So confused about TDEE

lynnymcc
lynnymcc Posts: 89
in Health and Weight Loss
So MFP says I should eat 1700 cals a day inorder to lose 1.5 lbs/week.
But when I did my TDEE calculator online it said my TDEE is 2049 and I thought inorder to lose 1 lb a week, I would need to shave off 500 cals a day for a total of 3500 calories/week.
2049-500=1549....that's quite a diff from 1700 cals (and I am hungry on 1700 cals/day).
IF I went lower to 1549, is that a bad thing?
I am 213 lbs, 38 yrs old and 5'6"....and VERY inactive.
Would love some input.

Replies

  • bergamese
    bergamese Posts: 36 Member
    Interesting. I am almost in the same place:

    212 lbs
    5' 5"

    I want to lose 1 lb per week, and my MFP calorie intake goal per day is 1490.

    Does your extra inch of height really make all that much of a difference? I hope an expert will chime in.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    MFP bases your daily allowance in part by "I want to lose XX pounds a week" ...... 1 pound would be 3500 ( or 7 x 500) ... 1.5 pounds would be 750 off.

    MFP did not give you credit for any exercise ....TDEE did.

    Here are weekly goals based upon the weight you want to lose

    Pounds per week
    75+ lbs to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs to lose 1 -.50 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs range

    To answer your question .....lower is not better. Yes, weight loss will be quicker (at first) but subject to plateaus. Also if weight loss is too fast ... you risk losing muscle mass.... that's why you follow the recommendations above. Muscle mass is healthy tissue & promotes a healthy metabolism.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    All the calculators do is crunch numbers.

    You input the activity levels. Activity level multipliers are different on different calculator models.

    Use MFP's numbers, keep good records of your food and exercise and after a month you will know how close you are. For all of us it is a learning process that requires tweaking actual results and projected results.

    TDEE calculators and MFP work differently.
  • amosmoses88
    amosmoses88 Posts: 163 Member
    I don't go by MFP. Go in and change your goals manually to your TDEE and go by it. That's if you get all your calculations right in how active/inactive you are. I started losing A LOT when I went by my TDEE and manually changed my goals.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Interesting. I am almost in the same place:

    212 lbs
    5' 5"

    I want to lose 1 lb per week, and my MFP calorie intake goal per day is 1490.

    Does your extra inch of height really make all that much of a difference? I hope an expert will chime in.

    Keep in mind 1490 is a NET number. MFP will not give you any credit for exercise until you log it. Add exercise "credit" to your 1490 (when using MFP).

    Other calcuators (TDEE) will include exercise up front. 2 different methods, you choose what works for your lifestyle.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    I am 213 lbs, 38 yrs old and 5'6"....and VERY inactive.

    Lynny, if you are at the above weight, and have 25 pounds to lose, you still won't be at your goal weight, will you?

    If you are going to try for a lower weight (like to get you into a healthy BMI) then set up MFP accurately so you will be given accurate calorie goals.

    *edit to say: Same goes for bergamese: set your weight loss ticker to reflect the actual end goal. Otherwise you are getting skewed numbers.
  • tonynguyen75
    tonynguyen75 Posts: 418 Member
    Use a scale and weigh yourself at a certain caloric intake, look at the results after 3-4 weeks, make adjustments as necessary. Start with a higher value (~1800). Also, get ACTIVE, you get healthier, you get more calories and you're more likely to make more friends that are of a similar mindset.
  • lynnymcc
    lynnymcc Posts: 89
    I am 213 lbs, 38 yrs old and 5'6"....and VERY inactive.

    Lynny, if you are at the above weight, and have 25 pounds to lose, you still won't be at your goal weight, will you?

    If you are going to try for a lower weight (like to get you into a healthy BMI) then set up MFP accurately so you will be given accurate calorie goals.

    *edit to say: Same goes for bergamese: set your weight loss ticker to reflect the actual end goal. Otherwise you are getting skewed numbers.



    I am not too sure what I want my goal weight to be at this point...since this past jan, I have lost 25 lbs. I would love to lose another 30 for sure....and even more...but If I can get down to the 180's my body looks very healthy at that weight and I feel great.
  • bergamese
    bergamese Posts: 36 Member
    I am 213 lbs, 38 yrs old and 5'6"....and VERY inactive.

    Lynny, if you are at the above weight, and have 25 pounds to lose, you still won't be at your goal weight, will you?

    If you are going to try for a lower weight (like to get you into a healthy BMI) then set up MFP accurately so you will be given accurate calorie goals.

    *edit to say: Same goes for bergamese: set your weight loss ticker to reflect the actual end goal. Otherwise you are getting skewed numbers.



    I am not too sure what I want my goal weight to be at this point...since this past jan, I have lost 25 lbs. I would love to lose another 30 for sure....and even more...but If I can get down to the 180's my body looks very healthy at that weight and I feel great.

    Same here. My current goal is to get to ~175 which is still overweight, but with my age (50+) and body shape I look OK at that weight. I struggle with perfectionistic body image so it helps me to have a modest goal.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    So MFP says I should eat 1700 cals a day inorder to lose 1.5 lbs/week.
    But when I did my TDEE calculator online it said my TDEE is 2049 and I thought inorder to lose 1 lb a week, I would need to shave off 500 cals a day for a total of 3500 calories/week.
    2049-500=1549....that's quite a diff from 1700 cals (and I am hungry on 1700 cals/day).
    IF I went lower to 1549, is that a bad thing?
    I am 213 lbs, 38 yrs old and 5'6"....and VERY inactive.
    Would love some input.

    Something is off either in your MFP activity level or your TDEE activity level then. Keep in mind that MFP's activity level is only supposed to be your day to day hum drum and you account for exercise after the fact when you log it. With TDEE your activity level includes your daily humdrum as well as an estimate of exercise, so that activity is accounted for up front.

    Are you sure you didn't set MFP to 0.5 Lbs per week? What activity level did you put it at? Something is off I think with one of those two things.
  • lynnymcc
    lynnymcc Posts: 89
    You are so right...I went back to my "setting" and I had it set for very active...which I am NOT. (i was when I initially started this back in Jan). Crap! So MFP has me at 1500 cals a day...which is BRUTAL cause I am hungry on my 1700!
    Guess I had better get to the gym so I can eat more!!!
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    Sometimes you just have to figure out what works for your body. I'm 6'2, 210lbs, so I should be able to eat a LOT (around 2200) cals and still lose according to my TDEE, but tell that to my body. I only lose when I eat around 1400 calories.

    Find out what works for you through trial and error. It takes awhile, but it's better than just guessing or relying on numbers that don't work for everyone.
  • lynnymcc
    lynnymcc Posts: 89
    yes you're right.
    When I started back in Jan, I weighed 238 lbs, was nursing a baby and working out so was eating 1800-2000 cals and I lost 25 lbs!
    So my TDEE is 2049-20%=1640 cals...which I guess isn't too far off from MFP which had me at 1700 cals. I think I just panicked there for a bit. All is good.
    Thanks everyone for your feedback

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