Trainer Recommendations vs TDEE - x%

duckiec

I just started with a trainer this week (ouch!). He did some calculations quickly, based (I believe, it happened fast) on lean body mass, goals (to reduce bodyfat by 6% in 12-14 weeks), and something else to get a total calorie goal of 1440/day, protein around 30-35%.

A trusted, but not 'official' resource gave me a guideline of around 1500/day, plus one day at 2000/week (I prefer lower weekdays, higher weekends), and minimum of 100g protein/day. I've been frustrated and had all sorts of schedule crazines, so I haven't been sticking to that perfectly, but I do get the minimum protein most days; usually shakes out to 1400 weekdays, then weekends around TDEE (yeah, sometimes over). Not too different than trainer, and doing this for the past month I've lost about 3lbs.

TDEE - 20% (basing my TDEE off my Fitbit) is 1600-1900/day. TDEE-20% based on the various calculators like Scooby is about 1800. Now there's a bigger difference. 1440/day ends up being TDEE-70-60% depending on the activity that day.

I started with the trainer to get serious about these last 20lbs or so. He comes highly recommended,I really like his training style and knowledge, and I want to follow what he says to get the results he expects, and I've seen those results in other clients. But I was already burning out on food restriction, and I was honestly thinking he'd tell me to eat a bit more, not the same/less. I firmly believe he's come to this number based on data he trusts (he didn't just say go with 1200 and deal) but it does seem to be different than what's suggested on the interwebs... the most unofficial source there could be.

Just wondering what others did at a crossroad like this? Thanks!

Francl27

Trainers are usually clueless about nutrition.. did he ask you anything about your activity during the day? If you have 20 lbs to lose (like me, pretty much), you're probably pretty active during the day to get 1600-1900 TDEE-20%. I'm guessing he just assumes that you don't move much or something?

I'd personally go with fitbit TDEE-20%. It's what I've been doing for 3 months and I've been losing very well that way (most of my exercise is walking plus two 200-300 calorie workouts a week that I count in my calculations). 1440 a day would be my TDEE-20% if I did nothing all day...

cwolfman13

Maybe you should discuss with him how he came to the conclusions he did. It definitely seems low to me...I'm 5'10" and 38 y.o. and lost a Lb per week steadily grossing 2100 - 2200 calories...but my TDEE is around 2600 - 2700.

MicheleWE

In my opinion you know what is best for your body and you want long term success so you want to make wise choices that are sustainable. If you are burning out on the lower calories plan it may do you good to do maintenance or a smaller deficit for a period of time.

duckiec

Thanks for the feedback - definitely gives me something to think about.

I also plan to discuss this further with him next week to see where he's getting his numbers from. I told him of my approx TDEE (both Fitbit and calculated methods) so he heard them, though don't know if he took them into serious consideration.

A bit disappointed that I couldn't get some solid advice from him and I'm still trying to figure this out. Or I guess I did, I just didn't like it. But nothing's set in stone, I suppose, and I can choose to follow, or not, or hopefully work with him to understand better and decide what's best for myself.