I'm counting calories and I have always made it a point to be around 300-500 under my allowance each day. I have had success with this, but I wonder, especially now, if that is actually helping me or hurting me. Any advice?

It depends on how low you are going. You should try to hit what you are allowed, because that is a target set for you specifically to lose. But I also admit that even though I aim for 1630 a day I don't always hit that. Like lately, being sick, I'm not into eating that much but make sure to get 1200 minimum in.

If you are going lower and lower to the point you are eating too little it could hurt you in the long run. 1200 isn't the magic number for losing, many of us can lose eating much more than that.

I'm allowed 1720, so I guess I'm doing ok....

You may as well enjoy eating more while you can! Some people have to lower it as they get to a lower weight and if it's already super low, where do you go?

If 1720 is what u need to eat to lose 2 pounds a week I would stick with that. As u lose weight your calorie needs decrease and like the previous poster said where would you go from the 1300 to 1400 ur only eating now?