I'm in the minorty that seems to eat them back but I don't always eat all of them back. Maybe about half or so on average?

The reason it works for me is because I'm still set to a 1000 deficit reguardless so I should be losing about 2lbs a week. I've been losing slightly more then that so it's worked for me (-54lbs and counting) but I also have my "normal" activity level set really low so I get 1300 on non-workout days which isn't much for someone my size. Also it encourages me to continue with the exercise daily. I have a harder time sticking to 1200 then some people do.

Although losing as fast as possible is attractive I want to give my body time to adjust and preserve muscle mass if possible.

I think if you go by the numbers to a T you could be disapointed because lots of people estimate either calories or exercise wrong so slightly undershooting seems to work for me anyway.

-muse

Idealmuse, I can see how eating some cals back would work for you, given the deficit you are working with. Great loss up to now!

Jay

-muse

When I was on WW, I ate them back too. I'm not on WW anymore, but if I exercise to the point that I am hungrier, I eat a little more that day.

I think the real point here is that you don't have to "worry" about it, either way. The scale will tell you (eventually) if what you're doing is or isn't working for you, and if what you're doing is working for you, you can ignore anyone who tells you that you're doing it "wrong."