Which is better BMR+ or TDEE- ?

piggler65

I eat above BMR net whilst others eat a percentage from TDEE to create the caloric deficit.

I like doing it this way as it appears to give me more control over how I manage my eating. If I exercise more I eat more, if I just eat a bit more I can make sure I am below my TDEE etc.

Out of interest which one is 'better' ?

Or why do you prefer one method over the other?

Does it matter?

Are they both essentially the same?

Thoughts?

herblackwings39

I use the MFP style where exercise is added in and eaten because my exercise is not consistent so I prefer only eating the extra calories when I have earned them. That said, I have figured my BMR and TDEE. MFP has me set to eat 2130 with lightly active since my job requires me to be on my feet all day moving around. My TDEE-20% at lightly active 1-3 hours of exercise a week is 2184. That's 54 calories difference.

TavistockToad

TDEE -% is a proper method.... BMR net isnt... BMR is what you burn in a coma, so you need to make sure you are adding on enough extra calories before exercise cals.

i use MFP, and those numbers match TDEE calculations anyway.

piggler65

I use the MFP style where exercise is added in and eaten because my exercise is not consistent so I prefer only eating the extra calories when I have earned them. That said, I have figured my BMR and TDEE. MFP has me set to eat 2130 with lightly active since my job requires me to be on my feet all day moving around. My TDEE-20% at lightly active 1-3 hours of exercise a week is 2184. That's 54 calories difference.

Yes I quite agree with what your getting at - you have to eat above BMR net to take in to account your day which you can adjust depending on the appropriatr deficit you require but likewise TDEE summariises your activity and doesn't accurately describe exercise activity - for example on some days my exercise is 180 another day 600! Some days its nothing - When you say proper method surely you mean in your opinion? Do you use TDEE- regardless of your exercise activity?

_Zardoz_

No one method is'better' just do what works best for you

pyrowill

I kind of go for a mix in between as no matter what, either are eating a lot less than what I used to eat. It's quite strange, MFP thinks without exercise that I should eat 300 cals below BMR to lose 2lbs a week (1600). It's strange. I aim for between 2500-3000 calories and lose.

piggler65

No one method is'better' just do what works best for you

what you say must be true if of course it truly works for you