Should I be eating the entire recommended calories listed on my food log?

[DakotaD]

I've set up my weight loss program on the harder intensity level. When I've dieted in the past, I've tried to keep my calorie intake to 1200 calories a day. Based on my fitbit tracker my daily calories allowed ranges from 1600-1900. Should I be eating the extra calories? Does my body need the calories? 

[SillyTriGirl]

Depends on your age, gender, current weight and your fitness goals. 1600-1900 calories is reasonable for someone who is working out intensly. According to MFP my intense days of work outs I'm burning 700-800 calories in a day & if I was only eating 1200 calories total my net would be 400 calories which is not enough to sustain an adult throughout the day. I usually add snacks on intense workout days like mixed nuts, hummus, yogurt, boiled egg, or half an avacodo to keep my calories up but healthy. I would suggest on days you're working out stay in the reccomended range (or more depending on your work out intensity) but on the days that your not working out or logging an a lot of steps to scale back the calories. Good luck! 

[gerrymcd]

It depends on your goal....weight loss I presume?   It depends on your BMR - the number of calories you burn if you just lie in bed all day - if 1200 calories takes you below your BMR you won't lose weight effectively.  Your body will switch into 'starvation mode' and will try to conserve fat  (you would likely feel tired and grumpy).  

Eating less calories will make you lose more weight, but only up to a point - the recommended max is 1000 calories a day.

[Hats26]

Gosh. I am finding it hard too to eat no more than 1200 calories. At the moment my amount of exercise isn't huge. I'm 26, 5ft and I've only wanted to get just a little under 50KG. At the moment I am ranging between 51 and 54. 

My amount of fitness goals are quite lengthy, one of which is becoming a better runner. I recently did Mens Health Survival of the Fittest and also got into doing ParkRuns but my confidence has slipped since due to shin problems/not running properly. Will go to run club tomorrow to get my runnning style in shape again. 

[MoniMcGill]

How do you calculate or figure out what your BMR is?

[Rothrock42]

There are several ways, but studies show the most accurate is the Mifflin St. Jeor equation. There are several online calculators, like this one http://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html.

That is the amount of energy a body needs to keep itself in a coma. So if the calculator you find includes a field to ask for your activity level, keep looking — there is no high-activity coma!

That is your BMR and in general you should eat more than that, common wisdom is at least 150 to 200 per day. A day or two here or there less isn't going to be bad for you, but routinely eating less than your BMR isn't good for your overall health.

Your fitbit knows your BMR (assuming you've correctly entered your age, weight, gender, and height) so that is what it uses to count your calorie burn. It also estimates how much you burn moving around.

If you eat less than your total daily burn you should lose weight. If you match it up you should maintain. If you go over you should gain weight. This is all averages over time kind of thing.