HAS THE TDEE REALLY WORKED FOR YOU?

Jennifera714

So this morning I decided to try something new considering I have not seen a budge yet in weight loss for about 2 1/2 weeks. I went ahead and took some advice others have given me from a past post and calculated my tdee. Could this really work considering my tdee came out to a whopping 2441?? When you minus the 20 % = 1,952 calories does that seem right? That seems kind of high. MFP suggests I stay on a 1,200 calorie daily. I do not usually do 1,200 because I am still nursing I try to stay at about 1,500 daily. NICE FRIENDLY ADVICE PLEASE thanks..........

SirBonerFart

You didn't provide enough information for anyone to know if that number is accurate

Jennifera714

You didn't provide enough information for anyone to know if that number is accurate

5' 7 ; 174 lbs
Exercise: 3-5 times per week

Serah87

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

We need more info. Age, weight, height and what kind of exercises do you do?

MzManiak

At 1500, what do you gross after exercising? It should come close to your TDEE - 20%, right? But I agree with Boner. Without stats, we're just guessing that you did it correctly and therefore, should work.

And, yes, TDEE- % method works, or people wouldn't recommend it so much. I eat at my TDEE now and have been maintaining.

ETA: Include age and body fat % in your stats as well
It does sound about right. Just remember that with the TDEE-%, that's your gross amount. You don't add any extra for exercise because it's already included.

Serah87

You didn't provide enough information for anyone to know if that number is accurate

5' 7 ; 174 lbs
Exercise: 3-5 times per week

Yep, sounds right to me.

I'm 5'2 and I eat between 1700-2000 calories!!

Iron_Lotus

TDEE works hun give it time

wilkinsonlk

What is the TDEE?

Joannesmith2818

I am working my way up to TFEE-20%. I was at 1200 and have been increasing it slowly after reading a lot of advice.

AJ_G

2441 definitely seems high for your TDEE. I'm 185, with 150 pounds of lean body mass, and my TDEE is 2600.

AJ_G

What is the TDEE?

Total Daily Energy Expenditure

Isakizza

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

^^ Yup.
Follow the MFP program the way it's designed or you can used TDEE-20%.
I've done both and lost using both.



Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Donald_Dozier_50

FOR ME, I have chosen to make the simple (because it is)......

I must burn 3,500 calories more than I consume to lose each pound and the greater the distance between consuming and burning calories, the more I lose.

That I have done 68 times which resulted in my losing 68 lbs. I have heard of the TDEE (ways to justify eating more and still be on a diet), the "eat more to lose more? and many more which you have heard of as well.

I must burn 3,500 calories more than I consume to lose each pound and the greater the distance between consuming and burning calories, the more I lose..

JayWalk39

TDEE works, but only if your macros are also correct!

WendyTerry420

You didn't provide enough information for anyone to know if that number is accurate

5' 7 ; 174 lbs
Exercise: 3-5 times per week

Yep, that sounds right to me. I'm 5'4 and 198 and exercise minimally, have a desk job, and I'm on 2000 calories to lose.

Donald_Dozier_50

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

We need more info. Age, weight, height and what kind of exercises do you do?

I know people say that but tell me, am I really supposed to eat back the 1,540 exercise calories I have burned from today so far when I am on a 1,375 calorie goal?

TyTy76

FOR ME, I have chosen to make the simple (because it is)......

I must burn 3,500 calories more than I consume to lose each pound and the greater the distance between consuming and burning calories, the more I lose.

That I have done 68 times which resulted in my losing 68 lbs. I have heard of the TDEE (ways to justify eating more and still be on a diet), the "eat more to lose more? and many more which you have heard of as well.

I must burn 3,500 calories more than I consume to lose each pound and the greater the distance between consuming and burning calories, the more I lose..

I'm confused.
Are you on the "eat very little, exercise a lot" program?

TyTy76

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

We need more info. Age, weight, height and what kind of exercises do you do?

I know people say that but tell me, am I really supposed to eat back the 1,540 exercise calories I have burned from today so far when I am on a 1,375 calorie goal?

With your logic you're -165 calories for the day.

whierd

When people question whether or not using the TDEE method works, I really question their understanding of what TDEE even stands for and why it MUST work.

Val_from_OH

Yep. I was on 1300 calories a day, and eating back exercise calories. I wasn't really losing anything - maybe a lb here or there, but I'd be just as likely to gain it back a week later. I started TDEE-15% about 5 weeks ago, and look how my chart has changed!

jwdieter

TDEE -20% works because it takes the decision-making away from people who would otherwise choose 2 lbs/week (aka TDEE-1000).

Mia_RagazzaTosta

I thought you were given stellar advice last week when you asked.

Make sure you are eating enough to continue to produce milk for your little one. That is what your main concern should be at this time.

cmcollins001

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

We need more info. Age, weight, height and what kind of exercises do you do?

I know people say that but tell me, am I really supposed to eat back the 1,540 exercise calories I have burned from today so far when I am on a 1,375 calorie goal?

With your logic you're -165 calories for the day.

That seems like a long term and sustainable plan.

leebesstoad

I certainly use my TDEE, but I use the actual data to calculate it rather than a calculator on line. Once you have enough information and you can honestly say that you have entered all the data honestly in your food diary and have weighed yourself under the same conditions on multiple occasions, you can calculate what your TDEE is. You can then set your target intake based on that. Minus -20% or even plus 5-10% if you want to gain. Simply recalculate your TDEE at a regular interval and you'll be right in line with what changes your body is going through. A bit of a lag in time, but very close.

MzManiak

Yes, MFP gives you 1200 calories BUT your suppose to eat back your exercise calories!!

We need more info. Age, weight, height and what kind of exercises do you do?

I know people say that but tell me, am I really supposed to eat back the 1,540 exercise calories I have burned from today so far when I am on a 1,375 calorie goal?

Unless you are under estimating your food, or over estimating your exercise... yes, you should.

TheRealParisLove

I saw a study yesterday that basically said to break a plateau you need to eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks and increase exercise intensity. The science basically said that your body is finding it's new, lower set point and won't budge below that point without first going into a new lower metabolism.

If you have patience, you can push through the plateau, but it takes some time. The people in the study who were able to go on losing weight just increased calories to maintenance for two weeks, stepped up their exercise intensity, then reduced calories again after the two week maintenance period. They also maintained a higher exercise intensity after reducing calories again.

Mia_RagazzaTosta

Yep. I was on 1300 calories a day, and eating back exercise calories. I wasn't really losing anything - maybe a lb here or there, but I'd be just as likely to gain it back a week later. I started TDEE-15% about 5 weeks ago, and look how my chart has changed!

MFP + exercise cals and TDEE-x% generally work out to be pretty close. Did anything else change in your routine?

LorinaLynn

Eating a percentage below my TDEE works out to being about the same as eating MFP numbers plus exercise calories.

At first, using MFP numbers was a good motivation to exercise, but now that I exercise has become habit, I don't need the extra motivation. And it's easier for me to aim to eat, for instance, 2000 calories a day, every day, instead of 1600 on a rest day, then 2400 after a long run, and 1800 if I strength train. My appetite doesn't always jive with calories burned. A long run kills my appetite, and I'm famished on rest days.

diannethegeek

OP, you mention that you're still nursing. Are you logging/adding the extra calories that your body needs for that?

HeidiCooksSupper

I use multiple calculators to come up with a sedentary TDEE-20% -- the which I am, sedentary, that is. Then I average those different numbers with the MFP calculation and from this I come up with a target amount. When I exercise, I don't necessarily eat the calories back because the exercise is somewhat balanced by snacking overages. I was losing pretty steadily at 1.3 to 1.4 pounds a week.

For the last month the snacking outran the exercise and the same two pounds were being shed and retrieved. I'm back to avoiding too much late night bread and butter and expect to resume the downward slope within a few days.

One thing you must remember using this method is that your TDEE is based on your current weight. Every 10 pounds recalculate to slowly reach your maintenance level at a lower rate.

hookilau

TDEE < 20% should absolutely work but you may have to tweak it some. Also, if you have metabolic issues, such as IR, Thyroid, PCOS etc. then these imbalances must be corrected before TDEE < 20% will work. At least this has been my experience. :drinker: :drinker:

edited for duhhhh typos