any success with eating TDEE - 20%

I have been gradually increasing to the roadmap, which is based off TDEE-20%, but I used the nifty provided spreadsheet so I wouldn't have to do math. I just bumped my calories to 1850, which is more than I used to eat when I "dieted" before. Of course, my dieting included eating 1000-1200 calories during the week (I could control my self at work) and then complete and utter binging on the weekends. I have not had any problems except I had a slight gain when I first started last adding in calories. However, last week I lost three pounds (hence why I'm still increasing calories). I also am usually very full and it's easier to resist temptations or binging.

Go for it! I lost 15+ lbs eating TDEE - 15% starting in September. Before that, I was doing the 1200ish plan, lost weight, but was miserable with hunger, blackouts and headaches. I knew there was a better way. I just had to find it. Once I did, I jumped on it and much happier for it.

Be sure to split your calories 40/30/30 carb/good fats/protein.

Blackouts?

I've been eating at TDEE-20% for about 2 months. My progress is slow, but it's working better and more steady than when I tried to hold myself to 1300 calories. I aim for 1600-1800 calories a day and am losing inches in all the right places (I don't go near a scale that much, so I couldn't tell you my weight right now).

I'm only looking to lose maybe another 10ish pounds or so, but I am looking to build muscle and change my shape a little, so combining eating more with some weight training and a little cardio is working really well for me.

Yes, this is the way to do it. I'm satisfied and not hungry, I have energy, and I am losing fat, but preserving muscle. I feel great, and I look better.

This is exactly what I'm doing and it's working and I'm not miserable. I don't have any idea how people do these 1,200 calorie/day diets; even for the ladies, I can't imagine that you would have all that much energy.

Yes, it works.

I am starting TDEE - 20% today really scared, cause I will eat more than I normally would. I am 5'1'' and 65 have not lost in a long time...just up and down all the time. I am hoping to start losing again, I do 30 mins exercise everyday. Give me your idea on this:drinker:

I started TDEE-20% two days ago. And i m scared too But i have noticed that i dont eat to much calories during the day. Yesterday i literaly forced myself to eat dinner bcs i had just 1000 cal before dinner. I never counted my calories during the day and i though i always taking too much calories, but the truth is i didnt eat enough. At least not every day! And i do exercise 5 days per week - aerobic.
Above all the most important is to eat healthy food. Ofcrs i dont do that every day, but i m trying!
Even tho i still have doubts i understand that if u dont eat enough calories your body kinda shut down, bcs brains sending the massage '' keep that fat, we are not getting enough calories, and we will need it for tomorrow...''
Thats what i learnd. So i go for TDEE-20%. !

Go for it! You may be surprised to find you can eat more food than expected. I've been eating just a hundred calories or so under my TDEE and thought I'd at least maintain my weight over the holidays, but ended up losing 3.5 lbs the past 2 weeks. Not sure why I'd still be losing the same amount as if I were eating lower calories, but I'm thinking it has to do with letting the body relax and not feel so anxious from the hunger than comes with lower calorie dieting. Also been trading some of my higher impact cardio for gentle yoga - who knows, maybe that's another hint that stress was affecting my weight negatively. Wish there was a straight-forward guide to understanding all the weird phenomena that occurs with weight. Good luck with your new plan!

After stalling when eating around 1200, I upped calories to TDEE - 17% as per RoadMap and within a week and a half started to lose 1lb a week again. I do 30 Day Shred for 20 mins per day but otherwise just walk the dog and general tasks around the house.

Its scary, but amazing because it works and it far more sustainable to reach your goal.

Bump for later

Like others have stated, YES - IT WORKS. You will no longer feel hungry or deprived. I also did not used to eat enough - did gain a little in the beginning - but things pretty immediately balanced out. I do sometimes have to "force myself to eat" which is a very very weird concept for me but amazingly enough, I always wake up hungry and feeling so strong and tight! I keep telling my friend - "I'm a BEAST now! hahaha" .. I also am not cold like I used to always be. It's amazing the difference I feel now. I highly recommend making the switch.

Yep it works.

I was also miserable on the 1200 calorie plan. Bumped to 1400-1500 and was still miserable. I was tired, my hair started falling out, I hit a wall during most of my workouts.

Doing TDEE-20% has allowed me to continue to lose weight, eat in moderation, and to have the energy to exercise.

Yes, it works! I did yo-yo dieting for years, and was netting way under 1200 calories for the better part of this year after I joined MFP. I felt so much better after I started eating at my TDEE (and I went - 15% for cutting because I didn't have much to lose) and I broke my plateau. I didn't weigh myself until 3-4 weeks after I started, so I'm not sure if I gained temporarily—but recently I'm learning that body composition (% of fat to % of lean body mass) is WAY more important than just the number on the scale. So many years of yo-yoing, and my LBM is shot.... replaced with fat in all the wrong places So, I recommend jumping on the TDEE train ASAP so you don't sacrifice any more of that precious muscle, and start incorporating strength training. That's what will truly shape your body and help you reach your goal!

Good for you for ditching the 1200 diet!!!

Yes - great success! I am nearly to my goal weight, so don't see much difference on the scale, but who cares - I'm losing FAT and inches while eating 1700+ calories a day.

did you eat your exercise calories also...like tdee - 20% and eat exercise calories on top of that

TDEE already includes exercise calories. They are factored in.