Eating back calories..... Please simplify

If you're not hungry dont worry about it. That 200-400 is over estimated if it's based on a machine anyways. Just make sure you aren't over eating at breakfast instead.

The machines are a ROUGH estimate. The machines are 10-20% off the actual value unless you are an average body fat % that the formula is based on.

If you are not in shape, take 15-20% off the calories shown.

E.g. 200 = 160 or 400 = 320 Calories.

You also have to keep in mind, the calories shown for food is a ROUGH estimate for places like restaurants. Take subway for example, a 6 inch sub with a reported 480 calories, prob. has closer to 550. When they do the calculations they have WAY LESS condiments such as mayo and mustard.

To put this into perspective.

If your limit is 1600 calories a day and you have eaten 1550 calories for that day. You go to exercise and burn 400 calories (e.g. 320 calories) you now have a deficiency of 450 according to MFP. However, don't be like OH WOW I CAN HAVE THAT PIECE OF PIZZA NOW. Of that 450, you can eat about half, say 225 more calories.

Keeping this in mind,

Watch your weight loss. If you're losing 1lb a week consistently and you're happy with how you are doing, don't change a thing! If you aren't losing weight and you dont know why, you are either A) Eating too many calories eating too little calories or C) binging too often.

Remember weight loss isn't day to day, it's more of a week to week thing...

At a research center that has a metabolic chamber. Otherwise it's an estimate that could be off as much as 100%.

If what the machine is telling me is an over estimate and MFP isint accurate either, how do I get an a curate count on calories burned?

I'm confused about this theory?
you're supposed to eat the calories back that you've burned? why?

It all almost sounds like a never winning battle. So to burn 500 cals on the treadmill i should technically burn 600 to even out? This is all so confusing. Ive stopped loosing like i originally was in the beginning and i will slowly loose a pound her or there. Im wanting get myself to burn 500 or more a day to try to help drop more weight. I dont think food intake is a issue. I eat my 3 square meals a day and snack in between when needed...I dont have a high intake of junk food by any means. If i am hungry i try to go twards a healthy snack and not to chips or coke or chocolate. Ive shown a lot of restraint. I just wish i could get these stubborn calories burned figured out.... *still confused*

Since you said that it may not be your food intake then it may be how you are burning calories. Try putting a little more variety in your workouts. Like adding weight lifting or more high intensity interval training to your workout. It may be that your body has gotten use to doing the same thing. A really good HIIT is Nike Training Club app for your mobile phone. It is only 30 to 45 minutes and you burn quite a few calories.