Why Can Some Dieters Eat More?

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  • Shrinking_Moody
    Shrinking_Moody Posts: 270 Member
    One way is if you are very large and don't choose the most drastic approach that you can find. Most people immediately jump on either choosing 2 lbs per week loss or manually set their budget to 1200 because they think it will make it all happen faster. A large, young man will have a calorie intake of well over 2,000 calories a day even at a deficit.


    This sounds about right. It tends to be more about taking a cut from your BMR vs the generic MFP numbers.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    I'm 6'2 and weigh 251. I was eating at TDEE - 20% (2000 cals) and losing super slow. I lost 4lbs in July, 3lbs in August and only 2lbs in September. I cut down to about 1300 and now I'm losing a steady 2lbs per week. I have 50lbs still to lose, so I'm not even close. I'm also never hungry. I eat clean 95% of the time, so 1300 (this is TDEE - 50%) goes a long way. This works for me, but I know I'll hear a lot of "You're starving yourself." My doctor has approved my calories, and it's working for me.

    At some point I'll probably have to increase, and I realize that.
  • Marksman21
    Marksman21 Posts: 126 Member
    A lot of it also comes down to our BMR (Base Metabolic Rate) and TDEE.(Totall Daily Energy Expenditure).

    I USED to eat just 1800 -1900 Cals a day, knowing it way below my usual expenditures, and thought I could lose. I was in fact slowing to a crawl. Then I read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Now? I eat at 2450 Cals a day, still in deficit, and my body is burning at a regular rate now. Granted, not everyone's body burns the same. However, 2450 (and adjusted lower as my weight drops), I can eat what I like, how I like, as long as I keep my cals and macros in check!

    Burger, anyone?
  • Goal_Line
    Goal_Line Posts: 474 Member
    They have likely/are likely doing 1 or more of the following:

    1. Researched the numbers, know their TDEE / BMRs
    2. Have a lot to lose
    3. Work out hard

    I have #1 & #2 - I'm at 1800, if I added #3 I would be well over 2k.

    This!

    It is not a mystery work out hard, eat more.
  • SavageFeast
    SavageFeast Posts: 325 Member
    Our secret is that we calculated our TDEE and took a 20% cut from that, instead of just relying on MFP numbers.

    This. I choose a number between my BMR and TDEE and use that instead of the major deficit that MFP gives me.
  • Matiara
    Matiara Posts: 377 Member
    I'm a tall woman (5'11").

    Genetically, I have a good amount of lean muscle and have always been able to eat a lot as long as I exercise regularly.

    My calorie deficit is not large because I'm relatively light and trying to get leaner. I am not overweight, but I am at the upper end of the ideal weight for my height and my body fat % is a little too high for my liking. My goal is to lose my extra padding.

    I have been eating like a pig the past couple of weeks. No ice cream has been safe from my rampage. In that time, not only have my clothes gotten looser, my muscle definition has gotten better. I just don't question it anymore.
  • LuluProteinFueled
    LuluProteinFueled Posts: 261 Member
    Higher activity level.

    Not necessarily. I sit at a computer all day. Yes, I exercise 5-6 times a week but at least 3 of those are strength training sessions which don't burn all that much during, and most of my cardio is shorter HIIT sessions.

    I eat 1900 to lose (10% cut as I don't have heaps to lose and want to retain as much LBM as possible while cutting).

    Oh, and wizardry.

    It depends on what your goals are. If you have a huge deficit, you'll drop weight really quickly and lose LBM with it. And then don't forget you'll probably put it all back on when you start eating "normally" again. If you have a small deficit, you can still eat heaps and enjoy the slow ride. I'm in this for the long run and I love food far too much.

    So this "secret", like all the other posters have said: I know my TDEE, and I cut at a small deficit.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Wizardry.

    For real. Wish I could get some of that magic.
  • soulfulsally
    soulfulsally Posts: 326
    Double post, sorry
  • soulfulsally
    soulfulsally Posts: 326
    Thanks for all the replies. There's a lot of advice to ponder. I hope it's really not wizardry, but I won't discount it just yet. LOL

    Marksman21, thanks for the roadmap link. I'll plug the numbers in and see what I get.

    SergeantSunshine, you are one of the reasons why I started this thread. I saw your posted calorie intake in another thread along with your profile pic and was like dang, what is she doing right? :tongue:

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