MFP vs TDEE. what works best for you?
kcmccormack
Posts: 71 Member
Hey guys
Just curious, what do you guys prefer? Do you set your net calorie goals in MPG using your TDEE calculations without logging exercise, or do you let MFP set your net calories and log your exercise to make sure you hit your deficit?
What works/has best results for you?
Just curious, what do you guys prefer? Do you set your net calorie goals in MPG using your TDEE calculations without logging exercise, or do you let MFP set your net calories and log your exercise to make sure you hit your deficit?
What works/has best results for you?
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Replies
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I've done both...they both worked...if you're doing them right, they're pretty much 6 of 1, half dozen of the other.
The only difference between the two methods is how you account for exercise activity. With TDEE you account for that activity up front in the equation...you include it in your activity level, so your calorie goal includes some estimate of your calorie requirements for exercise.
With MFP you account for exercise activity on the *kitten* end of the equation when you log it and then you're supposed to "eat back" those calories (of course you would want to make some allowance for estimation error.
Like I said, they're 6 of 1 if you're doing it right and comparing apples to apples rate of loss goals.0 -
I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
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I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.0
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I set my mfp according to the scooby calculator, enter in desk job/little to no exercise, use the daily calories based on goal, and then add in exercise calories to mfp, and eat them back0
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I do the MFP thing, counting workout burns only on the days that they happen, but also I only eat back half or less of exercise cals because MFP way overestimates them. This is my method because sometimes my workout schedule gets irregular and is all over the place due to life factors (work schedules/deadlines and such) so I can't count on consistent weekly burns that would let me feel safe doing TDEE.0
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arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
Agreed, I've used a bunch of TDEE calculators online and averaged it out. Always underestimating how many days I work out.
That's kinda why I'm curious what everyone else will say.
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Going by MFP method leaves me with too few calories to eat on rest days, and too much stress on workout days, wondering did I really burn enough calories to eat this tonight? TDEE method is just easier for me. I get to eat a little bit more every day and then as long as I'm getting my workouts in, I don't worry about how many calories I burned. I've lost weight both ways but TDEE is easier for my lifestyle.0
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kcmccormack wrote: »I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
TDEE is easier for me in that I'm pretty consistent in my fitness. MFP was easier for me when I was not so consistent, missed workouts regularly, etc. Also, trying to figure out calorie burns for various exercises is a PITA and one of the big draw backs to the MFP method...there are way too many people who are substantially overestimating their calorie burns.arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
that's probably a good strategy...also, don't get too hung up on the calculator and picking an activity level, etc...just pick one and go with it and look at your trending results. Make adjustments as necessary from there. These calculators are great starting points, but people get way to hung up on that exact number and forget that ultimately it is the real world results that count, not what some calculator tells you.0 -
I do the MFP thing, counting workout burns only on the days that they happen, but also I only eat back half or less of exercise cals because MFP way overestimates them. This is my method because sometimes my workout schedule gets irregular and is all over the place due to life factors (work schedules/deadlines and such) so I can't count on consistent weekly burns that would let me feel safe doing TDEE.
I'd say this is pretty close to my working philosophy as well. It's worked for me.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »kcmccormack wrote: »I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
TDEE is easier for me in that I'm pretty consistent in my fitness. MFP was easier for me when I was not so consistent, missed workouts regularly, etc. Also, trying to figure out calorie burns for various exercises is a PITA and one of the big draw backs to the MFP method...there are way too many people who are substantially overestimating their calorie burns.arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
that's probably a good strategy...also, don't get too hung up on the calculator and picking an activity level, etc...just pick one and go with it and look at your trending results. Make adjustments as necessary from there. These calculators are great starting points, but people get way to hung up on that exact number and forget that ultimately it is the real world results that count, not what some calculator tells you.
Ha. I posted that hoping you would respond. Thanks. I'm trying to get into maintenance for a recomp and it's driving me slightly insane.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »kcmccormack wrote: »I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
TDEE is easier for me in that I'm pretty consistent in my fitness. MFP was easier for me when I was not so consistent, missed workouts regularly, etc. Also, trying to figure out calorie burns for various exercises is a PITA and one of the big draw backs to the MFP method...there are way too many people who are substantially overestimating their calorie burns.arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
that's probably a good strategy...also, don't get too hung up on the calculator and picking an activity level, etc...just pick one and go with it and look at your trending results. Make adjustments as necessary from there. These calculators are great starting points, but people get way to hung up on that exact number and forget that ultimately it is the real world results that count, not what some calculator tells you.
Very much agreed. I was doing mfp method, then switched to TDEE since my work outs are consistent and I find it easier for me to look at my caloric intake more consistently
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amyrebeccah wrote: »TDEE works better for me because I do more strength training than cardio, and it's hard to calculate calories, so I prefer a rough estimate built in. Plus I'm often hungry the day after I work out, as opposed to the day of, so I prefer the calorie bump to be spread out.
Ooh! May I ask, how often do you work out (cardio and lift) and how did you input it into the calculators? Also what calculator do you like best?0 -
I find that TDEE less 15%-20% works best! It takes the uncertainty out of estimating exercise calories, especially since I do regular weight training.0
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IMHO: MFP & TDEE, ASAP 24/70
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Thank you everyone. I agree that since I've switched to TDEE I find it easier and less overestimated than MFP.
Enjoying reading everyone's responses0 -
arditarose wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »kcmccormack wrote: »I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
TDEE is easier for me in that I'm pretty consistent in my fitness. MFP was easier for me when I was not so consistent, missed workouts regularly, etc. Also, trying to figure out calorie burns for various exercises is a PITA and one of the big draw backs to the MFP method...there are way too many people who are substantially overestimating their calorie burns.arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
that's probably a good strategy...also, don't get too hung up on the calculator and picking an activity level, etc...just pick one and go with it and look at your trending results. Make adjustments as necessary from there. These calculators are great starting points, but people get way to hung up on that exact number and forget that ultimately it is the real world results that count, not what some calculator tells you.
Ha. I posted that hoping you would respond. Thanks. I'm trying to get into maintenance for a recomp and it's driving me slightly insane.
Just as an example, I'm somewhere between moderately active and active on most TDEE calculators...if I were to eat the calories these calculators give me for moderately active, I'd lose weight (albeit slowly) and if I ate what they say to eat for active I would slowly gain weight.
Dialing in maintenance can also be tricky because most people see a jump in weight initially due to glycogen stores filling and more fluid retention in general as well as more waste in your system due to increased consumption...this throws a lot of people off and they think they're actually gaining weight when in reality they just need to give it a couple weeks to let everything even out a bit.
Dialing in maintenance is fine tuning...it's not easy...and keep in mind, you're going to have a bit of a range.0 -
bump for more info/opinions0
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I've found that TDEE method tends to work for me, because my exercise schedule is fairly regular. I just use the numbers that the TDEE calculator gives me, log my exercise but don't eat it back. There are some days I go over the TDEE calories, but that's not the rule for me, and it works.
It's kinda extra motivating for me to see the exercise calories that I haven't eaten back in my weekly nutrition screen, and it eliminates the doubts about my actual calorie burns.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »kcmccormack wrote: »I know it's pretty much the same, I guess I should've asked "which do you prefer, what's easier for you?"
TDEE is easier for me in that I'm pretty consistent in my fitness. MFP was easier for me when I was not so consistent, missed workouts regularly, etc. Also, trying to figure out calorie burns for various exercises is a PITA and one of the big draw backs to the MFP method...there are way too many people who are substantially overestimating their calorie burns.arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
that's probably a good strategy...also, don't get too hung up on the calculator and picking an activity level, etc...just pick one and go with it and look at your trending results. Make adjustments as necessary from there. These calculators are great starting points, but people get way to hung up on that exact number and forget that ultimately it is the real world results that count, not what some calculator tells you.
Ha. I posted that hoping you would respond. Thanks. I'm trying to get into maintenance for a recomp and it's driving me slightly insane.
Just as an example, I'm somewhere between moderately active and active on most TDEE calculators...if I were to eat the calories these calculators give me for moderately active, I'd lose weight (albeit slowly) and if I ate what they say to eat for active I would slowly gain weight.
Dialing in maintenance can also be tricky because most people see a jump in weight initially due to glycogen stores filling and more fluid retention in general as well as more waste in your system due to increased consumption...this throws a lot of people off and they think they're actually gaining weight when in reality they just need to give it a couple weeks to let everything even out a bit.
Dialing in maintenance is fine tuning...it's not easy...and keep in mind, you're going to have a bit of a range.
Yes, I've been eating near 1800 for the past few days and am up a pound or two. Trying to stay relaxed and keep at it. It is so tempting to eat in a deficit.
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I've done both, and they work out to being about the same. At the moment, MFP's method with exercise calories works better for me because I'm not as consistent in my exercise as I will be when I'm not scheduling my runs around the weather.0
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for me, TDEE works phenomenally better. I don't dwell on my calorie burn number, because it doesn't matter. it's much less stressful for me, and i am much more consistent (most consistent i've ever been actually). I love the TDEE method.0
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arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
I'm doing this as well. I click that I workout 4 days/ week, although it's typically five. Set my cals at 1800 and stay roughly close to that. I'm losing very slowly, but I look better and better every week.
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I prefer TDEE.0
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michellemybelll wrote: »for me, TDEE works phenomenally better. I don't dwell on my calorie burn number, because it doesn't matter. it's much less stressful for me, and i am much more consistent (most consistent i've ever been actually). I love the TDEE method.
Totally. Thats what I find. I was stressing too much about calories burned, like on yoga day, I'd stress about my calories. But with TDEE set and knowing exactly how much to aim for, I find it wayyyyy less stressful.
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arditarose wrote: »I am interested in using TDEE but I can't figure out my exercise properly for the calculator. I mostly lift and do minimal cardio, so I enter one less day of exercise than I actually do, thinking that the calculator is accounting for exercise that has a larger calorie burn than I get...I don't know. I'm a mess at the moment. Will follow thread.
I'm doing this as well. I click that I workout 4 days/ week, although it's typically five. Set my cals at 1800 and stay roughly close to that. I'm losing very slowly, but I look better and better every week.
Oh, thank you. Now you don't have to respond on my wall haha.0 -
MFP eat back calories method works best for me but I custom set my goal based on results not any calculator.
Daily exercise varies from zero to cycling 100+ miles (3000+ cals)
Weekly exercise varies from 2000 to 6000+
Apart from needing to fuel the big exercise days I also find a varied calorie intake fits into my life better. With a little planning big eating days can fall nicely on big exercise days.0 -
MFP eat back calories method works best for me but I custom set my goal based on results not any calculator.
Daily exercise varies from zero to cycling 100+ miles (3000+ cals)
Weekly exercise varies from 2000 to 6000+
Apart from needing to fuel the big exercise days I also find a varied calorie intake fits into my life better. With a little planning big eating days can fall nicely on big exercise days.
That makes alot of sense. You def have bigger differences in your workouts than I do though. Cycling 100+ miles, holy Crap! Nice work!
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For me, the MFP method makes more sense, since some days my exercise is a bit of hatha yoga (good for me in so many ways but burns so few calories I track only the time spent) and others I may be climbing a mountain or snowshoeing. If I averaged, I'd be stuffed some days and starving on others.0
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TDEE - I hate trying to hit a moving target and trying to guess what the heck my calories burned are.
Plus I am an extremely low burner and when I was using my HRM I'd be frustrated at how few calories I burned no matter how hard I worked.0 -
I do the MFP thing, counting workout burns only on the days that they happen, but also I only eat back half or less of exercise cals because MFP way overestimates them. This is my method because sometimes my workout schedule gets irregular and is all over the place due to life factors (work schedules/deadlines and such) so I can't count on consistent weekly burns that would let me feel safe doing TDEE.
I'd say this is pretty close to my working philosophy as well. It's worked for me.
Agreed, this is how I do it. I use a HRM for my workouts, but I still only eat back about half because when it gives me my calorie burn, my HRM doesn't deduct the amount of calories my body would have used if I were sitting on the couch instead. I also think they tend to overestimate a bit, so I go with half. It's worked for me twice over (once after each baby).
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