"Oh, **** "

iRebel

Sometimes I go over my calorie goal, which is VERY generous (1500) and then exercise until I net below it. So If my goal is 1500 and I eat 1900 then run off 500 calories (and lift weights- which raises metabolism I think) I am no worse off?

ElizabethRoad

Um yeah, that's the whole idea.

iRebel

But I'm trying do the whole TDEE-20% thing. You are supposed to eat a set amount. Anyway do I have to net so high? Is it bad to net at 1200?

cmayfield3

1500 is doable, I wouldn't say it's VERY generous. And if you are doing TDEE minus, you should be grossing that 20% less number, not netting it. Something's not right here.

iRebel

Something's not right here.

*Raises hand* I think It's me. :laugh:

cmayfield3

TDEE includes exercise. If your TDEE would have been 1900 but you burned an extra 500 calories on top of what you normally do, your TDEE is now 2400.

theartichoke

What's your BMR?

iRebel

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1535


Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2111


Daily calories 1688

How is this better than setting your goal to lose a pound a week and eating exercise calories?

emnk5308

This stuff is SO darn confusing to me too... I usually try to eat 1100 calories, and not eat back the ones from exercise.. today and yesterday I'm going to bet netting right around 1100. BMR TDEE make 0 sense to me. =|

Ty for posting.. because I might learn something here. ;D

PLUMSGRL

Go to this group "Eat More To Weigh Less" for info (red pins), feel free to join!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less

amoffatt

This stuff can get confusing to me as well, but I think the idea behind this is when we all reach our goal weight, just follow the BMR and TDEE to maintain. Most of us probably wont be able to eat 1200 calories the rest of our life (I know I can't, makes me weak, tired and moody!). That is what I get out of the calculations.

iRebel

How is eating TDEE- 15% Better than setting the MFP setting to lose 1 lb. per week and eating exericse calories?

Duck_Puddle

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1535


Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2111


Daily calories 1688

How is this better than setting your goal to lose a pound a week and eating exercise calories?

It might not be different at all. For me-it's 2 different ways to arrive at the same number. A+B=C vs B+A=C. It may be very different for people that don't eat exercise calories and/or have their mfp set to lose more than I do or any number of other things-but I get the same number either way and just following mfp & eating my exercise calories doesn't give me a headache trying to do calculations.

iRebel

Oh, and thank you all for your responses so far! :flowerforyou:

iRebel

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 1535


Daily calories to maintain weight (TDEE) 2111


Daily calories 1688

How is this better than setting your goal to lose a pound a week and eating exercise calories?

It might not be different at all. For me-it's 2 different ways to arrive at the same number. A+B=C vs B+A=C. It may be very different for people that don't eat exercise calories and/or have their mfp set to lose more than I do or any number of other things-but I get the same number either way and just following mfp & eating my exercise calories doesn't give me a headache trying to do calculations.

Thank you. I do not do well with consistancy, sadly- which is why I want to switch to focusing on my NET calories instead of factoring them in and eating a set number... I know, I sound like a wuss.

amoffatt

How is eating TDEE- 15% Better than setting the MFP setting to lose 1 lb. per week and eating exericse calories?

I am not quite sure, I personally dont use this method, I count calories, exercise and count those as well.

Duck_Puddle

There's nothing wussy about trying to find what works for you. I don't have any issue with the whole tdee-% thing, or eating the tdee for your goal weight or any other theory that is working for anyone else. For me, it's simpler to just follow mfp (at a reasonable loss rate that gives me more than 1200 calories a day) and get a bonus from exercise when I do it. I am currently on the injured list and if I was doing the tdee-% thing, I would have to go recalculate my goal until I am cleared to exercise again. That's all way too high maintenance for me. Mfp already gives me the same number-no reason for me to overcomplicate things. But everyone needs to find what works for them. That's not being a wuss-that's doing what's best for you.

iRebel

There's nothing wussy about trying to find what works for you. I don't have any issue with the whole tdee-% thing, or eating the tdee for your goal weight or any other theory that is working for anyone else. For me, it's simpler to just follow mfp (at a reasonable loss rate that gives me more than 1200 calories a day) and get a bonus from exercise when I do it. I am currently on the injured list and if I was doing the tdee-% thing, I would have to go recalculate my goal until I am cleared to exercise again. That's all way too high maintenance for me. Mfp already gives me the same number-no reason for me to overcomplicate things. But everyone needs to find what works for them. That's not being a wuss-that's doing what's best for you.

Thank you!!

wingednotes

I have no clue. I just eat until the number on MFP turns red with a minus sign. Then I know I'm supposed to stop eating.
Too many abbreviations for what should be more simple

mes1119

I don't know. Everyone tries to make it so mathematical and complicated. Eat healthy around the number you think you should, if it works, keep doing it. Seems pretty simple to me.

iRebel

I have no clue. I just eat until the number on MFP turns red with a minus sign. Then I know I'm supposed to stop eating.
Too many abbreviations for what should be more simple

I like that approach. I like to earn calories so I don't feel like I am on a rigid diet- even If I have a generous goal, If it is unchanging or unnegotiable, I feel like it is rigid.

susannamarie

How is eating TDEE- 15% Better than setting the MFP setting to lose 1 lb. per week and eating exericse calories?

Depends on your TDEE -- 1 lb/week is a constant 500 cal deficit rather than a changing one. For most people the numbers will work out pretty similarly.

I have a lower net and eat exercise calories for the same reasons as you. It makes me a hell of a lot more motivated to walk to work (which I should do anyway) when I can see 'muahahah I can eat an extra banana if I walk!'

Yeah, I know. Dogs get trained with food. So call me Fido. Arf arf.

amnski

If your goal is to eat 1500 calories daily to lose 1 lb a week, and then you burn 500 calories from exercise, you should be eating 2000 total for the day. If you don't exercise, then just eat 1500. Does that help?

iRebel

If your goal is to eat 1500 calories daily to lose 1 lb a week, and then you burn 500 calories from exercise, you should be eating 2000 total for the day. If you don't exercise, then just eat 1500. Does that help?

Thanks, I understand the concept of eating exercise calories- but I am wondering how it compares to eating a set # of calories where the exercise is already factored in. so you eat the same on workout days and rest days.

Helloitsdan

My TDEE is 2160ish.
On rest days I eat 1700.
On lifting days I eat 2500.

If you are cutting 20% off TDEE dont fuss with eating back cals unless you burn an obscene amount.
If fat loss stops, eat at TDEE for a week then rinse and repeat.

wahmx3

I calculate my BMR using the Harris-benedict formula which includes exercise.... my BMR for example based on my age of 45, height 5'4", weight 145 and exercising 3-5 days a week is.... 1383-1642.... meaning i eat within this range daily, no matter if I exercise or not. On days I exercise, I eat toward the higher end, and days I don't, I eat at the lower end. I have set my calorie goal on here at 1440, but i don't generally track my exercise here and I don't worry if I am 100 calories above or below. Does that help you??

If your goal is to eat 1500 calories daily to lose 1 lb a week, and then you burn 500 calories from exercise, you should be eating 2000 total for the day. If you don't exercise, then just eat 1500. Does that help?

Thanks, I understand the concept of eating exercise calories- but I am wondering how it compares to eating a set # of calories where the exercise is already factored in. so you eat the same on workout days and rest days.

iRebel

Thanks, yes this has been helpful... it seems like there are many paths that lead the same direction. :drinker:

jenilla1

I have no clue. I just eat until the number on MFP turns red with a minus sign. Then I know I'm supposed to stop eating.
Too many abbreviations for what should be more simple

Yeah, I don't worry about all the complicated stuff. I use the MFP guidelines because it works for me, so I just follow the MFP program instead of fooling with all that other stuff people are always talking about. I've calculated out a lot of the different variables, and they are close enough to what MFP does for me, that I won't bother fooling with what already works. I've been on maintenance now for over a year so I'm satisfied with MFP's methods.

amnski

If your goal is to eat 1500 calories daily to lose 1 lb a week, and then you burn 500 calories from exercise, you should be eating 2000 total for the day. If you don't exercise, then just eat 1500. Does that help?

Thanks, I understand the concept of eating exercise calories- but I am wondering how it compares to eating a set # of calories where the exercise is already factored in. so you eat the same on workout days and rest days.

For example, say you know for sure you will burn 2100 calories a week from exercise and need to eat 1500 calories a day to lose a pound a week, you should be eating 1800 daily if you want to already factor in exercise. Does that make sense?

iRebel

If your goal is to eat 1500 calories daily to lose 1 lb a week, and then you burn 500 calories from exercise, you should be eating 2000 total for the day. If you don't exercise, then just eat 1500. Does that help?

Thanks, I understand the concept of eating exercise calories- but I am wondering how it compares to eating a set # of calories where the exercise is already factored in. so you eat the same on workout days and rest days.

For example, say you know for sure you will burn 2100 calories a week from exercise and need to eat 1500 calories a day to lose a pound a week, you should be eating 1800 daily if you want to already factor in exercise. Does that make sense?

yes!
So, do you not buy into the whole EM2WL thing?

amnski

Oh, I completely believe in the eat more to lose more!!!! I highly discourage starvation diets (netting anything less than 1300 calories is starvation in my opinion), so like I said, if you need 1500 NET calories a day to lose weight, and burn 300 calories from exercise, eat a MINIMUM of 1800 healthy calories (not processed junk). I have seen women not only cut calories below 1200 NET, but eat donuts and ice cream that has no nutritional value, and they wonder why they do not lose. SMH