Eat ALL your daily calories??

I don't eat all of them because I honestly think the range MFP gave me is too high. I know I can change my calorie goal, but I kinda like it being high because I don't feel as guilty if I happen to overdo it every once in a while...

My calorie intake isnt as high, but I noticed that I wasnt eating close to my intake. As a matter a fact, I was looking at eating less than 400 calories than what MFP says. I double checked other sites for my height, weight, activity etc. And MFP is pretty close to right on the money at where I should be so I dont go to starvation mode. I started spacing out my meals through out the day. I teach, so it was easier for me to do smaller meals in between classes and I dont get as hungry when I am reaching home after the sun goes down. Try smaller frequent meals....plan a day or two out and see how you do. Staying 100 or so calories under from the recommended is good and if you hit a plateau then you can decrease your intake by a couple hundred calories or increase your workout time to break the plateau. Good luck!

I have the same problem.

I just started using this site today, and here are my meals:

Breakfast: 1.5 cups of coffee with powdered creamer and sugar, plus, one pack of Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal. (292 Calories)

Lunch: Bowl of Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo (370 Calories)

Dinner: 2 Slices of French Toast with Sugar Free Syrup, 1 Scrambled Egg with light Cheddar (599 Calories)

Snack: Lite Potato Chips (230 Calories)

Total: 1491

Still to go: 966

This is with 1 hour of Ski Machine workout factored in.

I am not even remotely hungry, yet, I am supposed to eat 966 more calories today?

Even if I added in healthy snacks such as fruits and veggies, there is no way I could hit that today.

What am I doing wrong?

I don't get anywhere near mine either, but I think mine is way too high. I just focus on eating those 6 small meals and drinking enough water. even on a bad eating day I couldn't eat that much food.

hi there. I know you're not reaching your calorie goal, but I just looked at your diary and it's really excellent, you have such a great combination of all the different food groups. It's not like you're near starvation mode or anything, I think a handful of almonds and you'd be fine, but I wouldn't worry so much, I think you're actually doing really great!!!! I wish I was eating as well as you!!! well done.

I looked at your diary and you look like you are doing GREAT! I can make one suggestion. Try not to eat foods as high in fat. The high fat foods are more likely to cause weight gain than low fat foods, even with a calorie deficit. This has happened to me before. Other than that, you look like you are doing great.

Tritta,

MFP gives you a daily goal based on a specific daily calorie deficit. It's either 1000 calories a day less than TDEE (total daily energy expenditure, which is BMR X activity level) for a 2 pound a week loss, 500 calories a day for a 1 pound a week loss and 250 calories a day for a 1/2 pound a week loss. Too much of a deficit and your body conserves it's fat stores, making weight loss slower and if you are really eating too little for too long, causing many other issues with your health.

When you exercise, you increase your deficit, which is not how the MFP system works, it wants you to maintain your deficit exactly. So the calories you burned get added back to your goals. Plus, when you exercise, you need to fuel your body for all that extra effort, so give it food :flowerforyou:

It looks like you're doing really well, actually. Especially looks like you're cooking some good meals at home which is nice. Good variety.

I wouldn't be 100% concerned with hitting 2,900 or whatever every day. If you're stuffed, you're stuffed.