Does anyone else set their calorie goal to their TDEE and just make sure to eat beneath it?
Replies
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I use MFP's NEAT formula for my calorie goals, just because I sometimes end up skipping a workout or if I'm not feeling it, will do less of one. Since it's not steady - I don't want to overeat
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ladyreva78 wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »Yep. My numbers are set at TDEE - 10%. I hate trying to hit a moving target (ie, eating back exercise calories).
It's funny how the psychology works. Perhaps because I have "issues" in that department, sometimes the motivation to get up and earn some extra eats is really helpful.
It is indeed funny. I do a lot better now with a TDEE set up than I did with a NEAT setup.
Give me a moving target, and I'll kill myself trying to move it as far out as I can. (I have a tendency to over exercise, with the therewith associated risks).
Give me a static target, and I'll do my best to hit it point on.
This is me too. I will overexercise before I under exercise because I feel the need to hit a number. Having a day off and not thinking about numbers is so much better for me, mentally and physically.1 -
So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.0
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Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I don't sync my fitbit.0 -
I use the TDEE (minus 10 to 15%) method as well and it has worked great for me. My activity level is pretty steady (that might change when I go back to work, but for now.) I also make sure I am recalculating on a monthly basis. I do not sync my tracker, but make sure I am watching the numbers. And I just ignore the MFP over/under counts, you would weigh...in so many weeks (though I usually giggle at the number.)0
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Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.1 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
My Garmin (VivoActive) has been spot on. In fact, eating back 75% has had me losing more than 2 lbs per week so I was eating them all back. Now I just eat 2000 regardless.2 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I've gotten kind of lazy with my fitbit, anyway, but I just turned off the "sync." And I enter my workouts, because I like to enter them (and, uh, because challenges with prizes) but I set the calories burned to 1. If I do an extra cardio workout, I might go ahead and log the calories as extras, like a little bonus at the end of the week.0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
My Garmin (VivoActive) has been spot on. In fact, eating back 75% has had me losing more than 2 lbs per week so I was eating them all back. Now I just eat 2000 regardless.
My Garmin, I've had two models, have always been spot on. I ate back conservatively at first and lost more. Now I eat them all and everything is at it should be. Everyone seems to have such widely varying experiences with trackers.1 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I actually switched to this way sort of this year and am finding psychologically it's working better for me now I'm inching towards goal. But I still use the NEAT method.
So I'm set to sedentary maintenance. I wear a tracker. Anything green left at the end of the day is my deficit and while red numbers don't freak me out it is nicer to see a healthy green number whilst knowing that's not an unhealthy green! In fact any green is satisfying, even if it's only 100. And if I get my exercise in then hurrah I get to eat even more without hitting maintenance.
But this approach certainly doesn't work for everyone.
This (sedentary maintenance plus activity adjustment from tracker to equal daily TDEE) is what I'm doing as well.0 -
JeepHair77 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I've gotten kind of lazy with my fitbit, anyway, but I just turned off the "sync." And I enter my workouts, because I like to enter them (and, uh, because challenges with prizes) but I set the calories burned to 1. If I do an extra cardio workout, I might go ahead and log the calories as extras, like a little bonus at the end of the week.
I do the 1 calorie exercise thing, too.0 -
This is where I'm at mentally, but I haven't actually switched MFP to match it. So, MFP says I want a 500 calorie deficit, but as long as my "red number" isn't bigger than 500, I don't care if it's red. I also don't care if it's very occasionally bigger than 500 - as long as that's only very occasional.
I have a calorie target in mind most days - which corresponds to about a 300 calorie deficit relative to my current average TDEE. With summer coming up, I'm expecting the average TDEE to increase a little. I may or may not raise my mental target. I might just decide to take advantage of a slightly larger deficit that will shrink as I lose more weight.0 -
So I'm unsure as was looking at my TDEE yesterday I set my activity to exercise 3-4 a week with a loss of 2lbs a week .... it's given me a figure of around 1600 calories ...the mfp sets it way lower at around 1250, so with the MFP I would eat them calories exercised back but the tdee calulator way I don't ? Iv tried before but I'm used to extreme diets so trying to get myself into a better position for keeping the weight off this time with a lifestyle change from the outset.0
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jimboodee2 wrote: »So I'm unsure as was looking at my TDEE yesterday I set my activity to exercise 3-4 a week with a loss of 2lbs a week .... it's given me a figure of around 1600 calories ...the mfp sets it way lower at around 1250, so with the MFP I would eat them calories exercised back but the tdee calulator way I don't ? Iv tried before but I'm used to extreme diets so trying to get myself into a better position for keeping the weight off this time with a lifestyle change from the outset.
What is your current weight? 2lbs may be too aggressive but yes, you've got the differences correct.1 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?0 -
Great thanks for clearing that up ...I'm 187 lbs . I have about 60-70lbs to lose I'm just 5ft 2.. I will set to start off the MFP till I feel more confident in the amount I'm eating .... ( I had used the scooby calculator and another and were both different tdee ) so the changes with what I eat and exercise I will see a big improvement . Thanks for the reply0
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I do that sometimes. I don't use TDEE per se, but I would sometimes set my calories at maintenance and as long as I'm under that, even by one calorie, I'm happy. I do it when I have too much going on and don't want to faff about too much with calorie planning. I do try to end the day with 500 calories left to eat, but if I don't I'm not overly bothered.2
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Yes it is how I do it2
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quiksylver296 wrote: »
Sorta, I suppose. TDEE is just the total number of calories you use in a day. The purposes the body uses those calories for vary from keeping the heart pumping to exercise to pushing the buttons on the TV remote.1 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
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I set my calories to the TDEE for a sedentary person at my goal weight and stick pretty close to that. I've been losing, about a pound a week and it's much more manageable than the calorie goal that MFP tried to give me.3
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.
I was getting crazy high and low reading with the wrist HR. That's why I paired my chest strap with it. Like it would show 170 bpm when I was doing a super slow jog, but only making it up to 140 bpm when I was doing super hard interval training.
I read on the Garmin forums that was a problem and is supposed to be corrected with the latest update that came out this week. I updated the device but haven't just used the wrist HR monitor without the strap yet for scheduled workouts.0 -
Thanks for the feedback everyone.
I set my calorie goal to my TDEE number (1700) this week and it's been nice. I think it's mostly psychological. Eating under my TDEE is very easy, and I've still been averaging around 1400 calories per day. I caught a cold and decided to eat close to maintenance yesterday and it was nice not to feel that anxiety of "going in the red". Instead of thinking "Oh god I ate 300 calories more than I should have" I thought "Oh well, today is a maintenance day. My weight will stay the same today."
It's just nice having that baseline number that tells me:
Eat below this number? Lose weight.
Eat above this number? Gain weight.2 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.
I asked someone else this on another thread ( no reply as yet). I have the Vivoactive and pair with a strap for exercise but have wondered about accuracy of the VAHR and if it's worth me upgrading.0 -
VintageFeline wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.
I asked someone else this on another thread ( no reply as yet). I have the Vivoactive and pair with a strap for exercise but have wondered about accuracy of the VAHR and if it's worth me upgrading.
Oh. I assumed you had the HR version. Stupid me.
Like I said, I find the VAHR is very accurate compared to a Polar strap, so much so I don't bother with the strap any more. I also use it for running outside so I can see where I went. Does the VA have GPS?
I've had mine on snowshoeing and plan to use it for rowing (an actual boat, while fishing) as soon as the lakes thaw. So having all the various activities is useful to me. I had a VivoSmart HR before and consider it pretty crappy.0 -
Doing it MFP's way gives me incentive to exercise;) Moving more=more food available to eat:P If I just loved to exercise, and didn't need any incentive, and had a more active job I might would do the tdee method.0
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Tacklewasher wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.
I asked someone else this on another thread ( no reply as yet). I have the Vivoactive and pair with a strap for exercise but have wondered about accuracy of the VAHR and if it's worth me upgrading.
Oh. I assumed you had the HR version. Stupid me.
Like I said, I find the VAHR is very accurate compared to a Polar strap, so much so I don't bother with the strap any more. I also use it for running outside so I can see where I went. Does the VA have GPS?
I've had mine on snowshoeing and plan to use it for rowing (an actual boat, while fishing) as soon as the lakes thaw. So having all the various activities is useful to me. I had a VivoSmart HR before and consider it pretty crappy.
It does have GPS. I mostly use the GymTimer app and sometimes the running one. It's the accuracy of the wrist read HR, particularly with me having anxiety, don't want it thinking I'm exercising when I'm not!0 -
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VintageFeline wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »So, to those of you using TDEE, do you use a tracker and just not sync it with MFP, or just ignore the daily over/under MFP gives? I'm kinda thinking of moving this way as I've become more consistent in my exercise, but still want to track it with my tracker.
I use a tracker, but don't synch.
I recently switched from fitbit to Garmin, and I don't trust Garmins numbers at all. The fitbit was better, but in reality it's all just estimates.
I'm also using Garmin, and eating 90-100% of my calories back with no issues losing at my expected rate. Is it an HR model you have?
I do. Vito active hr and I use a chest strap for exercise. I'm very active, but it's tracking high. The last seven days gave me a totall TDEE of 20,454. This averages to be 2,922 a day. I'm losing half a pound a week on 2,250/ day.
I don't really care. I got the garmin mostly for the activity tracking features ( running, steps, gps, external hr monitor).
I'm 45, 5'4", and 139 pounds ( 2 pounds higher than my avitar picture.)
Curious if you see much of a difference between the VAHR and your chest strap. I have a Polar strap and have stopped using it simply because my VAHR always gave me within 5% of the calories the strap gave me, so I'm happy just using the VAHR.
Can't wait to try out the golf course mode of the VAHR.
I asked someone else this on another thread ( no reply as yet). I have the Vivoactive and pair with a strap for exercise but have wondered about accuracy of the VAHR and if it's worth me upgrading.
Oh. I assumed you had the HR version. Stupid me.
Like I said, I find the VAHR is very accurate compared to a Polar strap, so much so I don't bother with the strap any more. I also use it for running outside so I can see where I went. Does the VA have GPS?
I've had mine on snowshoeing and plan to use it for rowing (an actual boat, while fishing) as soon as the lakes thaw. So having all the various activities is useful to me. I had a VivoSmart HR before and consider it pretty crappy.
It does have GPS. I mostly use the GymTimer app and sometimes the running one. It's the accuracy of the wrist read HR, particularly with me having anxiety, don't want it thinking I'm exercising when I'm not!
Anxiety would mess with any of the HR based trackers. I don't usually have the issue (mine is telling me I'm at 51 bpm right now which sounds normal) but I have been on a flight and seen the calories get inflated as it was a bumpy flight. I'm not sure if any would work well for you if your heart rate does go up for non-exercise reasons.0
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