Difference between tdee and mfp cal

loulouowens

Hi all

Quick question, why does mfp give me a diff cal amount to tdee? Im 5ft 9" female sedentary age 38 currently 198lb looking to be 154lb. Already lost 66lb with mfp. Just slowed my weight loss to 1lb per week and mfp recommended 1540 a day, ive looked at two different tdee calc and their saying 1470 - 1480 ? Thats 70 cals a day? I wouldn't question 20 cals or so out but this seems a lot?

janejellyroll

MFP is your NEAT, activity without purposeful exercise. Your TDEE is everything you burn, including purposeful exercise. That's why they are different numbers.

malibu927

Were you looking up TDEE or BMR? Because your TDEE should be higher than MFP's goal since it includes exercise.

CafeRacer808

MFP uses NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), which is calculated based on your activity level excluding exercise. TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) calculations include exercise, hence the different numbers.

ETA: @malibu927 is right...your TDEE should be higher than your NEAT.

cwolfman13

MFP uses the NEAT method whereby your exercise isn't (or shouldn't be) accounted for in your activity level...you account for it after the fact when you log it and get additional calories.

TDEE should include all of your activity, including exercise.

To me it looks like you're just selecting the same activity level with each calculator...different calculators use different formulas...a difference of 70 calories is nothing. Ultimately, all of these calculators are just estimates which give you a reasonably good starting point...from there, it's about making adjustments per real world results. Nobody has a TDEE of exactly XXXX calories..it's all derived from population averages and various algorithms...

loulouowens

Mfp has given me the higher cals at 1540 tdee is saying 1470? Would have thought the tdee would be the highest?

Ready2Rock206

loulouowens wrote: »

Mfp has given me the higher cals at 1540 tdee is saying 1470? Would have thought the tdee would be the highest?

Are you sure you're calculating TDEE correctly and/or not accidentally doing BMR? 1470 seems low for your stats.

loulouowens

Yes definitely tdee not bmr.
https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&age=38&g=female&lbs=198&in=69&act=1.2&bf=&f=1

StaciMarie1974

MFP takes your stats, asks your activity level (sedentary, lightly active, active, etc.) and approximates your total calorie expenditure before exercise. You then indicate if you want to lose, maintain, gain and how much. That determines your calorie goal.

The TDEE calculator you refer to most likely uses different calculations, in how it approximates your total burn. Every calculator will factor information differently and come up with a different result. Pick one, try it, and adjust what you're doing based on your results.

loulouowens

Thanks all will have a guess!

red99ryder

i would say close enough shoot for 1500

good luck

deannalfisher

I find this calculator to give better recommendations for goal calories when using TDEE and selecting method of weight loss

https://mytdee.com/#gender=female&yr=38&cm=175.3&kg=89.8&bfp=&goal=lose&goal_kg=69.9&lose_speed=recommended&formula=standard&units=imperial&exercise=lightly (lightly active, recommended weight loss)

https://mytdee.com/#gender=female&yr=38&cm=175.3&kg=89.8&bfp=&goal=lose&goal_kg=69.9&lose_speed=recommended&formula=standard&units=imperial&exercise=sedentary (sedentary, recommended weight loss)

https://mytdee.com/#gender=female&yr=38&cm=175.3&kg=89.8&bfp=&goal=lose&goal_kg=69.9&lose_speed=aggressive&formula=standard&units=imperial&exercise=sedentary (sedentary, aggressive weight loss)

https://mytdee.com/#gender=female&yr=38&cm=175.3&kg=89.8&bfp=&goal=lose&goal_kg=69.9&lose_speed=easy&formula=standard&units=imperial&exercise=sedentary (sedentary, easy weight loss)

sijomial

loulouowens wrote: »

Mfp has given me the higher cals at 1540 tdee is saying 1470? Would have thought the tdee would be the highest?

Did you set both to give you an estimate to maintain current weight or did you set a weight loss goal in both?
MFP works on pounds to lose per week but TDEE calculators tend to work on percentages.

loulouowens

Thank you all for your advice. It's all a bit confusing. X