MFP/TDEE-20%/HRM

supremelady

I see a lot of people say that MFP overestimates with calorie burns and that you should get a HRM. But if you use TDEE-20% They don't use a calories burned per exercise. They base your daily calorie intake on the amount of hours you exercise per week.

I guess my question is which do you use and does it really make a difference?

3dogsrunning

I've used both MFP plus exercise calories (no HRM) and TDEE -20%. I end up in the exact same place with similar numbers.

Just a note - HRM's accruracy for calorie estimates are vastly overstated here. You can go awry with their numbers as well.

ETA - it makes a difference if you aren't estimating correctly. I prefer MFP because I like not eating extra in case I miss a few workouts like I have this week.

BrianSharpe

Given the overall lack of accuracy in HRMs, cardio machines & MFP's estimates I've opted for a TDEE based approach and mine is even simpler. I use TDEE at maintenance for my goal weight which compared to TDEE at my current weight gives me a caloric deficit of about 300 per day. Slow and steady and never hungry......