Number over load!!

chasetwins
chasetwins Posts: 702 Member
edited January 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I love data...I do but it becomes a massive mess in my brain if there are too many variables.

I started the TDEE - 20% a few weeks ago. Going well however not sure if it would continue to work so I made a spreadsheet tracking cals - fat - sodium - carbs and protein as well as my net cals for the day (and week). I got too consumed trying to balance carbs - protein - fat so I log it..track it but do not pay too much attention yet.


According to my fit bit adjustments- I may burn more than both fitbit and MFP estimates for my daily burn which in turn gives me extra calories...should I eat those extra cals too?? Or simply what my TDEG suggests??

Looking over the sheet I go under 1200 cal net some days :/ Using the TDEE method..is this ok??

Just to note: I try to hit my cal goal every single day and get as close as my tummy will allow. I know using TDEE I prob should not track cal burn but I NEED to LOL and fitbit adjusts automatically. My burns range from 200 to some times over 500 per day.

Replies

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    When you do TDEE - 20% you should not be eating your exercise calories back.

    I have a body media fit and I burn on average about 3000 calories a day. My MFP burn is set to 2500 so every day it gives me an extra 500 to 600 calories. I take my average burn of 3000 and try to eat in a 500 calorie deficit. So I typically eat about 2500 calories a day.

    It looks like you need to adjust your TDEE to match what your actually daily burn is. So if you are averaging a 2000 cal per day burn, 20% less would be 1600 calories consumed, 400 cal deficit..

    Hope this helps...
  • kingscrown
    kingscrown Posts: 615 Member
    I do the same as the poster above. I try to make sure I have a 500 deficit each day. Any more than that and I feel like I'm starving. It's something you play with and find what works for you.
  • chasetwins
    chasetwins Posts: 702 Member
    It does...a lot!! :) Thank you!


    As if sticking to a life changer was not enough.. we need to have all these numbers flying around in our heads too LOL

    TX again!
  • endoftheside
    endoftheside Posts: 568 Member
    I was lucky in that when I started TDEE(sedentary, starting weight)-20% was pretty close to TDEE(sedentary, goal weight) and so I figured I would just start eating like I was already at goal (plus exercise cal). For me this is around 1550, which is really close to yours OP! With the weight I've lost so far, it's more like TDEE-15% right now but I am still losing, faster than expected according to my spreadsheet (which just means I was not and am not truly sedentary even sitting at a desk/in the car most of the day). So, my complicated spreadsheet vs. the one simple thing (eating like I am at goal), which do you think has been more helpful to me? I'll let you guess. :laugh: Hint: I like to play with numbers but when the fork meets my mouth, simple is best.

    Occasionally I will have days where I dip a bit due to not eating back enough exercise cal, but usually my appetite comes back with a vengeance the next day so it balances out. I looked at your food diary and it didn't jump out at me that you are eating too little. Have you been able to match your expected loss with your actual loss? Are you losing faster/slower than you expect? What activity level did you choose for your TDEE?
  • chasetwins
    chasetwins Posts: 702 Member
    Endoftheside - When I started TDEE method I lost 3 that week - then .6 then a teeny bit over a pound each of the following 2 weeks. So I am losing (not complaining there) but I want to continue to lose!! While I would be thrilled with hitting 2 pounds per week verse 1..I happy with the 1 so long as it doesn't stop.

    Which is why I was concerned..I do not want it to stop!! For my TDEE I chose 3-5 workouts per week which is exactly what i do however I think my job on some days may push my activity a little more than both MFP - Fitbit and the calculator expect. It varies though :/ some days I am super lazy LOL and some days I hit close to 15,000 steps without even trying! And this adds to the calculated burn from fitbit.

    MFP and fitbit may say I will burn 2000 cals from normal activity when in reality I end up burning more - which puts me at a lower net cal.
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