daily calorie goal is a bad thing? I guess the answer to both of those would be yes in an extremely general sense, depending a LOT on the individual and their personal goals and approach.

    If you're asking whether it's "bad" to set a much lower calorie goal knowing that you're going to exceed it but basically using it to play mind games with yourself, as though you'd feel like you're "allowed" more calories if you have a higher goal and therefore feel like it's "ok" to eat even more? I guess it's not wrong, but it sure seems a little silly.

    In my experience, the best approach is to choose a goal with a moderate and reasonable calorie deficit, appropriate for your current weight/height/TDEE/goal/sex/etc, and do what it takes to meet that goal, either through less food or increased activity. Keep it simple and straightforward and work the program.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Trying to solve an argument...

    I understand some people eat over their calories when they exercise but does setting your goal so low that you break it nearly every day necessarily a bad thing if you exercise most days?


    Ok... For instance for some one who works out does setting your goal for 1200 but eating 1500-1600 a bad thing.

    The argument is if the goal was higher they would over eat.


    For me It's like setting the clock back so your not 15mins late.

    :huh:
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    Ok... For instance for some one who works out does setting your goal for 1200 but eating 1500-1600 a bad thing.
    I set my calorie goal at 1200 because my TDEE is typically around 1525. My FitBit records the exercise I do and adds it in so I will NET the 1200.

    It's worked so far and I've been losing fairly slowly around 1/2 a pound a week....
  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
    As long as you maintain awareness that this is what you are doing, then go for it!!! We all have our little tricks.

    I actually did something similar for a while, but it got a little too depressing to be constantly showing an overage.

    It didn't work for me, but it might work for you.
  • Possible_Infinity
    Possible_Infinity Posts: 83 Member
    No fit bit in this instance so it's all a rough estimate...

    I want to make sure this person is successful is all and they haven't been too happy in the last week with results.

    I don't get it either...



    I guess what I'm getting at could this potentially cause errors as far as expected weight loss?
  • S0nsh1ne
    S0nsh1ne Posts: 218 Member
    I saw my doctor today and he asked what my goal was; I responded initially 170 lbs by end of year / early next year. He said "Don't set your goal too low; 170-180 lbs is a good goal."
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    I guess what I'm getting at could this potentially cause errors as far as expected weight loss?
    Easy answer: yup.
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
    I'm a little confused by your question. Do you mean not meeting the goal as in EATING over 1200 or NETTING over 1200?
    Either way, I am a fan of doing whatever works and a lot of weight loss is mental so if something like that helps, then go for it.

    I keep my goal set to maintenance even though I am still losing, I like seeing my deficit everyday and I like not feeling bad about going over an arbitrary number goal if I'm still under enough to lose weight...but that's just my preference.
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    They are not breaking their goal. If you are using MFP method, you are supposed to eat exercise calories. So it is part of the goal.

    If you use the TDEE method, then you set a higher daily goal that takes activity into account. And you don't eat more on exercise days.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I set my goal at 1200 (too low for me) because I knew I had a problem with taking bites and sips that couldn't be logged (how do you log one swallow of husband's beer, for example). It didn't work. I didn't lose any weight.
  • Sjenny5891
    Sjenny5891 Posts: 717 Member
    I did the opposite. I simply DID NOT log all my exercise.
    I set it at sedentary because one day I may do a desk job and the other I may end up on a machine that requires walking 3-4 miles a day.
    I do not log any cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids- unless it is a substantial burn. I know that gives me some leeway.

    Tell your friend that they need to stick with whatever goal they set. If they are not happy with the current loss it obviously is not working.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories