For those following a custom plan - based on TDEE

josiereside

Are you still recording your exercise even though if you set your calories to what you TDEE is and you don't eat back the calories... does that make sense?? Meaning, if I had the suggested goals set by MFP, it gives me 1200 calories but then adds in extra calories for your workouts.
By setting my own goals according to TDEE (mine are about 1700) I was told that you don't eat your extra exercise calories, which I understand, but should I still record it?

Sidesteal

Are you still recording your exercise even though if you set your calories to what you TDEE is and you don't eat back the calories... does that make sense?? Meaning, if I had the suggested goals set by MFP, it gives me 1200 calories but then adds in extra calories for your workouts.
By setting my own goals according to TDEE (mine are about 1700) I was told that you don't eat your extra exercise calories, which I understand, but should I still record it?

I don't record mine. I think it's really up to you.

mmapags

When I've done this type of plan, I've recorded them, clicked on My Home so they would record in my diary and then went back and deleted them so they would not add into my totals. This way I could go back and see what I did in a week if I wanted to.

sabek

I have heard of a lot of folks adding the exercise for tracking and then manually setting the calories to 1 instead of the amount suggested.

Aperture_Science

I record them all under strength so that i have a record of what I've done but they don't affect my cals.

Jessies_journey

I record mine as a 1 calorie burn. That way I still "see" that I burned, but I don't log the calories. I put my actual calorie burn from my HRM in my exercise notes section for my further reference.

SARgirl

I've been trying to eat at my TDEE for the past week or so and I still log my workouts but don't look at the net calorie number but pay attention to my total calories eaten for the day.

LottieLou13

I do my sedentary TDEE -20%, my Fitbit then updates my diary and I eat just about all of my exercise calories back.

Hope that makes sense!

agbaeb

bump

loseiteli

I record mine. Mainly as a way to keep track of what I burn through the week. I find it holds me (personally) accountable.

But I agree, it may be different for you!

montana_girl

I set my TDEE calories based on "Sedentary" and then log all my exercise... and eat the calories I burn.

But that's what works for me! :happy:

josiereside

:laugh: Thanks all! I think I am better off not seeing them because then I will think I can eat them!

ImperfektAngel

I've been trying to eat at my TDEE for the past week or so and I still log my workouts but don't look at the net calorie number but pay attention to my total calories eaten for the day.

this!

kikih64

bump

MinnesotaManimal

I record it and input the calorie estimation from my HRM, but still just eat my 3,000 every day. ( unless I have purposely gone above and beyond on physical activity with the goal of eating more)

littlepinkhearts

I record all exercise, mostly because I don't keep a detailed track of it anywhere else. Also in case I have a lot of energy to burn and I burn into my BMR, then i'll know how much I have to eat back.

almc170

My daily calorie goal is TDEE -15%. I log my exercise to keep track of the workout times, but just set the calories to 1.

steph1278

I use the Body Media Fit, but still log my food and exercise here on MFP. I don't pay attention to the net calories here because I am basing my intake on what BMF says I burn daily. I just like having it as a record to look back on.

juliebeannn

i log my exercise, for the most part, just to keep track, but on my cardio days, i want to make sure i'm eating at least my bmr.

Cait_Sidhe

I don't log my exercise into MFP. I write it as a status update using the same format MFP does so it shows up in the News Feed. I do record how many calories I've burned in a Food Note because I average it out every week and want to make sure I have a substantial deficit, but not too high. It shows me what I need to work on for the next week.

taso42

How else would you keep track of progress? I couldn't tell you, for example, what my bench press weight was 2 months ago off the top of my head. But if I look in my notebook, then I could. Without the log, it would be hard to plan workouts and gauge progress.

josiereside

How else would you keep track of progress? I couldn't tell you, for example, what my bench press weight was 2 months ago off the top of my head. But if I look in my notebook, then I could. Without the log, it would be hard to plan workouts and gauge progress.

I am not looking to track progress as far as if am I lifting more than what I was 2 months ago. Lifting heavier and heavier weight is not a goal of mine, more interested in the toning aspect. However, when I do P90X, I do have a log for what my weights were for each exercise.

Cmadridk

I'm wondering if it's beneficial to calculate TDEE using activity level sedentary with no exercise, and then eating at that number + eating back exercise cals. Logically this sounds like a good plan. Can anyone dispute?

myofibril

I'm wondering if it's beneficial to calculate TDEE using activity level sedentary with no exercise, and then eating at that number + eating back exercise cals. Logically this sounds like a good plan. Can anyone dispute?

I wouldn't do that as you would be wiping out most of your deficit by eating back your exercise calories.

What would work is finding out what your BMR is, multiplying by 1.2 (to determine TDEE for a sedentary person) and eating that fixed amount per day. Your calorie deficit is therefore created through the additional exercise and activity you do during the day.

UsedToBeHusky

Your TDEE seems low unless you are small. I don't trust any TDEE calculations because they are still just an assumption. Your actual TDEE will vary from day to day. I set mine to BMR. I let my FitBit update activity calories and I try to eat back half but even if I go over a little, I'm still netting around BMR. I would love to have some accuracy on my TDEE but I haven't figured out a way to do that yet.

myofibril

I would love to have some accuracy on my TDEE but I haven't figured out a way to do that yet.

It's a pointless exercise in the main. Calorie needs are variable from day to day so the best you can ever hope for is rough approximation and work from there. I think someone needs to come up with a TWEE equation

People get obsessed by the numbers but really miss the wood for the trees. Set a sensible guideline. Assess over time. Tweak as necessary. Add patience and consistency.

Job's a good 'un.

UsedToBeHusky

How else would you keep track of progress? I couldn't tell you, for example, what my bench press weight was 2 months ago off the top of my head. But if I look in my notebook, then I could. Without the log, it would be hard to plan workouts and gauge progress.

I am not looking to track progress as far as if am I lifting more than what I was 2 months ago. Lifting heavier and heavier weight is not a goal of mine, more interested in the toning aspect. However, when I do P90X, I do have a log for what my weights were for each exercise.

If you don't increase weight, then you aren't really doing anything to the muscle. You have to challenge the muscle if you want it to change.

EvanKeel

I have a body bugg that tells me what I burn in a day. I follow enough of a pattern at this point, and have enough data, that I have a good idea of about how much I'm likely to burn depending on what kind of day it is.

For kicks I still log my food and exercises here just for comparison's sake. It's more book keeping, but I don't really mind.

As far as what that means for me, MFP calculates my TDEE a bit lower than it is, but it kind of balances out because it over estimates the exercises.

KeriW626

hmmm ok, maybe I need to not even bother with TDEE and stick with BMR. there is only about 171 calorie diferance. I log my cardio and leave the calories the way they are. I dont eat my calories back, If I am understanding TDEE and BMR correctly, Only one is needed?

taso42

Lifting heavier and heavier weight is not a goal of mine, more interested in the toning aspect.

Not sure what "toning" means in this context. Staying the same?

amnski

I add my workouts so I know what I did, but don't put emphasis on the calories burned. I stick to a overall calorie goal. You may consider doing what other posters have suggested and entering the workout with 1 calorie burned.