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TDEE- help me determine the activity level

staceypunk
staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
edited January 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm using this website for a calculator: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Currently, I am doing Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred (25 minutes) and Killer Abs (35 minutes). I rotate through the levels to keep it interesting. I'd say I average about 1 hour per day for 6 days of the week. I have a desk job. I have small kids so do the basic running around, laundry, etc.

Which activity level do you think I should select:

3-5 hours/week moderate exercise
5-6 hours/week strenuous exercise

The difference in the calculations between the two activity levels is about 200 calories.

Replies

  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    I think it's actually somewhere in the middle lol. Sometimes its so hard picking from those options. Maybe start off in between, so if moderate is saying 2000 and strenuous 2200, assume it's 2100 for now and see how that goes.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I would go with moderately active for 4-6 weeks to test it out. If you have good results then you nailed it. If not, move it to the higher level and try that out for 4-6 weeks. it is all trial and error.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I personally error on the side of caution...I'd do 3-5 hours/week moderate. If you're losing too fast and/or not getting the performance you're looking for in your workout you can up the calorie goal. I workout 6 days per week and do a lot of chasing the kiddos around, cooking, cleaning, etc and am an accountant...I'm currently maintaining on a TDEE that is an average of light active and moderate active.
  • HealthyLeeLee
    HealthyLeeLee Posts: 97 Member
    I would go with 5-6 hours :)
  • chels0722
    chels0722 Posts: 465 Member
    Take the average of the two totals. That's what I did, because I know sometimes my intensity is higher some weeks than others. I judge my time spent working out by intensity rather than actual time spent.
  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    Thanks guys. I switched from eating 1200 calories plus whatever I burned on my HRM to TDEE - 20% a little over two months ago. I was doing the Insanity program and chose the 6-7 hours of strenuous exercise level. I have not lost any more weight (gained 2 pounds in fact) but I did stay the same in my measurements and lost .5 inch on my waist and .5 inch on my thighs.

    However, there were so many variables that all changed at the same time. What I had been doing for the previous 6 months was a sweet spot for me, but I have lost most of the weight that I need to (getting those "don't lose anymore weight" comments from family and co-workers- but they don't see me naked). Then I changed my workouts from Jillian to Insanity, upped my calories and switched to TDEE, and started incorporating more desserts and chocolates into daily eating but staying under my new increased goal. (Not a lot, but I am just a happier person having one half cup of ice cream or a protein brownie in the evenings!). Also went from eating about 50 grams of protein per day to about 100 per day.

    I am still hungry a lot, even on the increased calories (BTW my diary is public if anyone feels the need to look). But now my stomach does not grumble between eating hardly ever. On the 1200 plus workout calories, my stomach would growl loudly for like 30 minutes to an hour before my next time to eat. And I was pissed that I couldn't fit a banana or peanut butter into my day. I think I'm just one of those folks that is always hungry, lol.

    I've gotten used to eating at my 1850 per day and I don't want to cut anything but I think the answer is not to have my "PM snack" as it's titled in my diary, but it really means dessert.
  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    BTW,

    My TDEE-20% at the moderate activity level is 1720
    My TDEE-20% at the strenuous activity level is 1915

    Currently, my diary is set to 1850.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Activity level is basically the bane of my existence, but I'm taking the middle of the road approach right now. I lift 3 days a week then do cardio/circuit training 3 days (at least 30 minutes, but I am trying to work in more.) I figure this is above lightly active but maybe not moderately active, since I spend the rest of my day flitting about the house and watching TV.

    So Moderately active (TDEE-20%) puts me at 1922 calories a day and lightly puts me at 1704, so I'm aiming for 1800. (I like nice round numbers) And now I"m waiting to see how it goes.
This discussion has been closed.

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