TDEE is BS!

mgobluetx12
mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My TDEE is 3049. I eat, on average, 1500 cals a day. So that's a deficit of 10,500 calories a week, right? So I should be losing 3lbs. I have lost 3lbs this MONTH. Not even one pound a week.

I say that there's no way my body is burning 3000 cals a day, especially on days when I don't work out!!!

Why do so many people follow the TDEE?
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Replies

  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    it is all so confusing....i think we all just have to tweak our calories until something works. I just increased mine..was starving on 1200...and I know full well..I'll just gain it all back if I have to eat like that.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    All these people on the boards and no one has any idea? Is it just that you're all stumped at how this TDEE works as well?
  • Tilran
    Tilran Posts: 627 Member
    go by BMR not TDEE.


    Give us your Height, Weight and Age.
  • 2hobbit1
    2hobbit1 Posts: 820 Member
    Can't see you stats to check you numbers - so can't comment!
    TDEE - 20% works for me


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Work out the numbers - use this link
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    My TDEE is 3049. I eat, on average, 1500 cals a day. So that's a deficit of 10,500 calories a week, right? So I should be losing 3lbs. I have lost 3lbs this MONTH. Not even one pound a week.

    I say that there's no way my body is burning 3000 cals a day, especially on days when I don't work out!!!

    Why do so many people follow the TDEE?

    Where did you get your TDEE from?

    TDEE are your maintenance calories, and all websites can do is give you an estimate.
  • flynnfinn
    flynnfinn Posts: 209 Member
    maybe your TDEE calculation is wrong. you should list your stats so someone can confirm it.
  • _granola
    _granola Posts: 326
    Either your TDEE calculation is incorrect, or if it is correct, no wonder you aren't losing much weight. Eat!
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    I used that Fitness Frog website. I am 37, 262lbs, 6'2 tall. Thank you!!!
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Well it work to me. It is not because it does not work for you that it is BS.

    Oh and why this again......you didn't liked the answers you got yesterday
  • Kwoman2912
    Kwoman2912 Posts: 14
    Website calculations give you a GUESS. Only you can figure out your actual maintenance calories. That is why everyone who joins MFP should log for at least a week their NORMAL food intake before slashing calories.
  • _granola
    _granola Posts: 326
    I used that Fitness Frog website. I am 37, 262lbs, 6'2 tall. Thank you!!!

    At a moderate exercise level (3-5 times per week), yes, that sounds about right. You are 6'2" and eating 1500 calories per day? Yikes. Like I said, EAT! You could eat 2500 calories on an exercise day and still have a deficit. Eat fooood.


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Maybe the way that you are calculating it is BS? But the concept that you expend a given number of calories in a day is simply a fact.
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    Big deficits can work against weight loss.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    I just checked mine earlier.
    I am 40 yrs old, female, 5'6", and weigh about 143

    According to 2 sites, my BMR is 1399. I just started looking into TDEE TODAY, so, according to the place I looked it up, using lightly active, my 'TDEE minus 20%' is 1539.

    Hmmmm, that is more than what I had. I was just using my BMR and had my goal at 1400
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    true losses are often masked by water retention and waste. i always get discouraged too and then all of the sudden i lose 5lb in one night, putting me right back on track. always remember, things are happening underneath even if the scale says otherwise
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    My TDEE is 3049. I eat, on average, 1500 cals a day. So that's a deficit of 10,500 calories a week, right? So I should be losing 3lbs. I have lost 3lbs this MONTH. Not even one pound a week.

    There are other factors that go into it...but that seems super high for your TDEE. Mine is only 2600 and I'm 5'9" with 21% body fat and I hit the gym hard 6 days a week.

    Use: www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/ Make sure to put your approximate body fat in there to make it accurate.
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    I'm 5'7, 266 and my TDEE is 2763.

    I eat 2220 calories a day.
  • thephysiquemechanic
    thephysiquemechanic Posts: 44 Member
    That sounds quite high for a tdee. What did you use to calculate it? You need to do the math based on your hieght wieght and age for your bmr, then calculate your tdee based on your estimated activity level. 3000 really sounds quite excessive.
  • thephysiquemechanic
    thephysiquemechanic Posts: 44 Member
    My TDEE is 3049. I eat, on average, 1500 cals a day. So that's a deficit of 10,500 calories a week, right? So I should be losing 3lbs. I have lost 3lbs this MONTH. Not even one pound a week.

    There are other factors that go into it...but that seems super high for your TDEE. Mine is only 2600 and I'm 5'9" with 21% body fat and I hit the gym hard 6 days a week.

    agreed .
  • Kayleighpaul1985
    Kayleighpaul1985 Posts: 98 Member
    I wear a Fitbit all day and this calculates my TDEE

    I have an office job but I do on average 30 mins walking a day, I am 5'5, 26 and weigh 161 and I burn on average 2200 calories a day so 3000 sounds right for you at the height and weight you are

    You definately need to eat at least 2000 calories a day and more on exercise days x
  • Tilran
    Tilran Posts: 627 Member
    I used that Fitness Frog website. I am 37, 262lbs, 6'2 tall. Thank you!!!

    Yeah I got you around 2900 with those stats. With working out 3-5 days a week assuming you are burning 200-400 calories a day you need to eat around 2500 calories.

    Keep in mind as you drop weight, this will drop as your calculation will change...most of the amount of calories you can eat come from you current weight. As it drops, so will your allowed calories.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    My TDEE is 3049.
    I say that there's no way my body is burning 3000 cals a day,

    These two statements contradict each other.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    there are limits to what you can lose, and weightloss is not always consistent. TDEE is a rough calculation that is dependant on allot of factors that are not easliy measured. you should try starting at no more than a 20% deficit from your ESTIMATED tdee and give it a few weeks. Just because your not losing 3 lbs a week at an overkill deficit does not mean that the method is broken. Lots of good advice from kind considerate folks, Good luck.

    edit: This is a very good read for a starting point on nutrition if you choose to read it.

    http://www.emma-leigh.com/basics_calorie_needs.html
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I used that Fitness Frog website. I am 37, 262lbs, 6'2 tall. Thank you!!!

    You are eating WAY under your BMR! If you aren't losing weight and have been eating so little for a while, then I am surprised that you aren't tired all the time. That's what happens to me when I don't eat enough. Anyway, I would try eating at least 1900-2000 calories for a couple of weeks. That is still under your TDEE, even if you are sedentary.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    Thank you so much for those of you who are trying to be helpful...you truly are helping me when I really need it.

    I think I will increase my calories for a couple weeks and see how that works. I'm so frustrated and discouraged right now that I'm at a loss.

    I really appreciate the input from the majority of you.
  • starracer23
    starracer23 Posts: 1,011 Member
    That sounds about right for your weight and height.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Big deficits can work against weight loss.

    ^^^^ TRUTH!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    With your stats, that's about right for your TDEE. At a 30% deficit (which is considered fairly aggressive), your intake should be around 2135 calories/day. You're eating at a deficit of over 50%, PLUS exercising. You may want to read this article and reconsider your strategy: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    If your TDEE is 3049 then you need to take off 20% to get your CUT which is: 2400 is what you should be eating each day. You are not losing b/c you are definitely not eating enough & your body is keeping what it can. Try out the 20%, I bet you will see better results.

    Just remember to give it around 6wks for your body to adjust so that you can see if this is working for you ....And recalculate your numbers every 5-10lbs loss (or gain) to have accurate numbers. :flowerforyou:
  • MoveTheMountain
    MoveTheMountain Posts: 764
    All these people on the boards and no one has any idea? Is it just that you're all stumped at how this TDEE works as well?

    As others have pointed out, TDEE is a guesstimate based on some mathematical models, not your specific body/metabolim. I gave up on TDEE after a few weeks, because I think all the websites give crap guidance around which activity level you should use. If you're going to start with something, just try to calculate your BMR, and then eat back calories from exericse. TDEE adds another level of estimation on top of BMR, which is also an estimate.

    Second, try a more paleo diet: stop eating breads/rice/starchy carbs/sugar, and keep your overall carbs fairly low (below 150 grams per day). See if that helps. Oh, and lift weights at least 3 times/week.

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