Do you consume all of your allotted calories?

What? Did we suddenly forget how to eat?:laugh:
Just eat.
If you are like me, you did not get fat not knowing how to eat.
So, yes, eat your calories.
MFP calculates our total daily calorie intake WITHOUT exercise to lose 1 pound or so per week.
And after we log exercises, our daily calorie limit increases.
Why?
Because MFP telling us to eat our exercise calories in addition to our daily calorie goals.
Eating a McD cheeseburger is better than not eating to goal, because you will stifle progress not eating enough.
Large deficits are unhealthy, because while you will lose weight, what's the quality of the weight loss?
In many cases you'll lose lean body mass - MUSCLE - which LOWERS your metabolic rate, making weight loss harder.
These crash diets work well for a season -- and sure enough, the pounds melt away. But when you eat so
few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories
more slowly -- and you gain weight.:noway:
Be smart.
Exercise well both cardio and resistance, and eat back the calories.
The exercise will RAISE your metabolism and burn more fat at rest.

I completely agree with this.

What? Did we suddenly forget how to eat?:laugh:
Just eat.
If you are like me, you did not get fat not knowing how to eat.
So, yes, eat your calories.
MFP calculates our total daily calorie intake WITHOUT exercise to lose 1 pound or so per week.
And after we log exercises, our daily calorie limit increases.
Why?
Because MFP telling us to eat our exercise calories in addition to our daily calorie goals.
Eating a McD cheeseburger is better than not eating to goal, because you will stifle progress not eating enough.
Large deficits are unhealthy, because while you will lose weight, what's the quality of the weight loss?
In many cases you'll lose lean body mass - MUSCLE - which LOWERS your metabolic rate, making weight loss harder.
These crash diets work well for a season -- and sure enough, the pounds melt away. But when you eat so
few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories
more slowly -- and you gain weight.:noway:
Be smart.
Exercise well both cardio and resistance, and eat back the calories.
The exercise will RAISE your metabolism and burn more fat at rest.

^ So very true.... when I first started no way was 1200 enough.... went up to 1900, and felt much happy and started to loose weight. Its about forming good habits, and not self deprivation. Like many I'm shocked when people say they can't eat 1200 cals, cause I was starving on that. And lets be real with ourselves, our weight gain did not occur from NOT being able to eat 1200cals... o_O

Hi! I'm new too. I also find it hard to eat all the calories I'm supposed to! My goal is 1200 a day, plus all the extra that come from exercising. I'm trying really hard to eat healthy low calorie foods, so it feels like I'm always eating and not getting enough calories!

If your not getting enough calories don't just eat low calorie foods. Eat some nuts, rice, beans, peanut butter. Then you will have no problem hitting your 1200 goal.

All my food comes from the freezer section at Wal-Mart. Anywhere from 200-500 calories per meal. I eat cereal for breakfast (200-400 calories), a protein shake or Subway for lunch (170-500 calories) and one of the frozen meals, subway, or whatever my mother cooks for dinner (200-500+).

During the day I do Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, walking, and other things. I burn anywhere from 200-700 calories daily leaving me well under 1000 Net Cal. And no, I don't try to stuff my face to make the green turn red.

I'm not a tiny girl. I'm morbidly obese. I find it extremely difficult to eat all my calories. I was told at my weigh-in, I just had to try to eat some of them back and I've been gradually learning to do that, but it is really difficult for me. Before this latest journey started, I was a carb addict. Everything I ate just about was fast food or extremely high carb. Since I have kicked this addiction, I do find it hard to eat enough. My friend who is on this journey with me, but was not a carb addict is having the same problem. We are slowly learning to eat more though and have seen the weight loss follow. I think the thing for me is knowing what to eat and to be prepared in case I suddenly change my mind. If no one is cooking, I have alternatives readily on hand. I have found that if I don't eat enough, the weight just sits there. You have to eat enough in order to not be starving so the body will release the fat. I think for the really heavy though, there is a lot more room to tinker than there is with those whose goal is less ambitious. I still have close to 90 lbs. to go to reach my goal. I approach every week with a determination to do my best. Still, it's a work in progress.

thanks for the advise... i think i might try that

hi, I too am new to the site and just can't eat all my calories. they want me to eat 1200 and all i can get in (with snacks) is around 800. I'm not a big eater but tend to eat the wrong things. trying to cut down on fat and carbs but they want me to eat MORE!!!

I eat all of my calories and sometimes whatever my friends might have left over as well. I am almost always hungry, and that isn't a false signal from my stomach, either.

I almost spit my lunch on the computer when I read this!

As for me, I was relieved to find that it was okay to eat the calories you "earn" by exercising. I actually commented to my hubby yesterday afternoon that I needed to go to the gym to earn my dinner - and I meant it literally! What I had left wouldn't have been very satisfying...O.o So no, no problem eating every single calorie MFP says I can!

I try to eat all my calories, but I think a large part of joining MFP has been my learning how grossly I was overeating. I only eat foods I enjoy - because otherwise counting calories will feel more like a chore and less like a game - but I don't always reach my calories. If I'm hungry, I drink a glass of water and then I eat something. If I'm not hungry, I don't eat. Why would I? On the other hand, I'm planning to walk about an hour and a half today so I can eat at a Super Bowl party . . .

Exercise is the key factor. Don't eat your exercise calories as they are a bonus for weight loss. I have been over weight for 20 years until I started using MFP and by just looking at my daily calorie intake was enough to help me change my ways. I am currently eating 1500 calories a day and losing weight every week. I LOVE MFP

What? Did we suddenly forget how to eat?:laugh:
Just eat.
If you are like me, you did not get fat not knowing how to eat.
So, yes, eat your calories.
MFP calculates our total daily calorie intake WITHOUT exercise to lose 1 pound or so per week.
And after we log exercises, our daily calorie limit increases.
Why?
Because MFP telling us to eat our exercise calories in addition to our daily calorie goals.
Eating a McD cheeseburger is better than not eating to goal, because you will stifle progress not eating enough.
Large deficits are unhealthy, because while you will lose weight, what's the quality of the weight loss?
In many cases you'll lose lean body mass - MUSCLE - which LOWERS your metabolic rate, making weight loss harder.
These crash diets work well for a season -- and sure enough, the pounds melt away. But when you eat so
few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories
more slowly -- and you gain weight.:noway:
Be smart.
Exercise well both cardio and resistance, and eat back the calories.
The exercise will RAISE your metabolism and burn more fat at rest.

WOW!!! This is so true. I loved how you put that..."did we forget how to eat" :happy:

I did up until yesterday, because so many people were saying I should, but I found I was gaining, so starting today I will only eat my base 1200 and see where that takes me. I think different things work for different people. I think eating back the calories will be ok, and maybe even better for you, but may cause weight loss to slow down. For me it did anyway.

I did up until yesterday, because so many people were saying I should, but I found I was gaining, so starting today I will only eat my base 1200 and see where that takes me. I think different things work for different people. I think eating back the calories will be ok, and maybe even better for you, but may cause weight loss to slow down. For me it did anyway.

most likely the cause for you was one or a combo of the following:
Under estimating the amount you ate (to get it right you must weigh solids and measure liquids)
Over estimate calories burned (most estimators tend to be off such as MFP or most machines, use a HRM and back out resting (maintenance) calories from the total burned
under active thyroid
some other metabolic issue (small amount of lean muscle leading to your BMR being over estimated)

If all the above are calculated and logged correctly you will lose your goal amount of weight by eating all of the calories MFP tells you to (including exercise calories)

The concept of not eating all the calories I'm allowed doesn't even occur to me. The only reason I leave <5 on the table is because I haven't found anything that's 1 calorie.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a pig.

this. i do my best to eat almost every single calorie i'm allowed. matter of fact, i prefer to see my number a little in the red rather then under my goal.


people get into diet mode and think all they can eat are egg whites and veggies. your body needs more then that. toast with peanut butter, almonds, dried fruit like raisins, and chicken, are all excellent foods to eat, that have plenty of healthy calories.

I did up until yesterday, because so many people were saying I should, but I found I was gaining, so starting today I will only eat my base 1200 and see where that takes me. I think different things work for different people. I think eating back the calories will be ok, and maybe even better for you, but may cause weight loss to slow down. For me it did anyway.

most likely the cause for you was one or a combo of the following:
Under estimating the amount you ate (to get it right you must weigh solids and measure liquids)
Over estimate calories burned (most estimators tend to be off such as MFP or most machines, use a HRM and back out resting (maintenance) calories from the total burned
under active thyroid
some other metabolic issue (small amount of lean muscle leading to your BMR being over estimated)

If all the above are calculated and logged correctly you will lose your goal amount of weight by eating all of the calories MFP tells you to (including exercise calories)

Thank you. This is a helpful bit of info. I need to get a food scale and a hrm. I am afraid of the hrm though, because I do so much jumping around at the gym (I take all their early morning classes, like aerobics and boxing and lifting, etc) I am afraid it will fall off or something. But yes, estimating the right amount of calories burned is very hard.