For those following a custom plan - based on TDEE

josiereside

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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?

No, not saying the same, leaning out I guess maybe a better way to put it. I know I am pretty much at my limit with the weights I lift depending on my activity that I am doing. I do more workout DVDs with weights as opposed to going to a gym doing chest presses, machines, etc....

josiereside

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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.

I change my workout routines every couple weeks so my workouts are always challenging. I do vary the weights also depending on the exercise. Sometimes I can do more, sometimes less. I do have a good bit of muscle definition so I know I am doing something right, even in not tracking actual weight amounts.

josiereside

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?

Not sure if you are understanding BMR and TDEE, and I am not expert for sure as I just learned about it but my numbers are quite a few hundred calories apart. I know BMR is what you body burns calories wise just sedentary but the TDEE factors in activity level.

Mindmovesbody

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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?

Not sure if you are understanding BMR and TDEE, and I am not expert for sure as I just learned about it but my numbers are quite a few hundred calories apart. I know BMR is what you body burns calories wise just sedentary but the TDEE factors in activity level.

BMR is what your body burns per day just for your major organs to function. If you were to lay in bed for 24 hours and not move your body still needs calories for everything to continue functioning. The number of calories it would need in this state is your BMR.

TDEE is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. From the minute we step out of bed in the morning and. Start moving you are burning OVER your BMR at this point. Your TDEE is your BMR plus your overall activity for the day.

Wen figuring these numbers out (if that is the way you choose to do this) you have to be sure to pick the proper activity level for yourself. If you sit at a desk all day but then work out after work you are not considered sedentary.

I eat at my TDEE minus 15% and I do log my exercise for logging sake and my fitbit updates. I just pay attention to total food instead of net.