Calorie deficit...confused

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Replies

  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Little confused myself. I did the last 4 weeks at 1700-1800 mostly and work out 6 days a week for 1 hr+ Lost 2 pounds but assuming some fat was replaced with muscle. I sit on my butt all day at work so I reset mfp to non active and it has me at 1680 or something like that.

    So if I'm nocking off 500+ calories a workout I should eat where I was at 1800 area to be safe?

    Figure this out eventually haha

    You probably did not gain much muscle over that time period. It takes a while to gain muscle, but a 2 lb loss is decent, not know your stats.

    If MFP is giving you 1680, then I'd add 250 for your exercise (50%) so eat maybe 1900 and see what happens with the weight loss. Or give us your stats (sex, height, weight, age, goal weight and expected loss) and we can toss some numbers around.
  • hansklamp2112
    hansklamp2112 Posts: 20 Member
    edited May 2017
    However, I couldn't stand by and let someone mindlessly shout "terrible advice" on something that is based on the formulas put together by people with actual educations and scientific backgrounds on the subject matter.

    The formulae behind this stuff is fine, it's your terrible advice about how to misapply them that's a problem here. If you can't stand being called out for giving bad advice, then stop giving bad advice. And, when you can't do that, don't assume that anybody who disagrees with you is in poor physical condition. You were wrong, but that's ok, we're all wrong sometimes, it's how we deal with it.


    I left OP with an explanation, they can take it and try to learn more based off that or not, but until you actually prove to OP that learning more about the underlying factors of BMR and TDEE is not beneficial to her EXACT questions in this post, then you're simply trying to rob her of exceptional advice on how to move forward and using MFP as a tool, but using an external calculator to get an idea of what she should do so she knows why her net calories are what they are, whether she should eat her deficit gained from workouts back, etc.

    Cheers.
    have you actually read about how MFP determines calories - because unless you have done that, your advice is less than useful

    https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/410332-how-does-myfitnesspal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    TDEE is only as good as your estimations and work outs (i.e. If I say that I am moderately active and yet for one week am only lightly active, or vice versa, heavily active) - then my TDEE will change since my daily energy expenditure has changed - so its not a one size fits all equation

    Have you actually read what I am saying? The purpose of using the calculator is to understand the WHY. I didn't say eat your calories based on TDEE, I said you use the calculator to learn your BMR/TDEE to then move accordingly. Understanding WHY you are eating x calories a day is how you learn how to adjust based on your activity levels. That's the ENTIRE POINT.

    You're sitting here saying that TDEE gives you a one all answer to what you should do, but doesn't account for weeks where you have less activity--you do understand that MFP also does not? Changing your weekly goals based on fitness activity is inconsistent and if anyone here knows anything, inconsistency is a very poor way to lose weight. You use it so you have an idea of what you're burning based on what your activity level is. You use the BMR to know what your body is very likely, and quite accurately may I add, burning based on normally existing. You then have two numbers to work from instead of a random one MFP gives you without telling you WHY. I could not make this any simpler. OP's questions would be answered with this type of knowledge, which is why I am trying to share it.



  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    TDEE - total daily energy expenditure - which will change based on (shock gasp) daily activity - it is at best an calculated estimate that doesn't take your specific body chemistry into an account but it based on population metric
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    However, I couldn't stand by and let someone mindlessly shout "terrible advice" on something that is based on the formulas put together by people with actual educations and scientific backgrounds on the subject matter.

    The formulae behind this stuff is fine, it's your terrible advice about how to misapply them that's a problem here. If you can't stand being called out for giving bad advice, then stop giving bad advice. And, when you can't do that, don't assume that anybody who disagrees with you is in poor physical condition. You were wrong, but that's ok, we're all wrong sometimes, it's how we deal with it.


    I left OP with an explanation, they can take it and try to learn more based off that or not, but until you actually prove to OP that learning more about the underlying factors of BMR and TDEE is not beneficial to her EXACT questions in this post, then you're simply trying to rob her of exceptional advice on how to move forward and using MFP as a tool, but using an external calculator to get an idea of what she should do so she knows why her net calories are what they are, whether she should eat her deficit gained from workouts back, etc.

    Cheers.
    have you actually read about how MFP determines calories - because unless you have done that, your advice is less than useful

    https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/410332-how-does-myfitnesspal-calculate-my-initial-goals-

    TDEE is only as good as your estimations and work outs (i.e. If I say that I am moderately active and yet for one week am only lightly active, or vice versa, heavily active) - then my TDEE will change since my daily energy expenditure has changed - so its not a one size fits all equation

    Have you actually read what I am saying? The purpose of using the calculator is to understand the WHY. I didn't say eat your calories based on TDEE, I said you use the calculator to learn your BMR/TDEE to then move accordingly. Understanding WHY you are eating x calories a day is how you learn how to adjust based on your activity levels. That's the ENTIRE POINT.

    You're sitting here saying that TDEE gives you a one all answer to what you should do, but doesn't account for weeks where you have less activity--you do understand that MFP also does not? Changing your weekly goals based on fitness activity is inconsistent and if anyone here knows anything, inconsistency is a very poor way to lose weight. You use it so you have an idea of what you're burning based on what your activity level is. You use the BMR to know what your body is very likely, and quite accurately may I add, burning based on normally existing. You then have two numbers to work from instead of a random one MFP gives you without telling you WHY. I could not make this any simpler. OP's questions would be answered with this type of knowledge, which is why I am trying to share it.



    I also don't think you really understand MFP's method. Your explanation is too complicated for some folks on here--in my opinion. The OP was already confused and needs a simple answer. Unfortunately yours isn't. However your method is useful for people that have been on here a long time, and, or know the basics. There are lots of lurkers.
  • tammystarren
    tammystarren Posts: 32 Member
    Get a fit bit. This will give you yoir calories burned for the day. Calculate your BMR as well and you will see what you burn in a day without doing any activity. These are guides. Mfp already set a calori deficit for you based on the info you entered about yourself ....how active you are...your weight and your weight loss goals
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    what is your age/height/current weight/goal weight? 1200 might be too aggressive for your goals

    OP if you are still around - this is an important question that would be helpful for you to address. You mentioned feeling hungry on 1200 (no doubt because you weren't eating back exercise calories and were netting far under that). It's worth noting that 1200 is the minimum recommended calorie amount and that most people can lose weight eating more than 1200. Often during set up, people choose an aggressive rate of loss, thinking faster is better, not realizing it may not be appropriate for how much weight they have to lose total.
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    @Charabz69

    Are you still confused with how MFP works and how much you should be eating, or do you have more questions? Ignore the sidetrack, but if there is more you need help with, please ask.

    I am now totally confused......TDEE?
    I will google it!
    I use a Myzone HRM which is where I get my 'calories burned' from, I do various types of exercise through the week, running, Spin, Body Attack, CX Works, Weights. I average 600 (I generally do 2 hours exercise, 5 days a week, 1 hour am and 1 hour pm), I realise that the calories burned is generally over-estimated on HRM and so as a rule I only 'eat back' 50%.
    My main concern is that at 1200 a day I'm not actually 'fuelling' my body correctly and that is why I asked about the calorie deficit . I guess I need to pay more attention to macros?
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    @Charabz69 I get the confusion. I going to make a couple of posts to explain things, but the short answer will be to eat back 1/2 your calories and see how your weight comes off over a month or so. If you lose too little, eat a bit more. If you feel out of energy, eat a bit more. There is no set answer and it confused partly by you not having a tremendous amount to lose and MFP given you 1200, which is as low as it will go. You certainly need to net 1200, so be sure to eat back some of your exercise calories.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    @Charabz69

    Are you still confused with how MFP works and how much you should be eating, or do you have more questions? Ignore the sidetrack, but if there is more you need help with, please ask.

    I am now totally confused......TDEE?
    I will google it!
    I use a Myzone HRM which is where I get my 'calories burned' from, I do various types of exercise through the week, running, Spin, Body Attack, CX Works, Weights. I average 600 (I generally do 2 hours exercise, 5 days a week, 1 hour am and 1 hour pm), I realise that the calories burned is generally over-estimated on HRM and so as a rule I only 'eat back' 50%.
    My main concern is that at 1200 a day I'm not actually 'fuelling' my body correctly and that is why I asked about the calorie deficit . I guess I need to pay more attention to macros?

    Asked above, but will ask again. How much weight (total) are you trying to lose? What rate of loss did you select when you set up your MFP profile?
  • DamieBird
    DamieBird Posts: 651 Member
    @Tacklewasher Great explanation :).

    I like TDEE, because I have a consistent workout routine and it works well for me. OP - it's all about personal preference and what you're comfortable with using. TDEE requires a little more 'work', since MFP isn't doing the math for you, but if you do better with patterns and routine, it's worth exploring because you eat the same amount of calories everyday, even on a 'rest day'. It makes meal planning much easier (for me).

    Regardless of if you use MFP/NEAT or TDEE, it may take a month or so to really understand what your body is doing with your weight loss, but the cool thing is that if you log accurately and track workouts and weigh-ins consistently (to whatever degree you like), data is fun!
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    @Charabz69

    Are you still confused with how MFP works and how much you should be eating, or do you have more questions? Ignore the sidetrack, but if there is more you need help with, please ask.

    I am now totally confused......TDEE?
    I will google it!
    I use a Myzone HRM which is where I get my 'calories burned' from, I do various types of exercise through the week, running, Spin, Body Attack, CX Works, Weights. I average 600 (I generally do 2 hours exercise, 5 days a week, 1 hour am and 1 hour pm), I realise that the calories burned is generally over-estimated on HRM and so as a rule I only 'eat back' 50%.
    My main concern is that at 1200 a day I'm not actually 'fuelling' my body correctly and that is why I asked about the calorie deficit . I guess I need to pay more attention to macros?

    Asked above, but will ask again. How much weight (total) are you trying to lose? What rate of loss did you select when you set up your MFP profile?

    I'm down for 1.5lbs a week, I would like to lose about 10lbs. I try to stay away from weighing myself generally and go by measurements and I have always used MFP as a guide, but recently I have been eating far too much rubbish and really just wanted to rein myself in and decided to use MFP properly and I have really confused myself with TDEE/NEAT etc. Although they now all make more sense after all your comments.
    Thanks again, I really appreciate it xx
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,128 Member
    With only 10lb to lose you are better off dropping down your weight loss rate to 0.5-1lb per week and tightening up your logging. Better to lose it and keep it off :smile:
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    With only 10lb to lose you are better off dropping down your weight loss rate to 0.5-1lb per week and tightening up your logging. Better to lose it and keep it off :smile:

    Would that give me more that 1200 per day?
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,128 Member
    It should really, unless you are particularly slim or short to start with, 0.5lb per week will give you a defict of your NEAT - 250 Calories per day and 1lb per week would be NEAT -500 calories per day. If you're currently set to 1.5lb per week it's your NEAT-750 calories per day (although if your NEAT is quite low it won't get any lower than 1200 calories).
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member


    From OP's post, it sounds like her workouts are consistent too... thus solidifying, even further, that a TDEE

    How is saying " I work out most days, burning about 600+ calories" consistent?!?

    Consistent: acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate


    Some "most days" and "600+" are statements that show lack of consistency.

    Also, we do not know what her exercise is. If she runs a 5K every day, that is consistent. If she does pilates one day, runs the next, walks one day, she is not being consistent.

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    @Charabz69

    Are you still confused with how MFP works and how much you should be eating, or do you have more questions? Ignore the sidetrack, but if there is more you need help with, please ask.

    I am now totally confused......TDEE?
    I will google it!
    I use a Myzone HRM which is where I get my 'calories burned' from, I do various types of exercise through the week, running, Spin, Body Attack, CX Works, Weights. I average 600 (I generally do 2 hours exercise, 5 days a week, 1 hour am and 1 hour pm), I realise that the calories burned is generally over-estimated on HRM and so as a rule I only 'eat back' 50%.
    My main concern is that at 1200 a day I'm not actually 'fuelling' my body correctly and that is why I asked about the calorie deficit . I guess I need to pay more attention to macros?

    Asked above, but will ask again. How much weight (total) are you trying to lose? What rate of loss did you select when you set up your MFP profile?

    I'm down for 1.5lbs a week, I would like to lose about 10lbs. I try to stay away from weighing myself generally and go by measurements and I have always used MFP as a guide, but recently I have been eating far too much rubbish and really just wanted to rein myself in and decided to use MFP properly and I have really confused myself with TDEE/NEAT etc. Although they now all make more sense after all your comments.
    Thanks again, I really appreciate it xx

    It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed with all the different advice here. If you are only trying to lose 10 lbs, 0.5 lb/week is a more appropriate rate of loss for you. This will give you more calories to begin with, and help ensure that the weight you lose is not so rapid that when you add back in calories you gain it back, it preserves lean body mass, etc. I would readjust for that rate of loss, then log as accurately as possible and eat back at least a portion of those calorie burns from exercise, monitor and adjust after about 6-8 weeks when you should be nearly halfway to your goal.
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    It should really, unless you are particularly slim or short to start with, 0.5lb per week will give you a defict of your NEAT - 250 Calories per day and 1lb per week would be NEAT -500 calories per day. If you're currently set to 1.5lb per week it's your NEAT-750 calories per day (although if your NEAT is quite low it won't get any lower than 1200 calories).

    I'm 5ft 3" and small frame!
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    choppie70 wrote: »

    From OP's post, it sounds like her workouts are consistent too... thus solidifying, even further, that a TDEE

    How is saying " I work out most days, burning about 600+ calories" consistent?!?

    Consistent: acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate


    Some "most days" and "600+" are statements that show lack of consistency.

    Also, we do not know what her exercise is. If she runs a 5K every day, that is consistent. If she does pilates one day, runs the next, walks one day, she is not being consistent.

    My work outs are consistent week to week as I do the same classes every week. Some days my HRM is showing over 1000 calories burned (I run a 10K on a Tuesday + a class in the morning). :smile:
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    @Charabz69

    Are you still confused with how MFP works and how much you should be eating, or do you have more questions? Ignore the sidetrack, but if there is more you need help with, please ask.

    I am now totally confused......TDEE?
    I will google it!
    I use a Myzone HRM which is where I get my 'calories burned' from, I do various types of exercise through the week, running, Spin, Body Attack, CX Works, Weights. I average 600 (I generally do 2 hours exercise, 5 days a week, 1 hour am and 1 hour pm), I realise that the calories burned is generally over-estimated on HRM and so as a rule I only 'eat back' 50%.
    My main concern is that at 1200 a day I'm not actually 'fuelling' my body correctly and that is why I asked about the calorie deficit . I guess I need to pay more attention to macros?

    Asked above, but will ask again. How much weight (total) are you trying to lose? What rate of loss did you select when you set up your MFP profile?

    I'm down for 1.5lbs a week, I would like to lose about 10lbs. I try to stay away from weighing myself generally and go by measurements and I have always used MFP as a guide, but recently I have been eating far too much rubbish and really just wanted to rein myself in and decided to use MFP properly and I have really confused myself with TDEE/NEAT etc. Although they now all make more sense after all your comments.
    Thanks again, I really appreciate it xx

    It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed with all the different advice here. If you are only trying to lose 10 lbs, 0.5 lb/week is a more appropriate rate of loss for you. This will give you more calories to begin with, and help ensure that the weight you lose is not so rapid that when you add back in calories you gain it back, it preserves lean body mass, etc. I would readjust for that rate of loss, then log as accurately as possible and eat back at least a portion of those calorie burns from exercise, monitor and adjust after about 6-8 weeks when you should be nearly halfway to your goal.

    Thank you for that I will go and change it to 0.5lbs. I appreciate your help. x
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,128 Member
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    choppie70 wrote: »

    From OP's post, it sounds like her workouts are consistent too... thus solidifying, even further, that a TDEE

    How is saying " I work out most days, burning about 600+ calories" consistent?!?

    Consistent: acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate


    Some "most days" and "600+" are statements that show lack of consistency.

    Also, we do not know what her exercise is. If she runs a 5K every day, that is consistent. If she does pilates one day, runs the next, walks one day, she is not being consistent.

    My work outs are consistent week to week as I do the same classes every week. Some days my HRM is showing over 1000 calories burned (I run a 10K on a Tuesday + a class in the morning). :smile:

    Do you run a 10k everyday? Because if not your workouts aren't consistent every day. You would need to be burning roughly the same amount daily to benefit from using the TDEE method. Personally, I would just stick to MFP's NEAT method for now and monitor it for a month, now that you've changed your settings to 0.5lb per week, eating either all of your calories back or a fixed percentage of them and reviewing at the end of the month to see if you're losing at the expected rate and adjust accordingly.
  • Sunna_W
    Sunna_W Posts: 744 Member
    Another thing to think about is what you are eating and why you are still hungry -- when you add the exercise calories back in. Some people seem to do better on high fat / high protein and low carb / sugar in terms of satiety.

    See this website for a list: http://paleoiq.com/best-paleo-diet-blogs/ for ideas.

    It took several months of tweaking before I finally found my "sweet spot" in terms of balance between carbs and protein and (since January I have lost about 30 pounds). And... I am only complaint calorie wise about 75% - 80% of the time. I have some health issues and can't really exercise. Despite this and being tied to a desk all day, I have lost and continue to lose weight. For me, eating low carb and low sugar all of the time some amazing things happened:
    • I don't crave sugar (I have an entire box of Charms Wild Berry Blow Pops in my file drawer that I haven't touched since November because I don't crave sugar; I once measured my stress level by how many of them I consumed in one day);
    • My moods are more even and I don't have blood sugar spikes and crashes;
    • By consuming more healthy fats my joints don't hurt as much and I am more or less satiated on 1400 calories.

    Just a thought...
  • Charabz69
    Charabz69 Posts: 52 Member
    Charabz69 wrote: »
    choppie70 wrote: »

    From OP's post, it sounds like her workouts are consistent too... thus solidifying, even further, that a TDEE

    How is saying " I work out most days, burning about 600+ calories" consistent?!?

    Consistent: acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate


    Some "most days" and "600+" are statements that show lack of consistency.

    Also, we do not know what her exercise is. If she runs a 5K every day, that is consistent. If she does pilates one day, runs the next, walks one day, she is not being consistent.

    My work outs are consistent week to week as I do the same classes every week. Some days my HRM is showing over 1000 calories burned (I run a 10K on a Tuesday + a class in the morning). :smile:

    Do you run a 10k everyday? Because if not your workouts aren't consistent every day. You would need to be burning roughly the same amount daily to benefit from using the TDEE method. Personally, I would just stick to MFP's NEAT method for now and monitor it for a month, now that you've changed your settings to 0.5lb per week, eating either all of your calories back or a fixed percentage of them and reviewing at the end of the month to see if you're losing at the expected rate and adjust accordingly.

    No, I only run 10K on a Tuesday (I'm in a running club) x
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Agree on going down to 0.5 lbs per week, maybe 1 at most.