"...was under his/her calorie goal"

Stewie you also apparently weigh 110 lbs and don't have much to lose, which is not the case for the majority of the people on here. Of course everyone needs to find their sweet spot and make adjustments as needed. But if you eat 1200 calories, exercise for a burn of 800 leaving a 400 calorie net, you won't get a "congratulations" or a "good job" from me. Because in my opinion, you're hurting yourself.

In principle I agree with you - in practice I don't always follow the rule though because I do some seriously major burns: + 1200 Calories, and I find it really hard to consume this the same day I do the work... As a result I put up my base calories from 1400 (when I was sedentary) to 1650 and on a exercise day ensure I consume at least 2000 (target 2200)

Its not going to work for everyone but I find that over a two day period (exercising every other day) I'll consume 3650, burn 1200 and so average around 1300 per day. I also try and ensure that no more than 200 calories per day is just bulking from snacks: 80 calories from a protein drink is not equal to 80- calories of chocolate!

Note that I alternate between CV days (plus 1200 cal) and weights with a little CV (about 700 cal) but calorie intake on a weights day is the same as a CV day.

Net-Net: I think the best way to manage your calories if you are working out is to try and change your average rather than try and eat famine/feast - your body will need the calories during recovery anyway.

I was actually thinking about this topic earlier this morning. I think that a lot of people don't do research on the best ways to approach weight loss. The general thought process is less calories = weight loss. Many people don't think about the minimum their body needs to operate, and applaud themselves for barely eating anything, because that seems like the fastest way to get to their goals.

I understand that people's bodies function differently, and there are many different goals, but I agree that applauding someone who could be unintentionally sabotaging their goals or their health because of a lack of information, is not helpful.

I've unfriended people because they've posted "900 cals under my goal" and their other firends have posted "Good Job" messages. I don't need to see that.

I've also suggested MFP change the way it summarises your daily intake - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/201128-instead-of-under-over

If anyone wants to support me on getting close to my goal every day (doing really well now - I just need to let myself sometimes be a little over, instead of just a little under) feel free to friend me

(if any of my friends read this, no offense to you, cause this happened on a previous MFP account that got so annoying, I deleted it and started over)

I personally get annoyed with the "WTG!" "Awesome day!" "Well done!" when I have completed my diary, every single day by the same people saying the same stuff...it ended up being meaningless....I donno, that's not motivating, it's annoying (a comment with meaning is fine).... matter of fact I dont need motivation like that, I'm pretty self motivating. I like the comments that end up into a conversation "Oh you ate XXXX today, I might have to try that, what's your recipe???" ---I like that. I like to keep my diary public so maybe someone who does read it will see what I'm eating (yes i'm taking an extreme route, it's working for me) and maybe it'd help them.

But I do realize some people thrive on it and it helps them. But I agree, I'm not about to ever post "WOOHOO You ate 687 calories today, you'll look amazing in a year at this rate"! yeah right.

<Editing cause I'm typing faster than my brain is thinking>

i love everyone saying no to eating back calories has lost around 3lbs, and the people eating some of 'em back are in the -20lb range. jusssst an observation.

And that may be the case for some, however.... You don't know when that 3lb loser (lol) started...or how long that 20lb loser started....or if that 3lb loser has lost weight prior and just had a baby and restarted or if that 20lb loser has been trying for 3 years.

I don't eat my exercise calores ::::looks at loss:::

Yeah, I feel like no one read my post at all... I addressed this. I lost 19 pounds doing it my way (which I'm NOT saying is the only way, it's just the way that worked better for me) Then when I was on maintenance I developed bulimia and gained it back. The three pounds I've lost is within a week of trying to recover from bulimia, so I didn't appreciate that rude comment at all.

@ Misspenny..You are barely eating even on the days where you don't exercise. You eat the same foods over and over..cereal, lunch meat and a small fruit and still don't touch your daily calorie goal. I realize you are a recovering bulemic and it's fine if you don't want to eat your exercise calories back, but at some point you have got to eat more nutritious and plentiful meals...one day you had a surplus of 800+ calories w/o exercise.

i love everyone saying no to eating back calories has lost around 3lbs, and the people eating some of 'em back are in the -20lb range. jusssst an observation.

And that may be the case for some, however.... You don't know when that 3lb loser (lol) started...or how long that 20lb loser started....or if that 3lb loser has lost weight prior and just had a baby and restarted or if that 20lb loser has been trying for 3 years.

I don't eat my exercise calores ::::looks at loss:::

Yeah, I feel like no one read my post at all... I addressed this. I lost 19 pounds doing it my way (which I'm NOT saying is the only way, it's just the way that worked better for me) Then when I was on maintenance I developed bulimia and gained it back. The three pounds I've lost is within a week of trying to recover from bulimia, so I didn't appreciate that rude comment at all.

Wait, what rude comment? Something I said?

My reply was my thoughts, I didn't say anything in regards to your posts....therefore that doesn't mean no one read it. Maybe it wasn't anything anyone want to reply to? <<shrug>>

No, nothing you said.

This thread is getting out of hand with people making negative comments about other people's open diary.

This is the reason I'm picky with who I friend and only have my diary open to my friends. It's really no one's business what someone eats or doesn't eat. If anyone wants your negativity, they'd ask. If you don't like the diet of someone who's diary you're reading, simply don't comment. It's really that simple.

The self importance in this thread is astonishing.

Misspenny762, feel free to add me as a friend. I'm no where near as judgmental as some on this site.

This thread is getting out of hand with people making negative comments about other people's open diary.

This is the reason I'm picky with who I friend and only have my diary open to my friends. It's really no one's business what someone eats or doesn't eat. If anyone wants your negativity, they'd ask. If you don't like the diet of someone who's diary you're reading, simply don't comment. It's really that simple.

The self importance in this thread is astonishing.

Misspenny762, feel free to add me as a friend. I'm no where near as judgmental as some on this site.

most sane comment in the whole thread so far.

kay I have a question. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, I actually am asking an innocent question:
I honestly DON'T understand how can some people never eat ANY of their exercise cals back and lose weight? this does not make sense to me. If I think about myself, personally, trying to do that:
a.the math behind it makes no sense (starvation mode, gradual slowing down of metabolism etc.) b. I would get so starved I would go absolutely maniac. Maybe I just have an abnormally large appetite and it's something wrong with me? I don't know..

Oh and I wasn't talking about anyone specifically, just jumped into the thread ! I don't mean to offend anyone I promise!