TDEE activity level help, please?

janiep81

I like the idea of having a generous calorie range each day and knowing I can eat that if I'm hungry rather than "earning" exercise calories.

My TDEE calculations have my BMR around 1600 (1595-1620 on various calculators).

I run 4 days per week, including intervals and long runs. I do 30 min of Jillian Michaels or some kind of "harder" cross training two other days per week. In addition, I have an active job in which I'm on my feet much of the day; I frequently get 10,000 steps in before I get home from work (though sometimes just 6 or 7k if I've had a lot of meetings).

Would you count this as "moderate" or "strenuous" exercise on scoobysworkshop.com?

Thanks so much!

janiep81

Oh - and I'm asking because I'm scared to eat 1875 cals that the website says I should be eating. There. I said it.

SuggaD

Try 1875 for a couple of weeks and adjust from there. Depending on your weight and height, you could probably eat much more. My TDEE is around 2600 (5'6, 123 lbs).

madhatter2013

Ya know, I thought that too and then I just did it. I figured, what's worst that could happen? I'd gain a few pounds over a couple months and then I'd back it down again. I went from 1400 to 1800 ish and it hasn't changed my loss one bit. Well, okay maybe a bit. I haven't lost pounds in 2.5 months, however, I have lost 2.5 inches off my waste, 1.5 from my thighs, .5 from my arms, .5 from my neck, and .5 from my legs. I think I'm re-comping.

jeepinshawn

janiep81 wrote: »

Oh - and I'm asking because I'm scared to eat 1875 cals that the website says I should be eating. There. I said it.

Do you have a fitbit? I have read that the the TDEE calculations it gives are fairly accurate....Also I have been eating 1500 calories a day for so long it makes me nervous as heck to think about increasing it.

nm212

I thought TDEE is to maintain weight, and to lose weight, you have to eat less than that. Am I confused?
Also, I agree you should try it and then re-adjust if you need to! It sounds like you burn a ton of calories and need to replenish your energy with proper nutrition.

jeepinshawn

nm212 wrote: »

I thought TDEE is to maintain weight, and to lose weight, you have to eat less than that. Am I confused?
Also, I agree you should try it and then re-adjust if you need to! It sounds like you burn a ton of calories and need to replenish your energy with proper nutrition.

TDEE is just your total daily energy expenditure, you eat less then that to loose weight, so you are correct. BMR is your base metabolic rate, which is how many calories you would burn if you did nothing but laid in bed.

nm212

jeepinshawn wrote: »

nm212 wrote: »

I thought TDEE is to maintain weight, and to lose weight, you have to eat less than that. Am I confused?
Also, I agree you should try it and then re-adjust if you need to! It sounds like you burn a ton of calories and need to replenish your energy with proper nutrition.

TDEE is just your total daily energy expenditure, you eat less then that to loose weight, so you are correct. BMR is your base metabolic rate, which is how many calories you would burn if you did nothing but laid in bed.

Thanks for clarifying! That's what I thought. haha

janiep81

nm212 wrote: »

I thought TDEE is to maintain weight, and to lose weight, you have to eat less than that. Am I confused?
Also, I agree you should try it and then re-adjust if you need to! It sounds like you burn a ton of calories and need to replenish your energy with proper nutrition.

Oh yeah - sorry. I was using "TDEE" to refer to the whole system/plan. My ACTUAL TDEE is like 2500. (Was I really eating more than that per day? I must have been!)

PinkPixiexox

I also use the TDEE method - I don't like all the 'eating back exercise' calories. TDEE is far simpler for me!

I'd say you're very active (go you!) but all of these calculators give a rough estimate. If you don't have a fitbit, I'd definitely suggest getting one. I purchased one recently to work out what my actual TDEE is so I know what I'm supposed to be eating when I enter maintenance (nearly there) and it's fantastic!

leahcollett1

i also do the TDEE method i train with body combat 4 x times a week and on rest days i might walk i put mine to lightly actuive then tweak it as necessary.

janiep81

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

I have a Jawbone UP. Does anyone know if its calorie assessment compares pretty fairly with the Fitbit?

For what its worth, I don't feel deprived and what I'm currently doing (~1600 cals a day regardless of exercise) is working fairly well. I don't know why I'm messing with it.