TDEE

My TDEE says 1800. However, I burn about 500 a day, which would leave my maintenance at 1300? Is this correct? I have read not to eat back TDEE, but it doesn't make sense to me.

I lift 4x a week for an hour and do Zumba for 1 hr each day. How active would you consider that?

Replies

  • sarahstrezo
    sarahstrezo Posts: 568 Member
    I think you are confused about the difference between TDEE and BMR.

    TDEE is Total Daily Energy Expenditure. So…that number should include ALL of your daily activity, including exercise. BMR is Basal Metabolic Rate. So…..the base amount of calories your body would require to survive if you were lying in a bed, in a coma, expending no extra calories/energy beyond survival.

    You need to eat at least BMR. The difference between your BMR and your TDEE might be big or might be small depending on your daily activity. According to calculations, my BMR is likely around 1300. But my TDEE is around 2500-2600 (this I know from trail 7 error). That is because I am very active…not just with my workouts, but in my normal daily activity.

    If you want to lose weight, you need to eat at a deficit…so less than your TDEE. If you want to gain weight, you need to eat at a surplus, so more than your TDEE.
    How much less/more depends on how much weight you want to lose/gain.