How come MFP doesn't match my TDEE?

willbeskliz
willbeskliz Posts: 31
in Health and Weight Loss
I am 6ft 0in, 216 lbs, BMI 29. I work in an office all day. Workout twice a week for a hour each time. MFP calculates my daily allowance at 1450. Yet my TDEE (calculated through fitness frog) is 2384. Take off 20% = 1910. This is 460 extra calories.

Is this really what I should be eating daily to lose weight?

:noway:

Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    MFP does not calculate TDEE as it does not include exercise It expects you to log your exercise and eat those calories. I've done it both ways and found I end up in pretty much the same spot.
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    How did you log your activity level with MFP?
    I've seen a lot of posts here where people say sedentary is more for people who literally sit around all day. Now I understand you work in an office but the impression I've got from stalking the boards is that most people are on lightly active... do you do any regular walking throughout the day?
    I think MFP gives less options for this kind of thing, so this could be one explanation.
    Also, MFP expects you to log your exercise calories and then eat them back whereas with TDEE you do not eat back your exercise calories as they are already accounted for.
    Although 1900 cals per day seems like a lot... interested to see what other responses you get!
  • willbeskliz
    willbeskliz Posts: 31
    Okay thanks for that - the mist is clearing.

    I see that some eat back those calories whilst majority don't at all or only eat back half those calories
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    How did you log your activity level with MFP?
    I've seen a lot of posts here where people say sedentary is more for people who literally sit around all day. Now I understand you work in an office but the impression I've got from stalking the boards is that most people are on lightly active... do you do any regular walking throughout the day?
    I think MFP gives less options for this kind of thing, so this could be one explanation.
    Also, MFP expects you to log your exercise calories and then eat them back whereas with TDEE you do not eat back your exercise calories as they are already accounted for.
    Although 1900 cals per day seems like a lot... interested to see what other responses you get!

    I don't think 1900 calories a day is a lot. I am pretty close to that and OP is 6 inches taller than me.
  • willbeskliz
    willbeskliz Posts: 31
    Yes I did log my activity level and I am glued to my desk all day!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I am 6ft 0in, 216 lbs, BMI 29. I work in an office all day. Workout twice a week for a hour each time. MFP calculates my daily allowance at 1450. Yet my TDEE (calculated through fitness frog) is 2384. Take off 20% = 1910. This is 460 extra calories.

    Is this really what I should be eating daily to lose weight?

    :noway:

    TDEE is a flat 20% ...... MFP had you put in I want to lose XX pounds per week. These 2 numbers are not necessarily the same. MFP will have you log workouts & eat extra calories on those days as well.

    1450 sounds awfully low for a tall person .... your weight loss per week was likely pretty agressive.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Okay thanks for that - the mist is clearing.

    I see that some eat back those calories whilst majority don't at all or only eat back half those calories

    I suggest eating at least some of them back. Fitness frog includes them for a reason, MFP accounts for them as well, just differently.

    If you are concerned about over estimating, use the fitness frog number (you can change your goals manually).
  • CherryOnionKiss
    CherryOnionKiss Posts: 376 Member
    So which method should OP use?
    TDEE-20% or the MFP method?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    So which method should OP use?
    TDEE-20% or the MFP method?

    Either or. Like I said, if the calculations are done correctly you end up in pretty much the same place.

    Some people like to eat the same amount every day - tDEE method would be best.
    Some people don't mind the difference and like the eat more on exercise days (I also like it because if I miss a couple if workouts, I am still at a deficit with the MFP number).

    I also think it depends on the workout. Some estimate here are huge but for things like running, which I do, it's pretty accurate.

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