Changing to the TDEE Mindset

mkmfrog

OK, since August 2013, I lost 17 lbs, 30 inches...and 8% bodyfat. I have told my trainer that I really don't want to get any smaller...never thought I would say that 46! I love how I look and feel!

For the past 8 months, my nutrition has consisted of a minimum of 120 grms of protein a day. As my trainer had me carb cycle...my carbs varied from 0/day to 150/day.

For me, macros were KEY to my body's ability to burn fat, which is why I am really interested in using TDEE to determine my calories and macros. I would like to continue to slowly lose fat and gain muscle...but when I entered my specifics into the TDEE calculator on Scoobys workshop, I need to eat 1851 calories a day and the macro breakdown is 55% carbs, 25% protein and 20% fat. Approx. 200+ in carbs a day, every day.

NO WAY. I can't eat that much...and especially can't eat 200+ a day in carbs.

So I changed it to reflect a -15% calories. The caloric intake and macro %s seem more to my liking 1547 calories - 50c/30p/20f. After eating more protein than carbs for the last 8 months, I am completely concerned about what will happen when I flip my eating around.. eating more carbs than protein.

I am 5'1, weigh 131, age 46, my BF is 34% and I exercise 4-5 times a week. Since I eat clean, non-processed, high in nutrient foods...I can compact alot of nutrients in my meals. I eat ALOT of food! I think ppl would be amazed how much I ate and still lost weight, inches and BF.

I know that finding the right %s and calorie intake will take trial and error. I get bod podded every month, so I will know if what I am doing is working. Even though i think it is a horrible indicator, guess I will have to rely on the scale to determine if what I am doing is working between bod pods.

I guess I am just looking for reassurance here from those that used the TDEE calculator to determine their calories and macros. After working my tail off for the past 8 mths, I FEAR gaining the fat back.

Would love to hear your TDEE story.. especially if your carbs are your highest %.

Thanks!

mkmfrog

Bumping this back up to the top...hoping some TDEE peeps will respond....

Really would like to hear some TDEE success stories and that I don't need to worry about eating more carbs than protein! I will maintain and/or continue to burn fat.

husseycd

I eat to a TDEE method and a macro method. You can manually adjust your macros to get whatever you want. I aim for 100 grams of protein and let the others fall where they do. It's easy to hit both calories and macros.


TDEE is just calories, nothing more. Scooby may have their own idea of what macros you need, but it's irrelevant.

astronomicals

done both, both work.... kicked tdee cuz I like just hitting a weekly average more.... which is the way I use MFP. it also makes sense since my exercise can vary a lot week to week...

TDEE is not an exact constant. Your TDEE changes everey day, but, staying under an average will work

ETA:

always had macro targets based on bodyweight/LBM