I used to just go on walks that would burn 200-300 calories a day, and I'd eat around 1300 calories per day.
Then I started doing the P90X and I'm easily burning an additional 500 calories per day (not including the already 200-300 I burn on my walks) so eating 1300 calories was NOT working for me. I was totally ravenous. Now I'm getting anywhere from 1600-1800 calories per day and I'm still losing.
Btw my counter is wrong, I went back up to 205. but now I'm down to 201.5 I just haven't updated my ticker.
I consider it all bonus, and actually, I find the days I don't exercise/do light exercise I find that I go a little under plan, I just don't need the extra snack.
I stopped entering my exercise in my online journal because it would "allow" for more eating.
In the end, you should eat enough that you feel satisfied with the balance. As you up your level of activity, you may be hungrier and need to compensate for that, especially if you are prone to cravings or bingeing, this is your new eating lifestyle, you shouldn't feel deprived.
Nope. No machine is as accurate as our own bodies. I exercise more for toning and for my health. I keep it separate from my weight loss. That helps me keep perspective too so I don't ever slip into purging through exercise. I have the personality for it.