Trust MFP or Scooby?

ChappyEight

So, MFP says I should eat 1770 per day to lose 1 lb./wk (desk job, so I'm on sedentary). When I started roughly 70 days ago, I weighed 218 lbs. and I'm now at 195. I eat all my exercise calories back. So, this is obviously working for me so far.

However, I've been highly intrigued and reading up about EM2WL and now I'm concerned I'm eating too little. When I ran the Scooby's Workshop calcs, it says my BMR is 1933, TDEE is 2659, and for a 15% cut I should eat 2260. If I'm understanding properly, using the TDEE method, that includes workout (so no need to add workout calories).

MFP's calcs have been working well for me to this point and I rarely feel hungry (which says a lot considering my past eating habits), but again, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm not taking in enough calories. I honestly don't care about losing "fast", so long as I get healthy and lose appropriately. But, I also don't want to overeat after I've finally convinced my body to eat more appropriately (i.e., not 5,000 cal/day).

I know these threads pop up a dozen times a day, but I'm not sure I've seen something this specific. Your advice is appreciated.

(I'm a 5'-8" male, walk/run for 50 minutes 3 times/wk, do body weight workouts 3 times/wk for 20 min.)

Thanks.

MissyMissy18

If it's not broke don't fix it

Agator82

Without doing extensive research on EM2WL I would say that if you have something that is working for you lifestyle and result wise stick with it. If you plateau and need to change things up to get past it then look at other programs like EM2WL.

Disclaimer, I am not familiar with the Eat More program, but just speaking in general terms. I am sure people will follow to discuss their specific experiences.

Bobby_Clerici

I used MFP to lose the weight and am transitioning off this system to another more oriented for fat loss and muscle preservation.
You just need to decide if you are at a good weight to maintain, then set new goals.
If all you are doing now is weight loss, stay the course and go with what is working.

chubby_checkers

If it's not broke don't fix it

This. If it's working for you, there's no need to change. If it stops working, then I'd start looking at alternatives.

jofjltncb6

I'm just disappointed to learn that you aren't getting individualized diet advice from Scooby Doo.

If that *were* the case, I'd say go with MFP...especially given SD's constant case of the munchies.

Beastette

Just bumping in hopes of a sighting.

piebird79

I'd go with Scooby's method. It sounds like you've been losing much more than 1 pound a week so far.

KodAkuraMacKyen

I used MFP to lose the weight and am transitioning off this system to another more oriented for fat loss and muscle preservation.
You just need to decide if you are at a good weight to maintain, then set new goals.
If all you are doing now is weight loss, stay the course and go with what is working.

What's the other system?

LorinaLynn

After your exercise calories, how close do the two numbers add up? Checking my own numbers, using MFP's net + exercise or Scooby's calculations, it works out to being just about the same. I'd still end up eating about 2300 total to maintain and a little less to lose.

So it really might just depend on what method of counting calories works best for you. Would you rather eat the same amount every day, or feel like you're "earning" more through exercise?

Rae6503

1700 seems pretty low for a guy. I'd bump that up a bit if I were you. Also if you want to prevent muscle loss make sure you are strength training and getting adequate protein.

legs_n_bacon

I'm just disappointed to learn that you aren't getting individualized diet advice from Scooby Doo.

If that *were* the case, I'd say go with MFP...especially given SD's constant case of the munchies.

I thought the same thing. So very disappointed.

IronPlayground

Use whichever method you are comfortable with. The end calories should come out to be close to the same. MFP is taking out exercise and expecting you to eat those back. The other calculation keeps exercise in so you wouldn't eat your exercise calories.

_skittybang

Scooby.

♥xenawarriorprincess♥

If it's not broke don't fix it

I completely agree...if its working leave it alone and once it stops working try something else...

_stephanie0

I agree with the if it aint broke dont fix it.
I also know that scooby works too, and based on your stats I would say that you could eat more.

Scooby recommended 1800 for me.... i dont follow this though because my burns are soooo different everyday. i may burn only 200 cals one day.

i also wore a HRM one day for 24 hrs and it said i burned 1750 cals, and scooby said i would burn 1700...so it is very accurate. just not with my burns...

you could get a fit bit!!

or else just play around. you didnt gain weight eating 2200 though, that's for sure

Jules2Be

Here for Scooby Snacks!!!! RARWRARWRARRWRAAR

Bobby_Clerici

I used MFP to lose the weight and am transitioning off this system to another more oriented for fat loss and muscle preservation.
You just need to decide if you are at a good weight to maintain, then set new goals.
If all you are doing now is weight loss, stay the course and go with what is working.

What's the other system?

It's a body re-composition calorie cycling thing geared to maintain weight and lose fat slowly.
Like MFP it's very simple.
On lift days I eat 4200 calories - 1000 above TDEE
On HIIT cardio days I eat 2200 - 1000 below TDEE
And the macros are balanced at 40% protein, 30% fat, 40% carb - nothing drastic

As I mentioned, I am transitioning into this. I just reached my weight goals and just want to cruise through labor day before hitting this hard. It's been a long. hard 2 years losing this weight.
I am taking a rest of sorts.

76tech

Scooby's hat is ridiculous. Never trust a guy in a ridiculous hat, crown, tiara, etc.

Loozin

I tend not to eat back my Exercise calories. I feel full and don't want to eat any more, especially later at night..
Should I be eating more?
The problem being I tend to work out later in the evening.

I guess the obvious advice is to work out 1st thing - but not always possible, being an insomniac and all.

What's a Scooby?

bluefox9er

If it's not broke don't fix it

Absolutely THIS ^^^^

it's so obvious, the OP didn't even think of carrying on with what works.

magerum

I used MFP to lose the weight and am transitioning off this system to another more oriented for fat loss and muscle preservation.
You just need to decide if you are at a good weight to maintain, then set new goals.
If all you are doing now is weight loss, stay the course and go with what is working.

What's the other system?

It's a body re-composition calorie cycling thing geared to maintain weight and lose fat slowly.
Like MFP it's very simple.
On lift days I eat 4200 calories - 1000 above TDEE
On HIIT cardio days I eat 2200 - 1000 below TDEE
And the macros are balanced at 40% protein, 30% fat, 40% carb - nothing drastic

As I mentioned, I am transitioning into this. I just reached my weight goals and just want to cruise through labor day before hitting this hard. It's been a long. hard 2 years losing this weight.
I am taking a rest of sorts.

Coincidentally I'm doing very close to the same thing.

On Lift days (T/Th/Sat) I eat ~500 above TDEE
On Cardio days (M/W/F) I eat ~500 below TDEE
Macros 40% protein/20% fat/40% carb

After almost 12 weeks I'm about the same weight (+/- 2 lb depending on the day), but I'm seeing definition and lifting gains so I think it's working! Although I think my TDEE might be off right now so I could just be maintaining...the jury is still out on that.

jofjltncb6

Scooby's hat is ridiculous. Never trust a guy in a ridiculous hat, crown, tiara, etc.

I'm adding this to my list of "life rules".

"Never trust a guy with ridiculous headgear."

GhostPack

I'm just disappointed to learn that you aren't getting individualized diet advice from Scooby Doo.

If that *were* the case, I'd say go with MFP...especially given SD's constant case of the munchies.

Yup me too.

Bobby_Clerici

I used MFP to lose the weight and am transitioning off this system to another more oriented for fat loss and muscle preservation.
You just need to decide if you are at a good weight to maintain, then set new goals.
If all you are doing now is weight loss, stay the course and go with what is working.

What's the other system?

It's a body re-composition calorie cycling thing geared to maintain weight and lose fat slowly.
Like MFP it's very simple.
On lift days I eat 4200 calories - 1000 above TDEE
On HIIT cardio days I eat 2200 - 1000 below TDEE
And the macros are balanced at 40% protein, 30% fat, 40% carb - nothing drastic

As I mentioned, I am transitioning into this. I just reached my weight goals and just want to cruise through labor day before hitting this hard. It's been a long. hard 2 years losing this weight.
I am taking a rest of sorts.

Coincidentally I'm doing very close to the same thing.

On Lift days (T/Th/Sat) I eat ~500 above TDEE
On Cardio days (M/W/F) I eat ~500 below TDEE
Macros 40% protein/20% fat/40% carb

After almost 12 weeks I'm about the same weight (+/- 2 lb depending on the day), but I'm seeing definition and lifting gains so I think it's working! Although I think my TDEE might be off right now so I could just be maintaining...the jury is still out on that.

I have not put anything in stone just yet.....it's a work in progress.

70davis

Bump

CoderGal

I didn't use scooby I used science. Which means eating anywhere below tdee has me losing weight. Mfp recommended 1200 based on the idea that cutting 500 cals a day would make a person lose 1 lb since 1 lb of fat is 3500 calories. Bodys are a little more complicated then that (which is why there are studies on the metabolism). Given that I upped my calories to 1650 and then to 1700 and eventually I was eating over 2000 abd still losing at the same rate. I found that it wasn't very often that I got cold after I upped so I suppose my body had more energy to burn towards other things so I lost at the same rate (look up thermogenesis).

Long story shortcutting 500 cals a day frpm my diet would have had me under 1200 which is rediculous. I'm happier now feeling better, smaller, and eating like a monster (not really but people on this site seem to think the 2000 calorie value that health Canada and the fda picked for women is to much...2500 for men)

mcarter99

I don't think what you're doing is dangerous at all. You're losing around 2 lbs/week, which is considered a safe speed. TDEE -15% is going to be a lot slower, it looks like about 1 lb/week based on your numbers. They'll both get you there, if your estimates are close enough.

ChappyEight

Thanks for all the advice. Some good stuff in there for certain. I suppose the smart play is to keep rolling along until I plateau and switch it up. I'm starting up circuit training in a couple weeks so I'll probably make sure to up my protein intake at that time to feed the machine.

Good luck to you all.