Does eating at TDEE really work?

Bump-I'd like to know as well.

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Eat more than your BMR, but LESS than your TDEE. Eat between those numbers and you should start to see the weight come off. If you eat at TDEE, then you are eating back everything that you burn from daily activity/existing... Total Daily Energy Expenditure. But by eating more than you need to live/function properly and less than you burn all day, you will lose weight.

EDIT: I eat at TDEE -20%, which is around 1800 calories for me. It seems like a tall order at first when you try to fill that number with healthy foods, but eating things like Luna bars to fill in the extra calories has really helped me. I wasn't sure if eating that amount of calories was actually going to make me lose weight, but it works! It's a bit slow, but steady, and I know it's "real" weight loss instead of pounds that will fly back on if I have a piece of cake or something.

Eating at TDEe is a good way not to lose any weight. I think you mean TDEE minus 20%.

^This. A person needs a 500 calories deficit per day to average 1 pound of weight loss per week (the recommended weight loss for losing it in a progressive manner, and keeping it off).

If you set your activity level to light on MFP, and set it to lose one pound per week, what does it give you?

If your TDEE is calculated correctly, then yes it will work (eating TDEE - 20%, not eating at TDEE.)

I changed to TDEE -15% and lost all the weight I needed too in a very short time. I adjusted my TDEE after my weight loss to maintain ........ It works well for me!

I'm considering switching to the TDEE method. I currently aim for 1556 calories a day, which is my BMR, but I'm not losing like I'd like to – I've only lost 10 pounds (though I have lost 11 inches) since January and I have a deficit almost every day.

My TDEE is actually 2138 (light exercise) or 2410 (moderate) – I run 3x a week and do yoga/Pilates 2x, with lots of walking on weekends. I don't even know if I can eat that much. Does it really work? I'm so skeptical.

I'm confused. You say you are eating at your BMR but it doesn't seem to me like you are eating your exercise calories back. If this is the case, you are not eating at your BMR and are probably netting 1200. How much are you netting?

I just switched to eating at TDEE, so I'm going to see how the results are in 2 wks or so. I have heard that a slight weight gain will happen at first since your body is adjusting...

My BMR = 1377
Activity Factor = 1.4
TDEE = 1928
TDEE-20% = 1542, so that is what I am shooting for. I hope that sounds right to everyone!

Yesterday with all my activity, I had a hard time making that!

I'm on TDEE-20% I exercise 3 times a week for on average 37 minutes each time. I am losing each week and my calories are currently set to 1640.

I don't even know if I can eat that much.

It is very easy to add a few hundred more calories to your day without adding a lot of volume of food.

Choose full fat items instead of low fat (yes your body needs fat from foods to function properly). Add nuts, seeds, olive oil, peanut butter. A handful of almonds is about 200 calories.

Just wanted to add....when you first start to increase you calories you might see a slight gain on the scale. It will take your body a little while to adjust since you have been eating at BMR. Don't let this discourage you.

^^^THIS

I increased by about 4 lbs but it is coming down now that my body has adjusted. It works and your body feels so much better!

I agree.

I don't even know if I can eat that much.

It is very easy to add a few hundred more calories to your day without adding a lot of volume of food.

Choose full fat items instead of low fat (yes your body needs fat from foods to function properly). Add nuts, seeds, olive oil, peanut butter. A handful of almonds is about 200 calories.

No offence to you OP... but my palm goes to my forehead every single time I read a post about people saying THEY CAN'T EAT THAT MUCH!

WHAT BROUGHT US HERE??? EATING!!!

I have weighed 289 lbs in my life.... trust me FOOD WAS NO ISSUE!!!! I speak from experience. I am not one of those bashing heavy people.... I was there; I lived it!

There are simple ways to get yourself to your TDEE-20% cals in a very healthy way; by skipping out on the proper way of fueling your body you are only causing yourself problems for the long run!

1/3 of a cup of ALMONDS is 330 calories
1 tbsp of olive oil is 120 cals (Make your own salad dressing - use 2 TBSP's!)
1 tbsp of butter is 100 cals

EAT ICE CREAM!!!!

I do TDEE-20%; I eat 2000 calories a day! I am a 37 year old female, I am 5'6", I weigh 163 lbs and I wear a size 6! I accomplished this by EATING!

I lost 100 lbs in my 20's, the wrong way.... I cut out things that I loved and I created a binge eater. I had never had a problem with binging, ever! After I lost the weight; it became a serious issue, because everything I loved became off limits.

This is about balance and lifestyle. FAT is not the devil; we need it in our diet, in moderation. So simple changes would get you to 1700 cals without a problem. I really don't mean to come across as being harsh, but there are ways of doing this and making it sustainable!

You've got this!

You need to allow your body time to adjust. When I changed over to TDEE-20%, I gained weight. It was to be expected.... my body needed to try to figure out what the heck was happening to it.... but it is honestly the most solid way to lose fat and maintain your muscle mass. Once you get to know your body, this will all fall into place!