TDEE CALCULATING (HELP)

dianasmiles
dianasmiles Posts: 25
in Fitness and Exercise
MY TDEE IS 2091 what do i eat or how does it work ?
«1

Replies

  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Did you enter your true goal weight when you did the calculation? Or did you use your current weight in that spot?
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    yes
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    i put my current weight
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Do you know what TDEE is? I'm willing to help, but you gotta make an effort...
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Ok, so if you have more than 50 pounds to lose, eat at a 20% deficit from that number (1673). less than 50 but more that 15, eat at a 15% deficit from that number (1778). Less than 15, eat at a 10% deficit (1882).

    And do some resistance training - heavy lifting, body weight exercises, etc.
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    SO IF MY TDEE is that number as of my weight right now.... that means if i want to lose 40 pounds how many calories should i eat a day
  • timkane46
    timkane46 Posts: 29 Member
    This is an informative post : http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/512956-tdee-what-is-it-and-why-you-should-not-eat-below-your-bmr
  • karenmi
    karenmi Posts: 242 Member
    I have a similar question....my TDEE is 2173 - I'm a 49 yr old female, 5' 3", 158 lbs, moderate activity (do a 60-min bootcamp 3 x a week and a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 or so mins 2 x a week).

    If I want to lose 15 lbs then I should keep my daily NET calories at 1847, correct? On my boot camp days when I burn around 600 calories I should eat 2200 calories?

    I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I've been doing this for a few years now and lost 50 lbs eating way less than that (netting approx 1300 a day).
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    SO IF MY TDEE is that number as of my weight right now.... that means if i want to lose 40 pounds how many calories should i eat a day

    Ok, so if you have more than 50 pounds to lose, eat at a 20% deficit from that number (1673). less than 50 but more that 15, eat at a 15% deficit from that number (1778). Less than 15, eat at a 10% deficit (1882).

    And do some resistance training - heavy lifting, body weight exercises, etc.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I have a similar question....my TDEE is 2173 - I'm a 49 yr old female, 5' 3", 158 lbs, moderate activity (do a 60-min bootcamp 3 x a week and a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 or so mins 2 x a week).

    If I want to lose 15 lbs then I should keep my daily NET calories at 1847, correct? On my boot camp days when I burn around 600 calories I should eat 2200 calories?

    I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I've been doing this for a few years now and lost 50 lbs eating way less than that (netting approx 1300 a day).

    yes, you should be eating around 1847 every day - activity is already factored in so no need to worry about net calories.

    I lost my first 50 doing low calorie as well...but then I plateaued and couldn't figure it out. It was because i was eating way too little. So I upped my calories based on TDEE and almost immediately began to lose again (after a 4 month plateau). the damage caused by undereating is not always so noticeable on the outside...but the damage is still happening.
  • petstorekitty
    petstorekitty Posts: 592 Member
    I have a similar question....my TDEE is 2173 - I'm a 49 yr old female, 5' 3", 158 lbs, moderate activity (do a 60-min bootcamp 3 x a week and a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 or so mins 2 x a week).

    If I want to lose 15 lbs then I should keep my daily NET calories at 1847, correct? On my boot camp days when I burn around 600 calories I should eat 2200 calories?

    I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I've been doing this for a few years now and lost 50 lbs eating way less than that (netting approx 1300 a day).


    yes, you should be eating around 1847 every day - activity is already factored in so no need to worry about net calories.

    I lost my first 50 doing low calorie as well...but then I plateaued and couldn't figure it out. It was because i was eating way too little. So I upped my calories based on TDEE and almost immediately began to lose again (after a 4 month plateau). the damage caused by undereating is not always so noticeable on the outside...but the damage is still happening.

    ^^ Yarp!
    Me too. I was netting like 1200 when I was 155 (I'm 5'1" btw). I lost the weight, but I think my body got used to eating so little I plataued for a year.
    Then I ate normal (plus cheesy fries) and gained like 10 lbs in a few months!

    Hoping that since I ate more and gained for a period of time, going back to proper TDEE - 20% will work. Seems to be starting to work (when I'm actually consistant).

    I really do find these calculators helpful

    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
  • tracieangeletti
    tracieangeletti Posts: 432 Member
    Can anyone explain why you use the weight you are now instead of your goal weight?? I would think with your goal weight you'd be eating less so shouldn't you be eating less now? Did that make sense to anyone?? lol
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    Can anyone explain why you use the weight you are now instead of your goal weight?? I would think with your goal weight you'd be eating less so shouldn't you be eating less now? Did that make sense to anyone?? lol

    you use your goal weight so that you know what your TDEE is NOW and eat less than that. You are supposed to re-calculate your TDEE every 5-10 lbs lost.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Can anyone explain why you use the weight you are now instead of your goal weight?? I would think with your goal weight you'd be eating less so shouldn't you be eating less now? Did that make sense to anyone?? lol

    Because you are looking at what you maintain now, at current weight, TDEE.

    Less a deficit from TDEE is losing weight.

    You could just use goal weight true (as future TDEE is of course less than current TDEE), but the deficit is less.

    And actually, if you base your BMR on Katch and bodyfat%, and you eat at reasonable deficit, you may NOT lose any Lean Body Mass, so actually your BMR stays exactly the same at current and future weight (if you don't have much to lose).
    In that case, future TDEE would not be less than current TDEE.
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    so... wait, if my TDEE is 2,358
    and my BMR is 1521

    my cut value is 1,700 so do i eat 1,700 or should i start off eating low-calorie (1,200) as this will be my first time dieting....
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

    Just keep it simple, best estimates of everything, log progress.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    so... wait, if my TDEE is 2,358
    and my BMR is 1521

    my cut value is 1,700 so do i eat 1,700 or should i start off eating low-calorie (1,200) as this will be my first time dieting....

    Only if you want to really risk losing muscle mass, and making it a whole lot harder later on when you stall.

    1700 is still less than estimated TDEE, right, that is a loss.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    so... wait, if my TDEE is 2,358
    and my BMR is 1521

    my cut value is 1,700 so do i eat 1,700 or should i start off eating low-calorie (1,200) as this will be my first time dieting....

    Only if you want to really risk losing muscle mass, and making it a whole lot harder later on when you stall.

    1700 is still less than estimated TDEE, right, that is a loss.

    Agreed. Your goal should be a modest deficit (like your 1700 number), not the absolutely lowest you can go (1200 or less like some people do)
  • tracieangeletti
    tracieangeletti Posts: 432 Member
    Can anyone explain why you use the weight you are now instead of your goal weight?? I would think with your goal weight you'd be eating less so shouldn't you be eating less now? Did that make sense to anyone?? lol

    Because you are looking at what you maintain now, at current weight, TDEE.

    Less a deficit from TDEE is losing weight.

    You could just use goal weight true (as future TDEE is of course less than current TDEE), but the deficit is less.

    And actually, if you base your BMR on Katch and bodyfat%, and you eat at reasonable deficit, you may NOT lose any Lean Body Mass, so actually your BMR stays exactly the same at current and future weight (if you don't have much to lose).
    In that case, future TDEE would not be less than current TDEE.

    Thank you!! It sorta makes sense to me. I, too, am new to the whole TDEE thing and at times it can get a bit confusing.
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    thank you!!!!
  • Careyann72
    Careyann72 Posts: 7 Member
    I have a question along these lines. I did the spreadsheet in the "in place of a roadmap" thread and it gave me calories of 1655 and gave me numbers to adjust my protein, etc. I did put in the activity I do, so I have not been logging exercise and just trying to eat that many calories, is that right? Before I changed this I had been eating around 1200 and stalled for 2 months at the same weight, upped it to 1450 calories and lost 5 pounds in 1 month so I know adding calories helps! I've been confused about this spreadsheet deal since I did it!!
  • dianasmiles
    dianasmiles Posts: 25
    ho long do you tink if i workout 30 mins 5x a week and eat 1,700 calories a day how much weight will i lose in 4 months
  • kristinebolton5
    kristinebolton5 Posts: 19 Member
    I just wrote a post regarding the calories. I just started this week. MFP set my calories at 1330. I have been below that all week by atleast 300. I walk 60 mins 5 days a week & do 30 mins of the Biggest Loser Max Cardio 3x a week.

    I'm trying to understand this TDEE.

    Any help would be much appreciated
  • karenmi
    karenmi Posts: 242 Member
    Thanks so much, "jzammetti" and "petstorekitty"! It sounds like your journey is similar to mine, so I will immediately change my daily intake to 1800 calories (holy scary!!!) and give it a few weeks.

    I just started a bootcamp two weeks ago and while I'm working out the same number of times a week I'm working out way harder at bootcamp (3 mornings a week). I've been feeling pretty crappy so it's probably because I'm starving myself, even if I don't feel that much hungrier.

    Thanks again!!!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I have a question along these lines. I did the spreadsheet in the "in place of a roadmap" thread and it gave me calories of 1655 and gave me numbers to adjust my protein, etc. I did put in the activity I do, so I have not been logging exercise and just trying to eat that many calories, is that right? Before I changed this I had been eating around 1200 and stalled for 2 months at the same weight, upped it to 1450 calories and lost 5 pounds in 1 month so I know adding calories helps! I've been confused about this spreadsheet deal since I did it!!

    If by spreadsheet you mean the Weight Loss Calculators spreadsheet, it says under Your Results you do NOT eat back calories from exercise you included in the activity calculator. You can log as 1 calorie if desired to not mess up your daily goal.

    Just read all the tips under Your Results, should be very clear.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I just wrote a post regarding the calories. I just started this week. MFP set my calories at 1330. I have been below that all week by atleast 300. I walk 60 mins 5 days a week & do 30 mins of the Biggest Loser Max Cardio.

    I'm trying to understand this TDEE.

    Any help would be much appreciated

    Read the posts, you are missing already available info.
  • luticiaf
    luticiaf Posts: 92 Member



    I lost my first 50 doing low calorie as well...but then I plateaued and couldn't figure it out. It was because i was eating way too little. So I upped my calories based on TDEE and almost immediately began to lose again (after a 4 month plateau). the damage caused by undereating is not always so noticeable on the outside...but the damage is still happening.

    Did you feel hungry when you were underconsuming? According to my TDEE I've been underconsuming for this past 3 weeks, I've only lost 2 of my 10 lb goal, but i haven't felt hungry (other than two really painful days.) I feel satiated, but not seeing the results I want - afraid that if i consume more, I will start gaining...
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    ho long do you tink if i workout 30 mins 5x a week and eat 1,700 calories a day how much weight will i lose in 4 months

    Do the math.

    TDEE - eating goal = Deficit daily x 120 days / 3500 calories per lb of fat = lbs of fat loss.

    If deficit is reasonable that can all be fat loss.
    If too much, some will be muscle mass, and then the math changes because it's easier to burn off a lb of muscle (600 calories) than a lb of fat.
  • kristinebolton5
    kristinebolton5 Posts: 19 Member
    So if my TDEE is 2419, looking at losing roughly 40lbs, I would take 15% away?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Did you feel hungry when you were underconsuming? According to my TDEE I've been underconsuming for this past 3 weeks, I've only lost 2 of my 10 lb goal, but i haven't felt hungry (other than two really painful days.) I feel satiated, but not seeing the results I want - afraid that if i consume more, I will start gaining...

    Many have messed up their hormones such they no longer feel hungry undereating - can't trust hunger that much.
    Mostly because that's what got people into trouble in the first place.

    If you instantly gain, it was the water weight you instantly loss at the start. You were going to gain that back eventually no matter what.

    You would have to eat 250 extra calories daily OVER your TDEE to gain 1 lb of fat in 2 weeks of time. Read that again.

    And if you are actually exercising, your body would use of that for body improvements, so it would not even be all fat.

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