Confusion With TDEE!?!

okay I read all the TDEE forum information that I could that just got me more confused... my BMR-2,582 my TDEE- 2,965 and I know my Body Fat sadly is 67% and lean mass is 93.. I am confused were I read that it says I should be eating right up to my BMR and if I am less from it that I will loose weight for a little bit and then plateau or gain weight back. So is my 1600 that I am eating for my calories too low? I mean I am hiking up my exercise as I was in a car accident and just re learned to walk as I got a broke tibia/fibula fracture and the only thing I can do is walk as jogging is a no go with the weight I gained and or was before my accident. So I mainly will walk 5 miles a day and do some stretching and yoga and just am trying to get everything use to stuff and not hurt so much. SO am I doing everything right to the extent over a VERY overweight person :) or am I not doing certain things right? thanks so much for answering this and helping out!! I really need to loose this weight and keep it off!! so far 25lbs!! so go me :D!!

Replies

  • Osu2k1
    Osu2k1 Posts: 116 Member
    I think you are eating too little. From what I understand you need to eat at least your BMR # so 2,500 or so, and less than your TDEE (2,900). I'd at least be eating 2,000. Good luck!!!! :happy:
  • squatsandlipgloss
    squatsandlipgloss Posts: 595 Member
    Agree. You're definitely not eating enough. You should be eating TDEE - 20% and definitely above BMR! 25 lbs is great already!! Keep it up.
  • LadyPakal
    LadyPakal Posts: 256 Member
    People with a lot to lose can go lower than BMR, from what I understand, as they have a lot of fat they can mobilise to use as extra fuel. However, as you lose weight you should revaluate and up calories to meet BMR, then as you become leaner go above to TDEE-20% or whatever you aim for.

    In your case, I would probably aim for 2000-2200 calories to start with. Weight will come off quite quickly at first, do not get disheartened when it slows.

    BMR will reduce as you lose weight too - so recalculate every 20lbs or so.
  • The thing is, all those online calculators are only estimates. Actual basal metabolic rates can vary from them a fair bit.
    Yes, the average person has a bmr pretty close to the average. But not everyone is anything close to average - some of us are way, way out at one end or the other of the scale.
    There's really no substitute for experimentation, to find out where your bmr is hiding. (Mine hangs out around 1,000 to 1,100 calories -- a dreadful neighborhood! Having a temp that runs around 96 isn't helping, I'm sure.)
    A lot of people who are really overweight -- *raises hand* -- have odd things of one sort or another going on metabolically. One approach that's helped a lot of people is called the Leptin Diet (http://www.wellnessresources.com/leptin_diet.php); it aims to help normalize levels of insulin and a couple other fat-storage and hunger hormones.
    Personally, I didn't start losing weight until after I found out that my blood sugar is running a little high and I cut way back on starchy stuff and sugars and even fruits (in favor of more fat and protein and even more vegetables -- and yes, it costs more, darn it). Then, poof! Even though I am now consuming a slightly higher-calorie diet, I have lost 25 pounds. Very cool.
  • kmcosgrove115
    kmcosgrove115 Posts: 260 Member
    I posted this a while back - might help you - eat at TDEE less 20%:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide