Baffled by my TDEE. Can anyone help me understand this?

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  • bubus05
    bubus05 Posts: 121 Member
    edited July 2021
    I think the TDEE calculator assumes that two persons with the same weight but different body fat percentages will have different energy requirements to maintain that body weight. A pro bodybuilder with 270 lbs and 10 percent body fat will need more energy to maintain the weight compare to a person with the same weight but 50 percent body fat.
    In his book Arnold Schwarzenegger says before a competition he was eating over 5000 calories a day just to maintain his muscle mass. A guy with the same weight as Arnold but a tenths of his muscle mass probably doesnt need that many calories just to maintain.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    bubus05 wrote: »
    I think the TDEE calculator assumes that two persons with the same weight but different body fat percentages will have different energy requirements to maintain that body weight. A pro bodybuilder with 270 lbs and 10 percent body fat will need more energy to maintain the weight compare to a person with the same weight but 50 percent body fat.
    In his book Arnold Schwarzenegger says before a competition he was eating over 5000 calories a day just to maintain his muscle mass. A guy with the same weight as Arnold but a tenths of his muscle mass probably doesnt need that many calories just to maintain.

    Bingo!!
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,460 Member
    Just a FYI. I just downloaded your app and put in my stats. It said 49.1% body fat. Dexa scan says 29.1, which is close to what various trainers have said over time.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    ChaoticMoira wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    Are you actually sedentary or are you also adding exercise?

    No I have not been completely sedentary for the last 3 months. Apart from this last week, I have been seeing a trainer and exercise 3-4 times a week.


    sijomial wrote: »
    This is a worry so soon in what will be a long process for you.
    Working out really isn't for weight loss. It's a healthy habit for life and health improvements aren't apparent in a short timescale, you really do need to think long term. Motivation is great to get you started but it's a fragile and limited resource you need to use wisely.

    I didn't mean for it to sound like I was throwing in the towel just because my weight loss was too slow. I just felt I needed to take the week off to reevaluate. I am still on my diet. But there were other issues at hand as well. I don't like my trainer.. Or at least, her method of training me..

    I realize working out is more about fitness and health; that is actually the issue. She and I don't mesh well. I see my weight loss goal and my fitness goals as two separate parallel lines. Meaning I want to workout with my fitness in mind, not weight loss, though I know working out will help the weight loss. I expect my fitness goal to take several years. But I feel like my trainer sees my workouts primarily as a way to bolster my weight loss goal.

    I also know if you try to do things you don't like, you will not stick with it. She likes hiit cardio, with a some calisthenics thrown in. I prefer steady state cardio and weight lifting.. Losing little sucks on it's own, but losing little and hating every workout on top of that really sucks. If I only lose a pound a week, but I am also benefiting by building muscle, and changing my body composition. I will be happy with that. Especially since I actually enjoy weight lifting. I dislike cardio, but am willing to put up with it..

    I have decided that since gyms have reopened and I am vaccinated, I am going to join a gym instead so I can focus better on my own vision. I know I still need cardio, and intend to do a half hour a day, but the rest of my workout will be strength training. I also have a workout partner to go with so that should help to keep me on track.

    Good idea. When I first started at a gym I wanted a trainer to help me with lifting but I was experienced with cardio so explained that I preferred to do cardio on my own and was interested in lifting for the trainer sessions. I think even without a trainer one can follow various other progressive lifting plans, so long as you are comfortable with the form.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited July 2021
    bubus05 wrote: »
    I think the TDEE calculator assumes that two persons with the same weight but different body fat percentages will have different energy requirements to maintain that body weight. A pro bodybuilder with 270 lbs and 10 percent body fat will need more energy to maintain the weight compare to a person with the same weight but 50 percent body fat.

    In his book Arnold Schwarzenegger says before a competition he was eating over 5000 calories a day just to maintain his muscle mass. A guy with the same weight as Arnold but a tenths of his muscle mass probably doesnt need that many calories just to maintain.

    Along these lines, my partner has the same height and weight as football tight end Rob Gronkowski, but not the same shape, as one man is a professional athlete and the other is not :lol:

    ETA: I see Gronk is now retired, and is doing some nasty beet juice thing. I'll pass this along to my partner :love:

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