Activity Levels: TDEE Method vs. MFP - Huge Variances?

madrose0715
madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this:

Using the TDEE Method and Calculator (found on Scooby's workshop), my TDEE is calculated at 2933 calories per day. (7-21 hours of strenuous activity). On MFP, using the 'very active' activity level, it calculates my TDEE as 2200 calories per day. Both calculators show a rate of a 1 pound per week. Obviously, that is a huge variance in my TDEE...the difference of well over 600 calories per day would move me from 1 pound per week to 2...

Has anyone who has used both methods succesfully determined which TDEE estimate is most accurate? Would I be better off to wear my Heart Rate monitor for the day and deduct my BMR for the appropriate period to get a more accurate reading of my TDEE?

Replies

  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    The MFP method does not take into account your exercise, just your general daily activity level, i.e. type of job you have, if you run around after kids or just sit watching TV all day, etc. you are then supposed to record your exercise and eat back those cals, which would take the number closer to the Scooby TDEE you calculated.

    With Scooby you count exercise in your activity level and therefore do not eat back exercise cals.
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    The MFP method does not take into account your exercise, just your general daily activity level, i.e. type of job you have, if you run around after kids or just sit watching TV all day, etc. you are then supposed to record your exercise and eat back those cals, which would take the number closer to the Scooby TDEE you calculated.

    With Scooby you count exercise in your activity level and therefore do not eat back exercise cals.

    ^^ this
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    Scoobys is wonderful! I swear by it!!!
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    hmmm your tdee sounds a bit high on scooby?? whats your height and weight?
    Best from NYC
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,468 Member
    Yes, as said above, you'd need to add in your exercise to get your MFP TDEE.

    I think MFP uses the Mifflin St-Jeor BMR, so you should get much the same results as using that BMR at Scooby. ( http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ ). Personally, I use the Katch-McArdle BMR, because it's supposed to be more accurate (takes into account body fat %), but it's pretty close to Mifflin St-Jeor anyway.

    Also, I'm not sure if I misunderstood your post, but your TDEE is your maintenance level, so it's not allowing for 1lb a week loss. Scooby will give you a percentage loss under the TDEE if you add that in.

    Just speaking from my personal and limited experience, both (MFP and Scooby) seem to be accurate enough for me in that I lose weight at the expected rate.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    hmmm your tdee sounds a bit high on scooby?? whats your height and weight?
    Best from NYC

    I am 44, 5'9", 180 pounds currently. I used the 7-21 hours strenuous activity on the scooby site.

    Others - thanks. So the consensus is that 600/700 or so difference between the Daily Expenditures basically represents 'intentional workouts' that are built into the TDEE calculation with Scooby? That is a little confusing for me because the 7-21 hours of strenuous activity with Scooby's simply is my job and not my workouts and the 'very active' setting with MFP also represents just my job. This is why I am thinking wearing a HRM for a day then deducting my BMR might give me a better clue to my true TDEE?
  • Sarah_LM
    Sarah_LM Posts: 96
    Wearing a hrm for the day won't help yu because they are only for use during aerobic exercise. You would need a bodymedia or bodybugg device to find out your calorie burn for a day.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    I think my problem is that the TDEE on Scooby's, while called activity level, does not differentiate by job and my intentional exercise so I am really not sure if the 2900 is over or understated to reality. I have been following TDEE -20% for the last 6 weeks and have been successful with it, but things are changing for me again. I had put my exercise regimen 'on hold' for the last 6 weeks of work because my job is so physically demanding that I have been too tired to work out. My energy levels are improving now and I am resuming my 'intentional workouts' (mainly strength training) and I am not sure which method to use now.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,468 Member
    I suppose that if your job is strenuous enough to be the equivalent of the max setting on Scooby (very heavy exercise, twice per day, extra heavy workouts) then the basic settings on MFP aren't going to be high enough for you and you'll need custom goals (unless you add in your work as exercise and eat the calories back). Have you tried Heybales' spreadsheet? I haven't myself, because I can't get it to work, but it looks like it might be very good if you want to be more precise about your activity and you don't exactly fit one of the categories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    Wearing a hrm for the day won't help yu because they are only for use during aerobic exercise. You would need a bodymedia or bodybugg device to find out your calorie burn for a day.

    I have heard others make this claim about HRM before but with no explanation as to why it is inaccurate to wear it for the day. My job (on a farm) involves heavy lifting and walking at a very brisk pace for 8 hours/day - my heart rate is constantly elevated except at break and lunch time. Why would the HRM be ineffective at tracking this?
  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    MFP does not take into account your workouts. Scooby (and other TDEE calcs) do. With TDEE-% plans, you do NOT eat back exercise calories and just eat the same number of calories a day. With MFP, you need to reach your "NET" calorie goal every day. So you keep up with exercise calories and DO eat them back. Just different methods. One is simplier than the other.

    For reference, I'm 5'8 and weigh 160ish and my FitBit estimates my daily calorie burn (just walking, moving, errands, kids, etc) as 2600. So your 2900 for a strenuous farm job is not unreasonable.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I suppose that if your job is strenuous enough to be the equivalent of the max setting on Scooby (very heavy exercise, twice per day, extra heavy workouts) then the basic settings on MFP aren't going to be high enough for you and you'll need custom goals (unless you add in your work as exercise and eat the calories back). Have you tried Heybales' spreadsheet? I haven't myself, because I can't get it to work, but it looks like it might be very good if you want to be more precise about your activity and you don't exactly fit one of the categories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

    ^^^This. Use this spreadsheet to more accurately estimate your activity level.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    I suppose that if your job is strenuous enough to be the equivalent of the max setting on Scooby (very heavy exercise, twice per day, extra heavy workouts) then the basic settings on MFP aren't going to be high enough for you and you'll need custom goals (unless you add in your work as exercise and eat the calories back). Have you tried Heybales' spreadsheet? I haven't myself, because I can't get it to work, but it looks like it might be very good if you want to be more precise about your activity and you don't exactly fit one of the categories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

    Thanks...going to take a look at this.
    ^^^This. Use this spreadsheet to more accurately estimate your activity level.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    I suppose that if your job is strenuous enough to be the equivalent of the max setting on Scooby (very heavy exercise, twice per day, extra heavy workouts) then the basic settings on MFP aren't going to be high enough for you and you'll need custom goals (unless you add in your work as exercise and eat the calories back). Have you tried Heybales' spreadsheet? I haven't myself, because I can't get it to work, but it looks like it might be very good if you want to be more precise about your activity and you don't exactly fit one of the categories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

    ^^^This. Use this spreadsheet to more accurately estimate your activity level.

    Wow. What a great spreadsheet and exactly what I needed! Thanks. This spreadsheet estimates my TDEE 3247 and my eating goal should be 2666 kcals. I love how it breaks out the various activities from your job. Thanks!
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,468 Member
    You're welcome! You don't want to be eating too little while doing farm work!
  • verasdaughter
    verasdaughter Posts: 71 Member
    Bump

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