TDEE help

ils_1231
ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey all,

I've been trying to figure out what works best for me NEAT vs. TDEE.

What I want to know is -- with TDEE you have to put your activity level... my problem is that I aim for work outs 3x a week and usually end up achieving 3-4x a week, but it's not consistent. There are also weeks where I'm not able to do anything.... has to do with my schedule.

I think that this has been asked before, but does this affect TDEE? Do I need to put sedentary to account for a week in where I'm not meeting the requirements for that next activity level?

any help is much appreciated.

Thanks :)

Replies

  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    I used the online calculators to test my TDEE and it said 2300 ish. My doctor thought that was ridiculously high so he sent me to a recreational therapist who determined that it was closer to 1000 - 1100. I have raised it recently to around 1300 - 1500 (without extra exercise).

    I wouldn't trust the numbers you are getting on here.

    The same thing happened with my BMR. Online it said it was about 1800. My doctor also didn't buy that number so he sent me to the hospital to get it tested. (What a nightmare!) But it turned out to be 801 - 911.

    I think BMR, TDEE, NEAT and all that jazz is just over complicating what can be and should be very simple. I eat 1500 calories a day. I try to burn 300 - 500 in exercise and I try to stay active at home during the day with cleaning, laundry, crafts and whatnot.
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    hmmm interesting. your BMR was that low??? according to multiple sites mine is around 1300-ish? haha maybe i should go to a doc. im in for a check up anyways.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    You're probably better off following the NEAT/MFP method, setting your activity level to sedentary (if appropriate) and then eating back at least 1/2 of earned calories when you log exercises. TDEE is supposed to include exercise so if you're inconsistent or have weeks where you can't get the activiy in, you'll be eating too much and will stall or even possibly gain.
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    hmmm interesting. your BMR was that low??? according to multiple sites mine is around 1300-ish? haha maybe i should go to a doc. im in for a check up anyways.

    It can't hurt. Plus, TDEE is something that changes everyday. Mine can be 1000 one day, and 2500 on a very busy day, so it's a sketchy method to begin with.
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    if you suggest doing the NEAT way i'm still not sure how many calories to eat daily though... i know that i don't want to go as low as 1200 it makes me a terrible human being. ive been playing around with 1300-1350 but i'm just confused ahha
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    Start at 1500. You will lose weight. If it's not fast enough, go down to 1400.
  • Shaky44
    Shaky44 Posts: 214 Member
    If your BMR is 1300, then these are your TDEEs based on various activity levels (using Scooby's calculator here):
    Sedentary: 1560
    Light exercise: 1787
    moderate exercise: 2015

    When you exercise 3-4 times a week, does it qualify as "moderate" or "light"?

    I might be tempted to eat at 1560, then I'm getting a solid deficit when I exercise and I'm not gaining when I don't (there was a lot of math that went into that answer, but I don't need to post it to confuse things).
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    If your BMR is 1300, then these are your TDEEs based on various activity levels (using Scooby's calculator here):
    Sedentary: 1560
    Light exercise: 1787
    moderate exercise: 2015

    When you exercise 3-4 times a week, does it qualify as "moderate" or "light"?

    I might be tempted to eat at 1560, then I'm getting a solid deficit when I exercise and I'm not gaining when I don't (there was a lot of math that went into that answer, but I don't need to post it to confuse things).

    thanks-- i would say that it's light? most of my exercise is swimming for 20 mins (moderate/fast pace) and then treading (moderate/fast) for 10 mins
  • Shaky44
    Shaky44 Posts: 214 Member
    thanks-- i would say that it's light? most of my exercise is swimming for 20 mins (moderate/fast pace) and then treading (moderate/fast) for 10 mins

    I could make a case for eating at anywhere from 1430 (TDEE at light - 20%) to 1560 (TDEE at sedentary), depending on how aggressive you want to be.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    if you suggest doing the NEAT way i'm still not sure how many calories to eat daily though... i know that i don't want to go as low as 1200 it makes me a terrible human being. ive been playing around with 1300-1350 but i'm just confused ahha

    You could let MFP set your calorie goal for you, just make sure all your info is correct (height, weight, gender, age) and set your weekly weight loss goal to 1/2 or 1 pound per week. More than that would be unrealistic for someone with only about 24 pounds left to lose. When you get within 15 pounds of goal, make sure it's set to 1/2 pound per week.

    When you exercise, plan to eat back at least half of earned calories.
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    okay thanks!!! thank you for taking the time to do some math for me!!
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    oh i definitely have always had it set to lose between .5 and 1lb... haha i want to eat food, and 1200 was making me angry. hmmm okay ill see what they give me and just start playing around with numbers again.

    i've lost 4 lbs in a month but id be just as happy if that were less as long as i keep losing.

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