Question about TDEE.

kerenelly

I understand that no TDEE calculator is going to be 100% accurate, but the few I have used have had very different results.

My stats:
Age - 21
Weight - 117 pounds
Height - 5 ft

I used one calculator which said I have a TDEE of 1,891, another calculator said 2,079, and another said 1,720.

I know because I don't have an enormous amount of weight to lose that I need to be accurate with my calories, so the difference between 1,720 and 2,079 seems quite large.

So I was wondering if there was a more accurate way of determining my TDEE other than these calculators, or should I should I just opt for trial and error, stick with one and see where I'm at in a few weeks time?

Thanks in advance!

IsaackGMOON

The variations you're seeing with the TDEE's you've obtained boils down to the formula used, and the activity level you picked.

A great TDEE calculator is the one on IIFYM, use the formula at the top (I forget what it's called).

If you're a bit confused with the TDEE method - you can always use the MFP NEAT method (this means you eat back exercise calories)

DemoraFairy

I've seen TDEE estimates for me as anything between 1500 and 2000. Just choose one (personally I'd go for the lowest) and eat 80% of that amount for a few weeks and see how it goes (or just go for MFP's recommendation). If you lose too quickly or are too hungry, up your calories. If you don't lose, lower your calories (but first make sure you're logging everything accurately!).

knitapeace

Nearly every method of weight loss requires tweaking for your personal metabolism and TDEE is no different. It requires a lot of patience, but like @DemoraFairy said above pick a number and give it several weeks before you decide it's too much, too little, or just right.

WBB55

The flip side is that with only a little to lose, you don't want a huge deficit, either.

Honestly, I'd go with the lower number and take 250 calories away from it. That puts your daily goal at 1470. Just eat that flat amount (on average) every day for 4-6 weeks (without adding back in any "earned" exercise calories) and see how you do. Your BMR is about 1250, so it'd be ill-advised to eat less than that each day.

kerenelly

I've lost 20 lbs very (very) slowly without counting calories, but I think the margin of error as become much smaller so I think I should start counting!

I'm not in any great hurry to lose it so a deficit of 250 calories, and daily goal of 1470 certain seems reasonable.

Thank you everyone for your advice, it's extremely helpful!

WBB55

Just make sure to weigh your food, ok? If you don't, that 1470 can easily be 1800 (and then your rate of loss would be a LOT slower). Good luck!

kerenelly

WBB55 wrote: »

Just make sure to weigh your food, ok? If you don't, that 1470 can easily be 1800 (and then your rate of loss would be a LOT slower). Good luck!

Until now, I've been using MFP to lurk on the forums more than anything else, and the amount of posts I've read about accurately weighing your food has definitely convinced me to invest in a food scale! Thank you!