IIFYM eating.......really???

So I typed everything in again with the Katch-Mccardle and it gave me a more realistic number. However it is still higher calories then MFP suggests. So is there a way I can type in the calories and other macros I want here at MFP?

It's higher because the TDEE number you are getting is including a nightly 3 mile walk and is increasing your required calories accordingly. MFP is not. MFP expects you to log that exercise each time you do it and then eat additional calories to make up for the exercise deficit.

This...MFP is a NEAT method calculator and is going to give you a NEAT method calorie goal that is net of exercise (you log exercise and eat those calories back. You're comparing numbers from a TDEE calculator to a NEAT method calculator...it's apples and oranges...yes, both are fruit, but different kinds of fruit entirely. Also, if you put 20% in a TDEE calculator, that equates to roughly 1 Lb per week loss...so if you put in two pounds per week in MFP, that's also going to throw it off.

You just need to pick a method and roll with it. I'd agree that the 3,111 calories TDEE seems way high...my TDEE is around 2,800 and I lift, run 5 and 10Ks, do a lot of walking, cycle, and swim.

I personally find the TDEE method easier because it just averages all of that exercise out over the week and I just eat the same calories day to day more or less, rather than logging and eating back and my calorie goal changing all of the time. Both methods are completely viable. And, as others have said, IIFYM is a philosophy, not a calorie number...but I'm getting that you used the IIFYM websit so I understand the confusion.

Yes TDEE and IIFYM works for me.

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

oh geez.

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

Is there something I do not know about good food fitting into macros?

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

Yeah, so do I.

And I use IIFYM to judge whether or not those foods will... uh... fit my frickin' macros.

One can eat only "good foods" and still not eat a good balance of them.

okay just to clarify I read the whole IIFYM page and the theory etc. I read all the FAQ I get it. I understand the idea. But if they are correct then the number of calories I should be hitting is like 2500. I am a mom of 4 so I am busy and on my feet most of the day. I don't do much exercising other then walking 3 miles a day at a brisk pace. So doesn't that TDEE seem really really high?

2500 is extremely high for a female your age. what did you put for your exercise level? You can always cut back on exercise so you are able to consume less calories.

I disagree! I'm the same age as the OP, and she is doing more cardio than I, and until the last couple of months, my true TDEE was over 2500. The last few months, after losing a bunch of weight, my true TDEE seems to have slipped down to closer to 2400. That is NOT "extremely high."

I'm 35, 5'6, workout about 5 or 6 times a week, run round after 2 young kids and work part time as a teacher and my TDEE is around 2500. I'm aiming for 1600 calories a day so a compromise between the TDEE minus 20% method and the 1450 MFP gave me.

I do the iifym on some days, so maybe a small treat like a couple of scoops of frozen yoghurt, but aim for high protein and to stay within my fat and carbs allowance. I manually adjusted to give me a higher percentage of protein and lower fat and carbs.

Today I made cupcakes so had one and I'm having some cava later. I'm within all my calories, fat etc. I always feel a bit of guilt when I have days like this, but I seem to still lose weight.

I'm still trying hard to get my macros right - I have tummy troubles due to very high stress situations right now, so it's a little tough. At that point, it becomes more important to keep calories in than hitting protein targets. So I have good days and bad. And it wasn't until I got it set straight that I started losing again. However, I never did have very much to lose.

A) I got myself a Fitbit Flex to track my activity. I got some assistance from SideSteel in the Eat, Train, Progress group, and immediately broke through. C) I focused on protein, protein and more protein.

Within a week, I dropped two pounds, and have lost another pound a week since, and even though I'm not anywhere near perfect with the macros, I've gotten so close to goal, both weight and fitness level. My lifting is better (I broke a major goal this morning!), my weight is where I want it to be and I'm still losing bodyfat. So yeah, I think it works.

By comparison - prior to all of that, I was doing the MFP method, set at .5 a week loss and eating back calories - I didn't lose anything for 5 months. The calorie difference wasn't actually that much, it was 120 calories - but without eating back the exercise that I burn - and I burn a metric butt-tonload - and mostly - hitting my macros as often as possible.

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

I don't think IIFYM means what you think it means. It doesn't mean just eat ****...you could never meet a healthy, balanced, macro-nutrient ratio eating nothing but ****. Most people who IIFYM eat in order to achieve optimal performance from their macros...I know I get pretty much all of my vitamins and minerals from food...I meet my optimal protein and fat targets...after that, it's whatevs...generally that means I have a handful of jelly beans for dessert...or a small bowl of ice cream or something.

Like I said, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Can those of you who do this tell me the kind of success you have had following that eating plan. I typed in my info on the TDEE calculator and the # it gave me of calories to eat seems astronomical.
Does it really work for you?

IIFYM is not a specific calorie amount, it is a philosophy about food selection.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/817188-iifym

One can apply IIFYM at 1400 calories and at 3500 calories and it is still IIFYM.

Just making mention of this for clarity sake.

It works, but as with any method you need to make sure your total intake is set appropriately.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

This....... and I am down 312 lbs. so far..... Best of Luck. ....

Pssh, if you hadn't followed IIFYM you would be down 313lbs. You're doing it wrong!

2500 is extremely high for a female your age. what did you put for your exercise level? You can always cut back on exercise so you are able to consume less calories.


I logged in my age, height and weight and activity level and my TDEE came up as 3111 which seems excessive to me but here is how it breaks down with activity;
very light-300 min a day---I like to read and sit quietly sometimes so it totals about 5 hrs a day
light-675 min a day---I have 4 kids and house to run so cooking, cleaning, yardwork, walking around grocery store etc takes about 11 hrs a day...and it really does
moderate-45 min a day---I take a 3 mile (45 min) walk every night for some quiet me time (again with 4 kids it's NEEDED)
I didn't log anything under heavy or very heavy.
sleeping took up the rest of the time---7 hrs

So my TDEE is 3111
BMR is 1696
For Macros the 15% recommended was 2644 calories
the 20% (aggressive) was 2489
and the 25% (reckless) was 2333

That all seems so very high to me but I logged pretty correctly to how my day goes.

How tall are you, how much do you weigh, and which calculator did you use?

I suspect you used an activity factor (1.2 or whatever, on the calculator it'll be 'sedentary', 'lightly active', etc). If you did that, your activity is already factored into that 1696 -- which is your TDEE, and NOT your BMR -- and you do NOT need to add additional activity estimations.

bump

Honestly at this point I think my smartest move would be to purchase I fitbit (I have wanted one anyway so this is a perfect reason) and let it give me an accurate idea of what my typical day is for burning calories. I would really like to do the IIFYM way of eating but my biggest concern is getting my TDEE right so I can get my macro numbers where they need to be. I don't want to guess to high and go over so I hope the fitbit can help me guess accurately.

Thanks much to all of you who commented. All this info was extremely helpful!

You will LOVE your fitbit!

Ohhhh YESSS!!! You will love your Fitbit!!! I know I love mine! My life has never been the same since I got it last Christmas! :bigsmile:

Now, just so you know, Fitbit isn't 100% accurate. But based on my experience (and the experiences of others I've heard from), it's pretty close and it gives a pretty good idea of your TDEE. I've lost 12 pounds since I got my Fitbit and used it as an approximation for my TDEE! :bigsmile:

i personally stay away from IIFYM...that's just me

how so?

yea how so?

i generally try to eat "good" foods

Yes, because you have to eat only 'bad' food when applying IIFYM.

well because most people say when they are doing IIFYM they post pictures of a 5 patty cheeseburger they ate or they just had a ton of junk food. i know you'll come back with some snide remark