Is my TDEE really that high???

marie_2454

I'm 5'9, 158 pounds and do about 9-10 hours of exercise a week (90 minute kickboxing bootcamp 3 times, weight lifting about 75 minutes 3 times, then a little bit of cardio- usually jogging or some sprints a few times for 20-30 minutes). I've been eating around 1600 and losing pretty steadily, but I think I'd like to actually up my calories some since I'm at a healthy weight and pretty close to my goal (140-145).

Anyway, I plugged in my stats using the calculator on scoobysworkshop.com and my TDEE for 3-5 hours moderate exercise is 2400 (-20% is 1920), then 5-6 hours strenuous TDEE is 2675 (!) and -20% is 2135. My kickboxing bootcamp is pretty strenuous, but everything else I would consider moderate. So, which one should I use? Or maybe pick one in the middle? Is my TDEE really that high?

Cindyinpg

Sounds fine to me. Mine is about 2750, according to my Bodymedia Fit, anyway and I've used those numbers to accurately plan my deficits. I'm 5'11, 179 now and about as active as you, maybe even slightly less. I do kickboxing too, but only twice a week. I lose a lb a week eating about 2000-2200 calories a day. Try upping your calories a little and see what happens. There might be a little initial gain, but then you should even out and start losing again.

Fullsterkur_woman

So, which one should I use? Or maybe pick one in the middle? Is my TDEE really that high?

Bump up your calories by 100/day every week until you stop losing?

Francl27

It depends what you do the rest of the time, but I'd probably eat 2000 or so, but increase slowly as you've been eating 1600 for a while.

But yeah, definitely eat more, I'm 5'5" and 150 and been losing 3-5 lbs a month eating 1650, with pretty much mostly walks as exercise (60-90 minutes a day).

Mr_Knight

You can always do it in steps. Move up to "moderate", stay there for a few weeks, and monitor your progress. Your weight loss should slow down, but not stop. If it stops, you have your answer. If it doesn't, you can decide to stay there longer, or move on up to strenuous if you're happy with your weight at that point.

I'm 5'9, 158 pounds and do about 9-10 hours of exercise a week (90 minute kickboxing bootcamp 3 times, weight lifting about 75 minutes 3 times, then a little bit of cardio- usually jogging or some sprints a few times for 20-30 minutes). I've been eating around 1600 and losing pretty steadily, but I think I'd like to actually up my calories some since I'm at a healthy weight and pretty close to my goal (140-145).

Anyway, I plugged in my stats using the calculator on scoobysworkshop.com and my TDEE for 3-5 hours moderate exercise is 2400 (-20% is 1920), then 5-6 hours strenuous TDEE is 2675 (!) and -20% is 2135. My kickboxing bootcamp is pretty strenuous, but everything else I would consider moderate. So, which one should I use? Or maybe pick one in the middle? Is my TDEE really that high?

paulperryman

I am in a similar boat, for almost 7 months i was going by the online calculators and MFP to tell me how much i should be eating setting a light-sedentary lifestyle since my job is primarily sitting on a forklift and i sit at home, but when i used my Heart Rate Monitor to do a 24hr baseline test on a non exercise day i burned 2800 calories just doing a normal day at work and lifestyle outside of work and thats not even including exercise which i was doing doing 360mins a week burning anywhere from 1500 per 60mins at the start to now around 500-600 per hour on average and not eating any of that back on most occasions.

and i was eating around 1400-2000 calories not netting, just eating. worked flawlessly for 4 straight months then the plateau's hit as i started doing weights each week since then i tried to keep the deficit to 500 on exercise days and 500-1000 on rest days.

certainly opened my eyes. I'm trying to eat around 2300 calories without exceding 60g of fat now which is a struggle even with 5 meals. i only have around 5-10lb's left to lose to be in a healthy range, tho if my Fat% level is correct i need to lose about 7%

I have not lose alot of muscle mass, least not noticeably i have definition and my arms and legs are certainly bigger muscle wise then they were 9 months ago.

Personally i now ignore the MFP activity levels as to get 2800 on that i'd have to set my activity level 140 above Very Active on the other sites it varies from Moderate - High Intensity, they are only an average guess tho, using your own Heart Rate Monitor or getting tested professionaly is better then set those levels manually and work out your own macro's based on that TDEE and then log exercise and use both the exercise and diet to create your desired deficit but always netting above your BMR which in my case is around 1720-1800 depending what formula i use

nikamar

TDEE calculators are just an approximation, but honestly I would say they overestimate the calories due to the fact it's very hard for a person to be objective about their workout intensity.
Just reading your post, it's impossible to determine how much exercise you're doing (I can honestly tell you I'm confused why your lifting lasts 75 minutes)
I would do what someone else suggested: up your intake 100 by 100 cals until you stop losing which will mean you found your maintenance level.
Deduct about 250 calories off of that (there's no sense in doing more this close to your goal weight), and adjust your macros properly.