Under calorie goal....

I got the "under the calorie goal" message tonight, and I was under...by three calories. Sometimes I am under because I exercised that day but ate my normal amount. But that's just speaking for me....

I have been under my calorie goal since I joined MFP. I always exceed the basic calories I am granted, but I don't eat all of my exercise calories. I have not been tired, cranky, or sick, so I don't agree with you.

I guess you make a good point that we should all be eating enough to be healthy! I typically go under, but only by like 30 calories or something. But you are right. We have to eat enough to endure.

If you complete your day with less than 1200 calories it will tell you that it is unhealthy and can put your body into starvation mode. I go under my calorie goal, but I have 1510 calories per day and when I exercise it's even more, and I usually don't eat those extra calories unless I am hungry. Sometimes I'm 10 under and sometimes I'm a few hundred under, but I never leave myself feeling hungry. If I am over 1200 calories and it's the end of the night and I am full, then I don't eat anymore. I don't see anything wrong with not making yourself eat if you aren't hungry just to make sure you reach your goal. I think that's how it probably is with most people. The diaries that I can see, they are never under 1200, just under what their daily goal is. If you start at 1500 and add 500 from exercise...it's pretty easy to come in under 2000 calories and you are definitely not starving yourself if you do so.

I think if you set a realistic goal (mine is 2 pounds/week) you should try to stay under your calorie goal. I have not gone into my "EARNED" calories, and I hope it pays off. The first week I was always hungry, but I saw a dietian and now I seem to eat my full (but not filling gorged like I use to). I have also been able to stay under 2000 mg salt for most of the time. Watching these 2 things I believe will help lose weight and eat better. If you look at the labels you can find some low calorie items that you thought did not exist, such as I found wheat bread low in salt and only 50 calories per slice. mix that with some PB and some sugar free jam and you are on you way. You are correct that you want to keep your metabolism up and by eating 3 meals and a good snack in between (fruit, yogert, raw veggies) you can fill full without killing you target. With working out I feel that some weeks I won't see a 2 pound drop only because mucsle weighs more than fat and lean mucsle will help burn the fat, so sooner or later I should come out on top.

I am almost always under but I am allotted 2000 calories because of how much I weight and the amount that I have set to lose each week. My calorie allotment has been going down the more weight I lose. I am always above the 1200 calories. I make sure of that because of the exact reason you stated, your metabolism slows down. I feel best when I am in a middle ground in between. Good luck on your journey.

I'm set at 1200 calories per day. Kind of hard NOT to be under that. For it to say that I met my calorie goal for the day, I'd have to log E-X-A-C-T-L-Y 1200 calories. Very unlikely. I've found that 1200 calories is not the guideline for me anyways. I'm better off eating 1050-1175... Which is not that far off from 1200 anyways.

Well, when I'm under my calorie goal I still net over 1200. I don't eat my exercise calories unless I'm hungry so I'm almost always under my calorie goal.

Thank you Funkyspunky871 for the info. That is a great help!

Many people don't have the diary set for you to see, and that message is the only way you know if they went over or not....so you congratulate them on (assuming) not going over on calories. When I have the option to see the diary I look....I want to see if there is something that might tickle my tastebuds. The idea is to support your friends... if I see the cals are low for the day I will make a comment about that too.

I've only been on this for a few days..First few days I was under but also didn't do any excersise..last 2 days I've gone over almost 200 calories (I'm set at 1200) its been a great incentive to get me out walking 40 minutes seems to repair the damage yesterday after walking I was 35 calories under today I only 3...I was good until dinner made a dumb mistake...I bought subs for the family but thought too fattening..instead got some sushi and a salad...I should have checked I thought the Sushi would be a healthier choice, turns out I would have been better off with the sub..

I think its ok to go under or over from time to time especially if your eating a variety of good foods and are satisfied...If your staying under to try to lose faster its eventually going to backfire

I agree...that makes all the difference. if you are under and are completely full and satisfied than i think it's fine, but if you are depriving yourself and go to bed hungry every night, then you can only keep that up for so long...

I struggle to manage my calorie goal as its 1200 so as some one else mentioned I either eat over or go into starvation mode. To mitigate this I try and get some good exercise calories in so I have lee-way to make sure I am over my 1200. However most days I close 100 - 300 calories under my "goal" but remember when it says this its added your exercise to that goal. I think under is good as long as you are normally above 1200 It means you aren't starving just loosing a bit faster

I am always under my calorie goal, but never under eating!!! I eat more than those 1200...my goal is higher because of exercise. I burn an average of 600 calories in my workouts (highly intense intervals, circuit training, etc). So I can eat 1200 + 600 on average. I never eat 1800, but that does not mean I am under eating. I typically eat 1500-1600. I am no where near starving.

And I appreciate everyone for congratulating me for meeting my personal goals of staying healthy, eating right, and exercising hard.

If you are exercising then you should definately not be under 1200 calories...that's just daft!

Whatever works for you is fine...but if you are eating 800 - 1000 cals a day, you will most probably find that your body will hold onto food when you go over with regards to cals. It's not healthy to be eating less than 1200 cals a day, but unfortunately this message fails to get across, even though there are sticky posts in this forum explaining the reasons behind this.

I have lost nearly 40lb by sticking to 1200 cals a day minimum...I have had days where I feel like I can't eat more, but your body isn't just run by calories...it needs hundreds of nutrients and vitamins and if you are not getting these...then this is only negative for your body.

Some people want quick fixes which may result in a quick loss, but it is not the best approach to losing weight. :flowerforyou:

Yes gals and guys -- if you are trying to lose weight on a calorie restricted diet, it is good to go under your calorie goal.

With MFP calories are just part of the program. The other biggie is exercise.

You should also count your fats, sugars and sodium. Some people track their protein, carbs, cholesterol and fiber and potassium. Healthy choices are more than simple calorie totals. Protein and fiber are minimum amounts. The others are the high limits.

The MFP is flexible and takes thought and creativity. It's not terribly difficult but it's not always easy to get that perfect balance.

The program works! And yes I will continue to congratulate MFP members who want to lose and go under their calories. I think each of usknows which foods are deemed good & bad.

wrong information to be giving out...it is not healthy to go under 1200 calories hence the message put up if you do happen to go under!... if you need 1460 to get through a day you were spending in bed...these calories are there for physiological and psychological functioning...not for adding weight to your body! You are starving your body of calories required for everyday functioning...which is never good.

When I first came to this site, I always went under my cals..hardly losing anything...the week I stayed at 1200 or more if exercising, I lost 5lbs!...my body knew I was feeding it and therefore started using fat stores rather than holding onto them in fear of a starvation period.

Whatever works for each individual is fine...but promotion of undernourishing is not a good message to be sending.

I think the issue here is the difference between going under your "personal" calorie goal and going under 1200. i think some of you need to realize that some of us on here are heavier/more active and have higher calorie goals. mine is 1500 so it's very easy to be 100 under and still way over 1200. so when people say they are going under their calorie goal is does not mean they are under 1200! just something to think about.