What have you learned by eating at TDEE-% ?

skinny4me2be

I posted this on a separate forum but there is not much activity there so I thought I would try here.....

I've been eating TDEE-% and seeing some small successes. I love hearing about success stories (eating TDEE -%) but sometimes you don't always hear about what people have learned along the way with eating this particular way. Things they discovered as they began trusting the process.

So with that, share what you've learned? What did you learn about lifting weights, and cardio or what did you learn from going over your daily calorie goal or for that matter what did you learn when you under ate? What did you learn about trusting the process? food Poritions, Or anything else, share what you've learned along the way eating more......educate me! :-)

FoxyLifter

I started TDEE-20% at the beginning of this month. The biggest thing that I learned is that my rest day are much more bearable. Plus, I like that my macros don't change from day to day. I love seeing my protein and fat in the red. :drinker:

Mr_Knight

Mostly I've learned that I can eat WAY more food than my body actually needs.

WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY more.

So if I expect to maintain, I will essentially be on a diet for the rest of my life....

skinny4me2be

Bump

Cortelli

I've learned that booze really packs the calories and I can't indulge the way I did when I was younger and fatter unless I want to be fatter (and older).

skinny4me2be

Bump

skinny4me2be

Bump again

AmyRhubarb

That it's awesome! :drinker:

First off, I've learned that it's awesome because it's sustainable, and a way I can eat for the rest of my life, and still enjoy parties, dinners out, holidays, vacations, etc and not have to worry about cals. I am still eating and drinking the things that I love, keeping the fat off, and feeling great.

I've learned to eat mindfully, choosing foods that help me hit my macro goals as well as my calorie goals.

I've gotten a better idea of my actual numbers - what number I can eat to and still maintain my current weight, and what to cut to when I want to lose a little more, but still be well fueled.

I've learned that I run better, lift better, feel stronger and am a lot more pleasant to be around when I'm eating the proper number of cals, and not stressing about going over on a regular basis. I know that one splurge isn't going to undo my week or wreck all my progress.

I've learned that the scale is a dirty little liar, and will tell me that I'm not making any progress, just losing and gaining the same few pounds over and over for months at a time.....while my tape measure and my clothing are telling me the truth - that the inches are coming off, and I need new, smaller jeans no matter what the scale says!

Best move I ever made was learning about TDEE and putting it into practice.

crystalfisher89

Way to go!

I came across this topic about a year ago and started utilizing it because I was sick of eating 1500 calories. While I was at my goal weight, I was not happy that I could barely eat anything and when I started eating more, I gained some pounds, but my pants all still fit roughly around the same. Like Amy, I discovered that my measurements mattered more than the scale because I was smaller at 142 than I was at 138 and had a lot more muscle definition.

I will admit I've gained a bit, but not because of the TDEE. I had a bad case of falling off the wagon, stopped counting calories, and stress ate, but after a month of hard work getting back on my TDEE and working on healthy meals and snacks, I'm losing again (slowly), but remembering that I must be patient and not give up. I've been working really hard on making good decisions and I've discovered ways to eat the things I want in a healthier form that will help go towards my macros in a great way. I also love that I can have one "cheat" day occasionally too and it won't kill me. Actually, I think those days are good for me so that I can continue my eat habits without punishing myself too much.

I recently got a fit bit flex tracker so I can make sure I'm not over or under eating too much so that I can stay close to my TDEE and know I can fluctuate my calories between days with more or less activity. Quite honestly... I love knowing I can eat between 1600-2300 calories everyday and now I'll be okay. I can even have my chocolate and wine!!!

RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle

I've learned that it works.

I'm not a habitual kind of person who has routines and structure, I'm more a fly by the seat of your pants kind of free spirit, and this is why knowing my TDEE works for me. I have tracked my intake for two years without missing many days now. This is the only rule. I can eat every two hours, I can eat too much at one sitting, I can drink, I can eat "clean", I can be vegan for a day, skip breakfast, skip dinner, whatever I want to do. As long as I check at the end of the week that I wasn't totally out of control, I'll maintain.

I just learned that it helps with losing and maintaining weight.