Confused by TDEE - for a different reason

CLM1227
CLM1227 Posts: 61 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My BMR caloric need are around 1850 with a sedentary activity modifier of 1.2 for about 2220 calories to maintain my weight. I'm eating 1530 for weight loss plus eating calories burned through exercise which comes out to about 1700 - 1800 on days I work out (40 minutes on elliptical, I use the Heart Rate caloric burn calculator and use those calories burned here on MFP which comes out to around 250 - 320).

I keep hearing all this stuff about eating 2300 calories (while losing weight) - like huge amounts of calories that just don't make sense to me on a mathematical level.

If you are losing weight, your BMR decreases because it is based on weight and age. Do those who eat such significant amounts of food actually manage to work out enough to burn all those calories?

Gym is not really what I would call a hobby for me. It is a necessity for this period of time and if I would like to eat more than 1500 calories today. But my hobbies are largely sedentary (like sewing, embroidery, reading, and video games). So I can't imagine 120 minutes on the elliptical just to add 900 more calories to my target. I have fitness goals just to keep myself motivated while losing weight, but they are largely just tools to keep me exercising and reaching an appropriate fitness level for my lifestyle.

Replies

  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    2300 cals really is not that much for cutting, it's because there's a ton of women on here starving themselves on ridiculously low cals like 1000 wanting to lose 4 lbs a week or something stupid
  • HaibaneReki
    HaibaneReki Posts: 373 Member
    2300 is above my maintenance - guy, 75kg, 183cm, 29yr - but if I were above say 100 kilos, I definitely could lose around that number :)
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    If its working for you, keep doing what you're doing. If you're hungry you can eat more.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    It's not impossible to lose at 2300 but I also wouldn't believe everything you read here. I mean, you burn 2200 being sedentary. So anyone larger, younger and more active than you (or more male) would burn more and could lose at any number below their TDEE. Most of us women would gain or maintain at that eating level, though. It's way over my TDEE.

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