I'm a Special Snowflake?

Findekano · January 2013

Okay, one more time. BMR and TDEE are NOT the same thing....I used your weight and height (which takes into account bf) and your age, gender, got around 1400 for your BMR.

If you get out of bed, you need more. Are we on the same page? If you are doing weights, and going to work every day, and you are trying to use a TDEE calculator - you are not going to get 1400-1600 as a TDEE. 1800 maybe, but even that seems too low, unless you are tuly doing nothing but sit on your backside all day. With 26% BF, you should be eating no less than 200-300 below your TDEE.

This site uses different calculations. If it tells you 1560 (you should be set at lightly active, and "Lose 1/2 lb per week") - then it wants you to be eating MORE when you exercise. You do understand the difference between this site and using TDEE calculators, right?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Yes. I know the difference between TDEE and BMR. I am set to maintain because I do not want to lose weight. There is no deficit built in. Harris-Benedict based calcs set to light activity give me the highest numbers at 1700-1800. MFP's maintenance at sedentary was the lowest at 1560. Don't remember the original one that gave me 1450. I believe it was Scooby's. Others are somewhere in between.

My typical week - half-assed lifting once or twice 20 minutes at the most, three one-hour dance rehearsals (during which I actually dance full-tilt, maybe 20 minutes), and a whole lot of sitting on my butt. The month I was talking about, no dance, minimal half-assed lifting. IDK if this helps give an idea of how active I am, but I'd consider it either sedentary or lightly active. Barely 1.5 hours of activity at the most is not much.

I was surprised that I managed to gain no weight during a month of eating over 2000cals/day and not moving much. The calculators would indicate that I should have gained quite a bit of weight after that.

I just wonder how many people are taking those sorts of numbers at face value and undereating. Or, overeating, on the other end of things. I'm sure there are those that the same calculators might show a number that is a bit higher than what they really need.