I know, another TDEE question...

healthylifehappywife8914
healthylifehappywife8914 Posts: 36
in Health and Weight Loss
I go to the gym at least 6 days a week, and I have calculated my TDEE-20% a million times. But every time I second guess myself because I have no clue what my activity level should be set at! I have my calories set to what I think is about my TDEE-20% (1800) and I weigh everything I eat. I was super concerned that I was losing weight slowly before, but I realized that I don't have all that much to lose so I'm ok with losing slowly, I just want to make sure I am accurately tracking because I am getting married and don't want to gain the weight back... I don't like basing my eating on how much I exercised on a given day (Oh, I didn't go to the gym today, it's a 1200 calorie day or oh I worked out 1000 calories today so I can eat a boatload!) because I feel like it is unfair to my body to go back and forth like that, so figuring out this activity level is pretty important to me...

I am a teacher, so I am on my feet at school for a minimum of four hours a day, walking around, etc. and I spend at least 90 minutes at the gym on those 6 days- most of the time doing an hour or more of cardio and some weight training on days I can convince myself to do it. I know I should mix up my workouts and not get comfortable, but that's not my concern right now... What would you set my activity level at?

Replies

  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    IMO you're doing it right already. Give it time to kick in.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    don't use an online estimator.

    Use your own data to calculate your own TDEE...

    the formula goes like this

    Total calories consume+(pounds lost x 3500)/# days (usually a couple weeks worth of data to ensure accuracy)

    That is your TDEE...
  • DrJenO
    DrJenO Posts: 404 Member
    If the day to day calories are stressing you out, try thinking about weekly calories instead. I've recently change my work out routine to have 3-4 cardio days per week and 2-3 strength/toning days per week. If I happen to want to eat more on a toning day, I "save" calories from one of my cardio days.

    MFP has a weekly view (under nutrition) that shows you where you are for the week.

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