TDEE/BMR help.

I could use a little guidance as to what my calorie intake should be.

My work is sedentary as I work a desk job, however I'm actively exercising 5-6 days per week by mostly running - yay, C25K!!! I'd ideally like to lose 2 lbs per week.

So here's my confusion:

On MFP, using lightly active, my net calories are 1310.
On MFP, using active, my net calories are 1480.
On Fitness Frog, using light activity (1-3 days of exercise), my TDEE is 2395. That, minus 20%, gives me a net goal of 1916.
On Fitness Frog, using moderate activity (3-5 days of exercise), my TDEE is 2700. That, minus 20%, gives me a net goal of 2160.
On Fat 2 Fit, using Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk), eat 1951 calories per day.
On Fat 2 Fit, using Moderately Active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk), eat 2199 per day.

That's a range from 1310 to 2199. That's HUGE, lol. So... help!

Replies

  • anasantos61
    anasantos61 Posts: 86 Member
    I am in the same situation like you.

    would like to see some of the answers.
  • JerseyGirlinTN
    JerseyGirlinTN Posts: 144 Member
    Bump. Could really use some help here.
  • Nefetete
    Nefetete Posts: 343 Member
    Take a look at this post to figure out your goal. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    MFP gives you NET calories, means you eat back some or most of your workout cals. The TDEE - x% takes into consideration your workout and you do not eat your wo cals back. For me both approaches came roughly to the same cal consumed per day once I picked the correct activity level.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    What is your age/weight/height?
  • Grognit
    Grognit Posts: 50
    I am pretty sure that if you lowered your goal to 1lb a week, MFP numbers would be really close to what fat2fit and fitness frog have you at.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    My work is sedentary as I work a desk job, however I'm actively exercising 5-6 days per week by mostly running - yay, C25K!!! I'd ideally like to lose 2 lbs per week.


    You are therefore active. Use either the fat2fit or fitness frog - or average them, for that matter - subtract a % that is appropriate for how much weight you want to lose, and don't eat back exercise Calories.
  • JerseyGirlinTN
    JerseyGirlinTN Posts: 144 Member
    I am pretty sure that if you lowered your goal to 1lb a week, MFP numbers would be really close to what fat2fit and fitness frog have you at.

    You were exactly right! I adjusted it to 1 lb and it's at 1980.
  • Nefetete
    Nefetete Posts: 343 Member

    edited my original post to add this "MFP gives you NET calories, means you eat back some or most of your workout cals. The TDEE - x% takes into consideration your workout and you do not eat your wo cals back. For me both approaches came roughly to the same cal consumed per day once I picked the correct activity level. "

    MFP and Fat2tit are 2 different approaches but if done correctly should be the same in regards to calories consumed.
  • JerseyGirlinTN
    JerseyGirlinTN Posts: 144 Member
    My work is sedentary as I work a desk job, however I'm actively exercising 5-6 days per week by mostly running - yay, C25K!!! I'd ideally like to lose 2 lbs per week.


    You are therefore active. Use either the fat2fit or fitness frog - or average them, for that matter - subtract a % that is appropriate for how much weight you want to lose, and don't eat back exercise Calories.

    Thank you!
  • JerseyGirlinTN
    JerseyGirlinTN Posts: 144 Member

    edited my original post to add this "MFP gives you NET calories, means you eat back some or most of your workout cals. The TDEE - x% takes into consideration your workout and you do not eat your wo cals back. For me both approaches came roughly to the same cal consumed per day once I picked the correct activity level. "

    MFP and Fat2tit are 2 different approaches but if done correctly should be the same in regards to calories consumed.

    And that's exactly what I was missing. Now everything makes sense. Thank you!!!
  • Grognit
    Grognit Posts: 50
    You were exactly right! I adjusted it to 1 lb and it's at 1980.

    I would eat at 1950 and not eat my exercise calories back..
  • JerseyGirlinTN
    JerseyGirlinTN Posts: 144 Member
    You were exactly right! I adjusted it to 1 lb and it's at 1980.

    I would eat at 1950 and not eat my exercise calories back..

    That's what I'm going to aim for. Thank you!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I could use a little guidance as to what my calorie intake should be.

    My work is sedentary as I work a desk job, however I'm actively exercising 5-6 days per week by mostly running - yay, C25K!!! I'd ideally like to lose 2 lbs per week.

    So here's my confusion:

    On MFP, using lightly active, my net calories are 1310.
    On MFP, using active, my net calories are 1480.
    On Fitness Frog, using light activity (1-3 days of exercise), my TDEE is 2395. That, minus 20%, gives me a net goal of 1916.
    On Fitness Frog, using moderate activity (3-5 days of exercise), my TDEE is 2700. That, minus 20%, gives me a net goal of 2160.
    On Fat 2 Fit, using Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk), eat 1951 calories per day.
    On Fat 2 Fit, using Moderately Active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk), eat 2199 per day.

    That's a range from 1310 to 2199. That's HUGE, lol. So... help!

    Thought I'd comment on the why, even though it's all figured out.

    MFP doesn't include any exercise in their levels, so different multipliers to the Mifflin BMR they use, 1.25, 1.35, 1.45, 1.55.
    Fitness Frog using traditional BMR multipliers, think they use Mifflin too, 1.20, 1.375, 1.55, ect.
    Fat2fit using Harris BMR with same traditional multipliers.

    So the foundation to the math is the same for 2, and then 2 use the same building on top of it.

    As mentioned, depending on amount of exercise and your existing daily activity, many times works out about the same.

    MFP you learn to eat for your level of activity, more when you do more. Though you may also view food as reward to workout, which could be good or bad.

    TDEE method you learn to eat a set reasonable amount daily still based on planned workouts, so encouragement to do them.

    Different styles.

    Really variable or iffy workouts, MFP style works great, though their method of using set blocks of calories to deficit is a tad lacking.
    Regular workouts benefit from TDEE method and real flexibility to decrease deficit as you get closer to goal weight.