High TDEE (probably) - why?

anemoneprose

What are the biggest reasons for individual variation in TDEE? I'm maintaining on way more than calculators say I should, and have been for over a year.

Have eaten 2000-2400 for that long, and stayed within 5 lbs of my weight (125-130 lbs). Calculators estimate that I should eat much less. (2300 recommended only with 'very hard exercise 6-7 days a week').

I average 100-130 grams of protein. Bf estimates have given between 21 and 25%, but I'd guess it's at the higher end (arms are defined; belly and leg muscles are there but still hiding a bit, no pronounced musculature on back).

Am fairly sedentary. I average 2 days' lifting heavy-for-me (~40-60 mins; I try to superset), or doing 'medium' to 'vigorous' calisthenics or swimming, for 30-60 mins (no intervals).

I tend to use fast & big movements when I do housework (~1 hr a day) or walk around, but am not at all fidgety when sitting/at rest, which is a lot of the time, lol.

Thyroid's fine.

Not complaining, but am curious!

PercivalHackworth

Way of living,genetics, heart and....brain's activity
That sucker pomps big amounts of energy.

TDEE gets modulated on a daily basis the way you use your body through all the activities you perform and their frequency. The more active you are, also out of the gym, higher your TDEE will be :

- Taking stairs
- Walking
- Thinking
- Shopping
- Being outside
- Cleaning house
- etc...

anemoneprose

Thanks!

I'm flattered that you might ascribe (any of) that energy to my cogitation, but am not sure it's warranted Then again, you didn`t specify that the thinking should be productive, or of any particular quality, just that it happens.

& I'm pretty lazy, really, which is why I'm perplexed... Couldn't imagine that my NEAT is all that high (edit: I mean the burn generated by actual activity, not resting metabolism.)

Genetics I can see, my parents are energetic and active (much more than myself).

I've always had a strong appetite for a girl/woman, though... probably should have weighed a lot more given what I ate as a kid. (Eg - aged 14, could easily down a large pizza or two burgers by myself. Was 5'4ish at the time, and around 110 lbs.) Tended to average weight until adult gains (meds).

edit re activities - it`s 2 days` lifting & 2 days swimming/calisthenics, vs 'or'

Excellent name, btw

anemoneprose

Lol, ok, here's Wikipedia's summary, for the interested:

Causes of individual differences in BMR

The basal metabolic rate varies between individuals. One study of 150 adults representative of the population in Scotland reported basal metabolic rates from as low as 1027 kcal per day (4301 kJ) to as high as 2499 kcal (10455 kJ); with a mean BMR of 1500 kcal (6279 kJ). Statistically, the researchers calculated that 62.3 % of this variation was explained by differences in fat free mass. Other factors explaining the variation included fat mass (6.7 %), age (1.7%), and experimental error including within-subject difference (2 %). The rest of the variation (26.7 %) was unexplained. This remaining difference was not explained by sex nor by differing tissue sized of highly energetic organs such as the brain.[8]

Thus there are differences in BMR even when comparing two subjects with the same lean body mass. The top 5% of people are metabolizing energy 28-32% faster than individuals with the lowest 5% BMR.[9] For instance, one study reported an extreme case where two individuals with the same lean body mass of 43 kg had BMRs of 1075 kcal/day (4.5 MJ) and 1790 kcal/day (7.5 MJ). This difference of 715 kcal (67%) is equivalent to one of the individuals completing a 10 kilometer run every day.[9]

Also was reminded that the hypothalamus is involved in "production and regulation of feelings of rage and aggression", and that stress could be a factor. (& yup, can get moody, lol.)