MFP to TDEE-20%... Results????

Lovable12
Lovable12 Posts: 34
in Food and Nutrition
Hi! I just switched and was wondering what other peoples success (or not) with upping calories was and how long it took before you started to lose weight/inches/bf% whatever your goal is???? Also any suggestions when doing this???
«13

Replies

  • onehecticmom
    onehecticmom Posts: 299 Member
    I just did this as well. Curious.

    If I use the TDEE #, does that already include workout calories? Do I eat those back?
  • CloverCreeper
    CloverCreeper Posts: 178 Member
    I just did this as well. Curious.

    If I use the TDEE #, does that already include workout calories? Do I eat those back?

    It depends on what you choose as your activity level. I personally set mine as sedentary so that I eat my
    exercise calories back.


    Also, I just upped my calories a week ago. You should probably give it at least 4-6 weeks to see if there
    is a change.
  • Viva_Karina
    Viva_Karina Posts: 398 Member
    remember when changing anything on your plan, whether it be your diet, new workout routine, etc... it takes about 6-8 weeks to see if it is having any impact.
  • Danni3ll3
    Danni3ll3 Posts: 365 Member
    I am losing just over a 1/2 pound each week so it is working for me! I can't remember when I switched over but it has been more than 4 weeks.

    PS. I just checked. I have been doing this for 2 months.
  • Joluru
    Joluru Posts: 89 Member
    I started this and have lost 14 lb. since Jan 1. Because I have so much to lose, I'm doing TDEE-30%, and will adjust to 20% when I'm not quite as big!
  • uwdawg07
    uwdawg07 Posts: 372 Member
    I didn't lose an ounce for over 6 months, I upped my calories to TDEE - 20% and have dropped about 4.5 pounds in a month. It's working for me! And I love eating more!
  • tlmartin317
    tlmartin317 Posts: 5
    Call me crazy, but what is TDEE?
  • conniehv40
    conniehv40 Posts: 442 Member
    bumping until later : )
  • black_cats
    black_cats Posts: 29 Member
    I tried to work this out using the roadmap but my TDEE - 30% is lower than my BMR. So confused!
    The calorie allowance MFP is giving me seems too much, with 150+lb to lose I have a long way to go but I want to do it right.
  • KathrynCatlady
    KathrynCatlady Posts: 86 Member
    BUMP to refer to later
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Call me crazy, but what is TDEE?
    TDEE is total daily energy expenditure - the amount of calories you burn all day long based on your activity level and all your info.
    I tried to work this out using the roadmap but my TDEE - 30% is lower than my BMR. So confused!
    The calorie allowance MFP is giving me seems too much, with 150+lb to lose I have a long way to go but I want to do it right.
    Then 30% is too large a deficit - did you try figuring it at 20% or 15%?

    I've been following this method through the road map thread for nearly a year with excellent results. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    I really wish I had taken notes of when exactly I started it, but I do remember being on a plateau and stuck bouncing between the same few pounds for quite a long time before I figured my BMR & TDEE through that topic, and started eating at TDEE minus 20%. The scale moved, the fat started coming off, and I had to buy all new shorts for summer. :bigsmile:

    I am very near goal weight now, and have rerun my numbers, and have dropped my deficit to just 15%, and still seeing great results. Honestly, this close to goal weight, the number on the scale doesn't even matter to me anymore, and I haven't really lost pounds in months, however I am still steadily losing fat and inches, and dropped yet another pants size. On 1800+ calories a day. Didn't even gain weight through the holidays and I was over goal several times a week! :drinker:

    Knowing the BMR and the TDEE is very freeing - I have my daily goal, but I also know that I just need to eat in between those two numbers to stay on track. I always make sure I at least net my BMR for the day, aim for the 1800 goal, and no sweat if I'm over now and then. It works!
  • patty1138
    patty1138 Posts: 196 Member
    Bump for later
  • Lovable12
    Lovable12 Posts: 34
    Thanks for the feedback! I agree I love eating more! haha
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    Yes - this ratio is awesome - and my go to recommendation - but it is important to keep in mind that you shouldn't go BELOW your BMR no matter what the result of the ratio. :)
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    Call me crazy, but what is TDEE?
    TDEE is total daily energy expenditure - the amount of calories you burn all day long based on your activity level and all your info.
    I tried to work this out using the roadmap but my TDEE - 30% is lower than my BMR. So confused!
    The calorie allowance MFP is giving me seems too much, with 150+lb to lose I have a long way to go but I want to do it right.
    Then 30% is too large a deficit - did you try figuring it at 20% or 15%?

    I've been following this method through the road map thread for nearly a year with excellent results. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    I really wish I had taken notes of when exactly I started it, but I do remember being on a plateau and stuck bouncing between the same few pounds for quite a long time before I figured my BMR & TDEE through that topic, and started eating at TDEE minus 20%. The scale moved, the fat started coming off, and I had to buy all new shorts for summer. :bigsmile:

    I am very near goal weight now, and have rerun my numbers, and have dropped my deficit to just 15%, and still seeing great results. Honestly, this close to goal weight, the number on the scale doesn't even matter to me anymore, and I haven't really lost pounds in months, however I am still steadily losing fat and inches, and dropped yet another pants size. On 1800+ calories a day. Didn't even gain weight through the holidays and I was over goal several times a week! :drinker:

    Knowing the BMR and the TDEE is very freeing - I have my daily goal, but I also know that I just need to eat in between those two numbers to stay on track. I always make sure I at least net my BMR for the day, aim for the 1800 goal, and no sweat if I'm over now and then. It works!

    ^:drinker: :flowerforyou:

    Pretty much says it all aka what I was going to say. :laugh:

    I started at 2100 (I'm 6ft5 and weighed 255lbs so cals were far too low) Now I am on maintenance which is about 2900. I would say gradually increase your calories rather than increase by x amount all at once. Maybe 100 cals a week until you reach the TDEE -20%. And remember when you get there stick with it for 4-6 weeks before you decide it's not working.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    <
    If you need any more encouragement, here's some. The photo shows my progress of losing fat off my stomach from about the time I started eating TDEE minus 20% - that's 1800 calories for me. Took measurements (and the photo on the right) this morning - another 1/2 inch off my waist since Dec. 31. :drinker:
  • Lovable12
    Lovable12 Posts: 34
    <
    If you need any more encouragement, here's some. The photo shows my progress of losing fat off my stomach from about the time I started eating TDEE minus 20% - that's 1800 calories for me. Took measurements (and the photo on the right) this morning - another 1/2 inch off my waist since Dec. 31. :drinker:

    That is amazing! Do you do any weightlifting (SL5x5 or something else) and/or Cardio too?
  • SheriKCourtney
    SheriKCourtney Posts: 77
    I am new to MFP and I want to know too. What is TDEE and how do I know if I need to change mine and how do I do that? Thanks for your time!
  • Lovable12
    Lovable12 Posts: 34
    I am new to MFP and I want to know too. What is TDEE and how do I know if I need to change mine and how do I do that? Thanks for your time!

    use:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • MzzNkki
    MzzNkki Posts: 57
    bump
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    I just did this as well. Curious.

    If I use the TDEE #, does that already include workout calories? Do I eat those back?

    No you don't eat your exercise calories back. You calculate your TDEE based on how you live your life, and you just keep living your life but eat the same every day...you can go a little lower for a deload week, or a little higher if you worked extra hard.

    ETA: I can tell my body has changed but i'm not sure if the switch is that i switched to TDEE or that I changed my lifting routine. I think they go hand in hand tho.
  • mymelody_78
    mymelody_78 Posts: 657 Member
    BUMP...thanks for everyone's input!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I am new to MFP and I want to know too. What is TDEE and how do I know if I need to change mine and how do I do that? Thanks for your time!

    TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure. These are two different methods of reaching the same goal. The MFP method does not take into account exercise into your daily activity when you set your goals; exercise is considered extra and you are expected to eat those exercise calories back when you do workout. Conversely, the TDEE method does take estimated exercise into account so you don't worry about logging and eating back exercise calories as the goal that has been set assumes that you are doing them and being consistent in doing them as part of your daily activity.

    Further...the TDEE method is generally TDEE - 20% of that number or less (i.e 15%, 10%, 5%, etc) for healthy weight loss. This is often less of a caloric deficit than MFP will give you because most people select the most aggressive, 2Lb per week loss when they sign up for MFP. For this reason, the TDEE method is slower, but ultimately safer and healthier weight loss and you are more apt to learn how to eat appropriately to meet your bodies needs which is very important when you get to maintenance.
  • Insanity2bSane
    Insanity2bSane Posts: 204 Member
    Bump
  • singledj
    singledj Posts: 147 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/


    You can also use this calculator to get your numbers.
  • SheriKCourtney
    SheriKCourtney Posts: 77
    Thanks..........I will have to study up.
  • Lovable12
    Lovable12 Posts: 34
    Week 1 update: gained 3 lbs!

    I know this takes a while for your body to adjust but this is so discouraging... how much is normal to gain at first before you lose? Will I just lose back down to where I was at and plateau again?? Did I not calculate it right? I used a bunch of different calculators which all gave me TDEE of somewhere between 1800 to 1900 so I set my goal to 1450 (seemed to be between the two for 20% [slightly lower to make a slow adjustment from the 1200]. BMR at around 1300 so always eat at least that but never over 1800)... Am I missing something?
  • tryclyn
    tryclyn Posts: 2,414 Member
    Week 1 update: gained 3 lbs!

    I know this takes a while for your body to adjust but this is so discouraging... how much is normal to gain at first before you lose? Will I just lose back down to where I was at and plateau again?? Did I not calculate it right? I used a bunch of different calculators which all gave me TDEE of somewhere between 1800 to 1900 so I set my goal to 1450 (seemed to be between the two for 20% [slightly lower to make a slow adjustment from the 1200]. BMR at around 1300 so always eat at least that but never over 1800)... Am I missing something?

    Patience, it takes at least a month or sometimes a more.
  • Akumu
    Akumu Posts: 120 Member
    Don't forget to take your measurements. I haven't lost any weight yet, but lost an inch off my chest, hips, and elsewhere. From what I read it takes a little bit, plus your muscles store water while repairing when you first start working out.
  • hms142002
    hms142002 Posts: 15
    I upped my calories from 12-1300 to 1600 this week as well. I have gained 3 pounds. But no worries..I guess its my body adjusting to the extra calories.

    I need to reduce my carbs and up my protein now..

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