TDEE method peeps...

I'm doing TDEE -21%. That brings it to -500ish calories from my actual TDEE.

I've had a lb come off each week no problem.

Hi, I calculated my TDEE using the moderately active factors (1.5 and 1.6). Rounding the results, I net within 1400-1600 cals daily depending upon my energy expenditure. I cycle daily for anywhere between 15-20 miles, and I don't count calories for weight training (I am still working out a program for myself so at this point it doesn't amount to much). I eat back some of my cals.

I am 60 yrs old and 4'11" inches. Thus far, by doing the above, I've lost 6 lbs and 1 inch around each thigh, and 1/2 inch around each calve, and 1 inch around my buttinsky in the past 7 weeks.

After I loose 9 more lbs, I will do the calcs again.

On TDEE, you DON'T eat exercise calories back. I don't even track them.

Your activity level should be included in those numbers, which should be giving you adequate fuel. I work out 5x a week. According to my stats, I eat 2100 a day. I eat AT that goal.

If I exceed that goal though, I don't beat myself up. I go by the weekly totals. If I over eat by, say, 300 calories...I undereat by 43 calories for the next 7 days.

Stick to that goal. Don't under eat ALL the time...but 100 or so here and there isn't going to hurt anything. Can't go wrong.

OP-- Personally I don't think slight variances over or under matter. You could look at your net calories consumed and expended weekly and average them out. If on average you are hitting 1800, then it shouldn't be a problem for you. The downside of "slight variances" is in the actuals. How "slight", how often, and sweating the details -- accurately measuring food, taking into consideration that most calorie expenditure measured results are usually off by some percentage. You experiment and see what works, then change it.

I generally get really close, to within 50 calories. But you can go above or below as long as it averages out over the course of the week.

I eat TDEE -20% and try to stick to that number pretty closely. It is a number that already gives you a good deficit. Therefore I don't want to go under it by a lot. I usually plan my meals out the day before to make sure I hit my goal and give my body enough energy as I workout quite frequently. Then I also try and make sure I don't go over it much. There are day when I might happen to have more calories (usually not more than 150kcal over). That would be when I go to a birthday party or eat out at a restaurant.
I agree though with everyone who said that you needn't worry about single days as much if you still keep it in balance over the course of a week.

So far it worked quite well for me this way and I see a constant loss.

You can absolutely average it out over the week. This worked for me. I used to eat at or over my TDEE about once a week when I was losing weight. If I went a lot over I would average it out over the next three days or just forgetaboutit! As long as I wasn't going over TDEE for the week it meant that I was t gaining! I was successful in losing weight this way. I lost 15 pounds and I am just maintaining now.