Is it wrong that I'm not reaching my calorie goal?

Hello,

I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

Than you.

Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Once in a while, I suppose not. Every day, and we'd need more info.

    Do you log your exercises? Are you certain your foods and exercise are as accurate as possible? Machines typically GROSSLY exaggerate the calories burned.

    The biggest drawback to not eating the target calories is that every 3-14 days (depending on the individual) your body will convince you it needs a "re-feed" day or a "cheat day." And this will make weight loss progress less predictable and less linear.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    What's your goal and how much are you eating a day? It won't affect your loss, but it could cause other health issues depending on how low you're eating.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    you will not reach your goals without reaching your daily goal consistently. Make sure you log your workouts, steps etc.
  • seekingdaintiness
    seekingdaintiness Posts: 137 Member
    Hello,

    I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

    Than you.

    No. Working out doesn't "bump your calorie goal up". That's a misunderstanding. Your calorie goal remains the same regardless of how much you exercise. People on this site are nuts about the "eating back your exercise calorie" thing. even the site's dietician says that is a mistake.

    If you are getting your basic nutrition and aren't hungry at the end of the day and are losing weight you're fine.
  • kpeterson539
    kpeterson539 Posts: 220 Member
    Hello,

    I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

    Than you.

    No. Working out doesn't "bump your calorie goal up". That's a misunderstanding. Your calorie goal remains the same regardless of how much you exercise. People on this site are nuts about the "eating back your exercise calorie" thing. even the site's dietician says that is a mistake.

    If you are getting your basic nutrition and aren't hungry at the end of the day and are losing weight you're fine.

    Unfortunately your body needs refueling from exercise and extertion. People are not NUTS about the eating back the exercise calories. They are accurate on that.

    To the OP, it has been suggested to eat a PORTION of your exercies calories as MFP and many cardio machines are not accurate. The amount is approximately 25%-50% of the exercise calories.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    Hello,

    I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

    Than you.

    No. Working out doesn't "bump your calorie goal up". That's a misunderstanding. Your calorie goal remains the same regardless of how much you exercise. People on this site are nuts about the "eating back your exercise calorie" thing. even the site's dietician says that is a mistake.

    If you are getting your basic nutrition and aren't hungry at the end of the day and are losing weight you're fine.

    Show me where the site's dietician says this? Because MFP uses the NEAT method, which means your deficit is built into your goal before purposeful exercise. Meaning if you eat some of your exercise you are in no way impacting your rate of loss (accurate logging and reasonably accurate burns being important).

    That's why we are "nuts about the eating back your calorie thing" because it's how it's supposed to be done! Lots of people undereat due to not understanding this basic principal.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    Hello,

    I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

    Than you.

    No. Working out doesn't "bump your calorie goal up". That's a misunderstanding. Your calorie goal remains the same regardless of how much you exercise. People on this site are nuts about the "eating back your exercise calorie" thing. even the site's dietician says that is a mistake.

    If you are getting your basic nutrition and aren't hungry at the end of the day and are losing weight you're fine.

    MFP is set up so that you eat back your exercise calories (or at least a percentage of them since it is difficult to know how many calories you burn some times). I ate all mine back, and lost 54 pounds just fine. It is not a misunderstanding. If you log your exercises, MFP will add those to your calorie goal. That is how it was designed.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Hello,

    I eat fairly often, 3 meals and a healthy snack at night. I also work out daily (lots of cardio and toning) which bumps my calorie goal up. But I am still under my calorie goal, is this something to be concerned about in regards to affecting weightless?

    Than you.

    No. Working out doesn't "bump your calorie goal up". That's a misunderstanding. Your calorie goal remains the same regardless of how much you exercise. People on this site are nuts about the "eating back your exercise calorie" thing. even the site's dietician says that is a mistake.

    If you are getting your basic nutrition and aren't hungry at the end of the day and are losing weight you're fine.

    My goal is 1,460. You're saying when I do my long run of eleven miles this weekend, I shouldn't eat any more than that?
  • niblue
    niblue Posts: 339 Member
    My goal is 1,460. You're saying when I do my long run of eleven miles this weekend, I shouldn't eat any more than that?

    You can if you want but you don't have to.

    I have a calorie goal of 1840 but as I run a lot I also burn a lot of exercise calories - but so far I've not been hungry enough to consume all the extra calories that adds to my daily target (although I often use some of them - mostly on booze!).