How close is "Close Enough" for you?

jdb3388
jdb3388 Posts: 239 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Obviously, most people don't eat EXACTLY 1863 calories (random number, whatever your exact calorie count is) each day. So what is your "give or take" amount that you shoot for? I try to be no more than 100 under, but never over. What about yall?

Replies

  • LeahFerri
    LeahFerri Posts: 186 Member
    Depends on what I'm feeling that day. Most days I try to get as close as I can without going over (some days this is actually like 2 calories) and I know that my deficit is probably less on those days because of variation error stuff. But other days I'm like, "Eh, I don't really feel like eating all that much" (this has been happening more lately; I think my hunger cues are getting screwed up) and wind up being under by 100-200 calories.
    I can't really be under by more than 200 or I start to have mood dysfunction.
  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    Depends.. did I exercise? No - then I try to be no more than 200 under. If I did exercise then I eat my daily goal and maybe half the exercise calories at minimum. I try not to go over.. and I do not log on weekends.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    I try for no more than +/- 100 from my actual goal.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    So long as I'm over 1200 at this point I don't really care.
    That said, I never have trouble meeting or going OVER my calories.
    I could eat like 1,550 calories in one meal easily.
  • breeshabebe
    breeshabebe Posts: 580
    I agree with 100 calories above or below.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    Obviously, most people don't eat EXACTLY 1863 calories (random number, whatever your exact calorie count is) each day. So what is your "give or take" amount that you shoot for? I try to be no more than 100 under, but never over. What about yall?
    Itry to calculate my "close enough" a little differently as I overestimate a bit on the intake.

    If an item is supposed to be 80 calories I will round to 100, 265 maybe up to 270. Etc. I also round my target. If it is 1863 like your example I round it down to maybe 1850.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Pretty much! Lately I've tried to be no more than 100 under but after being 70-97 calories under almost every day I can tell that it's not doing me any favors. USUALLY I try to be no more than 30 under. About once a week I have a day where I get no exercise and on those days I do strive to eat every calorie. I'm more lax on days when I have 200+ exercise calories to eat back.

    I only allow myself to go over 1-2 times per month and usually it's by 50-100 calories. Rarely do I go over by 200-ish...only on holidays or something like that.
  • jdb3388
    jdb3388 Posts: 239 Member
    So long as I'm over 1200 at this point I don't really care.
    That said, I never have trouble meeting or going OVER my calories.
    <b>I could eat like 1,550 calories in one meal easily. </b>

    GOD YES. Thats how I ended up this way. Eating the whole sack full of Krystals, or an entire Cheese Fry from Outback. haha
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Someone who is to the point where they are aiming for half a pound a week weight loss has to have less margin for error because their calorie deficit is small already so +100 can affect their weight loss. Someone who has a bigger calorie deficit has a lot more cushion where they would still see good progress on the scale.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I don't sweat it if I'm over by 30 or 50, but I try not to go over much than that (doesn't always work). Typically I stay as close to possible under though, but I can eat a couple more veggies to get there, so it's never a problem.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Obviously, most people don't eat EXACTLY 1863 calories (random number, whatever your exact calorie count is) each day. So what is your "give or take" amount that you shoot for? I try to be no more than 100 under, but never over. What about yall?

    it really depends on how 'active' i have been. if iv'e been totally sedentary, then +/- 100 calls. If not, 250 works for me..or I eat until I'm not hungry ( not the same as over-eating in my book..nothing worse than being HANGRY!)
  • tech_kitten
    tech_kitten Posts: 221 Member
    nothing worse than being HANGRY!

    Amen to that!
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    I aim for +/- 100 calories but I am very rarely under. If I am over its usually only like 20-50 calories but I like to eat all my allotted calories. The only time I may be under slightly is if I burned a lot of calories and wasnt hungry enough to eat them all back.
  • LAPDpoliceNYPD
    LAPDpoliceNYPD Posts: 77 Member
    I think 100 under or over is no real big deal but never be hunger or you may binge :devil:
  • ihadabadidea
    ihadabadidea Posts: 50 Member
    I have it set to 2 lbs. per week, so I always try to go slightly over; my main problem before MFP was not consistently eating enough.

    I also don't log any food that is under 10 calories and has an insignificant amount of sodium to cut down on the entires I have to make each day, which means my food diary makes it look like I rarely eat vegetables. :)
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    It would depend on my deficit and so on.

    I was initially intending a 1lb/week loss but my BMR/TDEE was obviously a fair bit higher than I expected, so it's been 2lb/week and sometimes more.

    I don't worry too much if I go over. This time I've kept it consistent mostly, but I really wouldn't be that bothered if it was 500-1000 over occasionally.

    One day of less eating I wouldn't worry about either - though that's pretty unlikely when my average deficit seems to be 1100-1250 calories going by weight loss. Going constantly low may be of worry - I certainly have lost some strength at this rate.
  • mshopey
    mshopey Posts: 125 Member
    Obviously, most people don't eat EXACTLY 1863 calories (random number, whatever your exact calorie count is) each day. So what is your "give or take" amount that you shoot for? I try to be no more than 100 under, but never over. What about yall?

    Exactly the same, 100 under. Never over if i can help it.
    And it works, so why not.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    I usually try to be within 100 of my goal for the day, if I can.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    +/- 100, and I'd rather be over than under. Usually I'm within about 15 calories.

    Rigger
  • Bounce4
    Bounce4 Posts: 288 Member
    I don't have an issue eating all my calories so I don't ever worry about being under. I have my calories set low (1300 + 100 exercise so 1400). I almost always go over that. I should just change it I guess. I'd guess my average is at least 1500. ouch - just looked. To many crazy days.

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