Fitbit calories

AnnPT77

autumnblade75 wrote: »

@Duck_Puddle As a fellow runner, I am sure you're aware of the inadvisability of running 0 miles one week and 60 the next. I do take your meaning, that it would be inconvenient to recalculate TDEE every week based on expected mileage, but in general, when one is not training for a marathon or similar, there's not as much variation as you're trying to suggest.

Both TDEE and NEAT are valid, and I hadn't considered that OP might be trying to use MFP in that manner. She's got an open food diary, though - and the discrepancy between her goal and her Fitbit number suggests that either way, she's not fueling appropriately.

I 100% agree with your overall point, and knowing the true diary data does give a clearer picture.

This is just a side remark about TDEE vs. NEAT as a basis, as a practical matter. (And I expect it's something you already understand, but I'm commenting for general background on the question. :flowerforyou: )

As not-a-big-person (I'm 5'5", 130s), a common day's exercise is often around 15% of my total calorie expenditure. In season, my main sport is weather-dependent (I'm a rower; certain conditions create actual danger). I know how many days I plan to row, but in season I'll often skip days to get other stuff done, rather than change exercise modes. Losing a couple of days of exercise is meaningful, in maintenance (close to 5% of TDEE when averaged over the week).

For a smaller person, it doesn't necessarily take huge variations in exercise (i.e., doesn't take that 0 miles vs. 60 extreme) to make enough difference that NEAT + exercise can be a more practical fit than TDEE, for some people. Very individual choice!

Duck_Puddle

janejellyroll wrote: »

autumnblade75 wrote: »

@Duck_Puddle As a fellow runner, I am sure you're aware of the inadvisability of running 0 miles one week and 60 the next. I do take your meaning, that it would be inconvenient to recalculate TDEE every week based on expected mileage, but in general, when one is not training for a marathon or similar, there's not as much variation as you're trying to suggest.

Both TDEE and NEAT are valid, and I hadn't considered that OP might be trying to use MFP in that manner. She's got an open food diary, though - and the discrepancy between her goal and her Fitbit number suggests that either way, she's not fueling appropriately.

I don't know if anyone is talking about 0 one week and 60 the next, but as a long distance runner, I've had weeks where I've done 40 one week and 50 the next and that's significant enough *for me*, that I prefer to use NEAT. Other people in the same circumstance may be comfortable with TDEE, but NEAT is my preference. It also prevents me from having to recalculate my TDEE when I'm in heavier training periods. In January and February, I may be averaging 30 miles a week. In July and August, it can be more like 60 or 70.

Both are valid ways to get to the same point, it's just individual preferences and circumstances.

This is me too. A 10 mile (or a bit more) change isn’t at all unusual (even when not at peak marathon training mileage) since cutback weeks are a normal thing. And that works out to a significant amount (calorie wise) for me as well. So I also prefer NEAT.

But that isn’t intended to imply TDEE isn’t a good way to go. It’s fine for people that prefer it.