TDEE or MFP Calorie intake?

rachy867
rachy867 Posts: 32
in Food and Nutrition
I've read a few posts on here about TDEE, I admit I did not know what it was so had to google it. Once I'd googled it I worked out what mine was and was extremely shocked, mine was 2325!!! Is this the amount of calories I shpuld ideally be eating each day?
I have been folowing the calories that MFP said when I input all my details, MFP recomend 1200 a day.
Just wondering what peoples opinions are on this?
I exercise 6 days a week, I do boxing twice a week, muay thai boxing twice a week, circuits twice a week and weights as well.

Replies

  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    You would eat that amount to maintain your current weight. Deduct 20% from that for a good goal for weight loss.
  • mammakat0830
    mammakat0830 Posts: 117 Member
    Your TDEE is to maintain, eat less to lose. There is a group of people on MFP that do eat more-weigh less and follow TDEE - % rule rather than MFP recommendations. I think it is personal preference. I have custom settings on my goals for macronutrients and calories to be over my BMR, not under how MFP initially recommended. Again, its a personal preference.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I've read a few posts on here about TDEE, I admit I did not know what it was so had to google it. Once I'd googled it I worked out what mine was and was extremely shocked, mine was 2325!!! Is this the amount of calories I shpuld ideally be eating each day?
    I have been folowing the calories that MFP said when I input all my details, MFP recomend 1200 a day.
    Just wondering what peoples opinions are on this?
    I exercise 6 days a week, I do boxing twice a week, muay thai boxing twice a week, circuits twice a week and weights as well.

    Your TDEE is to maintain. You probably would want to eat 15% less than that... so 2000 or so. The question I always ask though is how intensive your workouts are and what you do the rest of the time. Most TDEE calculators put me in the very active category because I work out every day, but I think it's nuts because my workouts are one hour tops, and I sit on my butt the rest of the time...

    I've found that it's pretty much the same for me though. TDEE at lightly active -20% puts me at 1700 or so, which is what I get with MFP once I add my exercise calories. Remember you're supposed to add your exercise calories with MFP... so really it should be about the same.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I have always used MFP calorie goals, but have not always followed all the protein/carbs stuff, just the calories
  • Breizier
    Breizier Posts: 221 Member
    I beg of you DON'T follow MFP.

    I started on the MFP 1200 and within the week found the TDEE etc calc so went to 2160 cals per day. I was losing weight steadily with no exercise. But I am of the generation that grew up on 1000 cals per day diets and the less you eat the less you weigh so switched back to MFP's 1200 cals. I STUCK for 4 weeks.

    Totally dispirited I posed the question http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975632-why-am-i-not-losing-on-1200cal-per-day

    I got lots of replies; basically I was not eating enough. I spent 1 week ensuring I ate my 1200 cals per day and any cals earned from exercise. Week 2 I increased to 1300 cals. I have now lost 3lbs. Week on week I am going to increase until I am eating around 2000 cals which will be in the region of my TDEE - 20%.

    The TDEE - 20% WORKS. Use it please. MFP seems to have a very generic set of cals which dont seem to change whatever your size.

    Here are a couple of links that might help. I know it is counter intuitive to eat more, but its like feeding a fire - yes you can use less fuel, but if you dont feed it enough it will burn down too low, then it just goes out. feed it enough and it sustains.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/963088-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • dvisser1
    dvisser1 Posts: 788 Member
    It gets down into how you set up your MFP profile and what you consider your normal daily activity. MFP does calculate your TDEE and then subtracts from there for weight loss goals (1 lb per week = -500 cal per day from your TDEE, 2 lb = -1000 cal per day). MFP will never give a net calorie goal lower than 1200.

    You basically have 2 options when setting up your MFP profile. 1) your activity level is based off an average day without specific exercise included (your muay thai and circuit training and such being specific exercise). You then log the exercise on MFP. Not walking to your car from the office, but going to the gym, running, cycling, etc. 2) your activity level is adjusted upwards to account for a minimum amount of exercise every day (you go to the gym 7 days a week and burn roughly the same amount each time, it becomes part of your daily activity level). Done properly, either option accounts for specific exercise increasing your TDEE from whatever your non-exercising standard day is.

    MFP calorie goal is net calories. If you set up MFP for a weight loss goal, the calorie deficit is built into that net calorie goal. If you exercise and log your exercise, MFP adds those exercise calories to your base net goal. Why? Well your body burned more calories that day. Given a goal to maintain a small calorie deficit to create a controlled weight loss program (and that deficit is already built into your 1200 net calorie goal) you can eat a little more after exercise and still meet that calorie deficit goal if you meet that net calorie goal MFP gives you. Eating back exercise calories sparks a lot of arguments around here, but it's a personal choice. Just wanted to point out that it will not hold back your weight loss efforts, depending on how you set up on MFP.

    The difference between the TDEE you calculated and the net calorie goal MFP gave you seems pretty high. If you set your MFP profile to zero pounds per week weight loss (weight maintenance mode) then you will see the TDEE MFP calculated. If it's off by more than a couple hundred from what you calculated, I suspect the difference is in the assumed activity level input into MFP and input into your calculations. If you need to make a change, the sooner the better.
  • rachy867
    rachy867 Posts: 32
    I've been folowing TDEE 20% for about a week now, I've lost 3lbs this week and inches off each measurement. I feel so much better as well. I have been sleeping better, i have more energy, and think my metabolism and body have finally woken up as i am experiencing hunger pains, and I've not had them for a long time. I think my body gave up asking for food as on 1200 calories a day I just was not feeding it enough. Will see what next week brings and hopr this week is not a fluke.
  • coffee4me57
    coffee4me57 Posts: 195
    Bump, still trying to figure this out!

Categories