Any success stories using the TDEE-20% (15%) method?

Yes! I've had much success with TDEE-20%. I've been doing it for 7 weeks and have lost 10 pounds during that time. It even helped me break out of a 2 week stall. I'm never hungry and feel great. Do it!

Hiya, sorry if this has been covered already. Changed to TDEE-20% 3 weeks ago now and have lost nothing so far. I understand it can take a few weeks for your body to start burning fat more efficiently so trying to be patient.

I am 5ft 4 33 year old female. eating around 1700-1800 a day. This was from 1200 when I first started and have gradually increased.

BMR around 1600, tdee around 2200

Just wondering how long it is taking people for the scales to start moving in the right direction again.

I started out at 1200 for about 8 weeks..lost nothing. Bumped up to 1400 lost a couple, bumped to 1500/1600 took about 3 or 4 weeks then started losing 1/2 to 1lb a week for the last 4 weeks.

I'm beginning TDEE -20% today. I've attempted MFP's recommendations and Weight Watchers several times and I wind up binging...every single time. A week of eating < or = 1200 calories and I'm in a dark closet shoving powdered donuts down my throat on Saturday nights. I started hunting for some other way because I know this has to be terribly unhealthy. For instance, I'll start out on a Monday at 168. By Saturday morning, I'm down to 162. Then BAM, Monday comes and I'm 168 again over and over and over because after being so restricted all week, I break into the pantry like a bull on the weekends.

So I'm going to give this a whirl. I figure...I've pretty much stayed the SAME weight for the past six weeks once you average it out so why not try this instead since I'm going no where with any other method. My TDEE -20% is right at about 1600 calories for me, which sounds so scandelous! I'm already actually feeling terrible guilt over allowing myself to eat that much, but I suppose it makes more sense than 1200 every day and 5000 a day on the weekends as I've been seeming to do.

I just wanted to join in and tell those with experience thank you for the advice/motivation in this string and tell those just starting it like myself - good luck and I'm in it with you!

bump for later

I'm beginning TDEE -20% today. I've attempted MFP's recommendations and Weight Watchers several times and I wind up binging...every single time. A week of eating < or = 1200 calories and I'm in a dark closet shoving powdered donuts down my throat on Saturday nights. I started hunting for some other way because I know this has to be terribly unhealthy. For instance, I'll start out on a Monday at 168. By Saturday morning, I'm down to 162. Then BAM, Monday comes and I'm 168 again over and over and over because after being so restricted all week, I break into the pantry like a bull on the weekends.

So I'm going to give this a whirl. I figure...I've pretty much stayed the SAME weight for the past six weeks once you average it out so why not try this instead since I'm going no where with any other method. My TDEE -20% is right at about 1600 calories for me, which sounds so scandelous! I'm already actually feeling terrible guilt over allowing myself to eat that much, but I suppose it makes more sense than 1200 every day and 5000 a day on the weekends as I've been seeming to do.

I just wanted to join in and tell those with experience thank you for the advice/motivation in this string and tell those just starting it like myself - good luck and I'm in it with you!

Dont be scared it works!! AND you get to eat! It is a wonderful way to lose weight and makes sense. I did 1200 for a very long time and ruined my metabolism!!

So with TDEE - 20% you DO NOT eat back your exercise calories? Is this correct?

If you calculated your exercise into your TDEE number, that's correct. If you said you were sedentary when calculating your TDEE, you didn't technically calculate your TDEE, and you should also eat a percentage of exercise calories back.

Bumping for later!

So with TDEE - 20% you DO NOT eat back your exercise calories? Is this correct?

If you calculated your exercise into your TDEE number, that's correct. If you said you were sedentary when calculating your TDEE, you didn't technically calculate your TDEE, and you should also eat a percentage of exercise calories back.

I seriously have been sedentary because of health issues, and I think I'd rather just leave it at that and log all exercise to be more precise. Couldn't everyone do it that way if they wanted and it work out correctly? I am trying to build strength but I'm just starting that, and I'm walking at 2mph for 30 minutes and logging it. I haven't started TDEE yet, but am exploring that option and trying to learn.

Ok this calculator might make it clearer -- it's got a dial so you can see how many cals various activities take up. You have to change the gender to female, it's male by default (the pic of the people). If you plug in a realistic estimate of time spent on things you do, subtract 15% from that, and exercise (and don't eat back), you're golden.

http://www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced

Because the exercise cals are really not that precise anyway. Food cals are also an estimate but not as crazy variable. However, if you push as hard as you can and is safe, it's doing something, right? Best you can hope for.

Hope your health issues resolve soon

So with TDEE - 20% you DO NOT eat back your exercise calories? Is this correct?

If you calculated your exercise into your TDEE number, that's correct. If you said you were sedentary when calculating your TDEE, you didn't technically calculate your TDEE, and you should also eat a percentage of exercise calories back.

I seriously have been sedentary because of health issues, and I think I'd rather just leave it at that and log all exercise to be more precise. Couldn't everyone do it that way if they wanted and it work out correctly? I am trying to build strength but I'm just starting that, and I'm walking at 2mph for 30 minutes and logging it. I haven't started TDEE yet, but am exploring that option and trying to learn.

People have explained it much better than I elsewhere in the forums, and maybe even this thread, but essentially, your TDEE includes exercise. If you do exercise and but don't include it when calculating TDEE, you really are calculating something else, not your TDEE.
If you want to eat back exercise calories, you can just set MFP to lose 1lb a week and eat back exercise calories as you do exercise.

So with TDEE - 20% you DO NOT eat back your exercise calories? Is this correct?

If you calculated your exercise into your TDEE number, that's correct. If you said you were sedentary when calculating your TDEE, you didn't technically calculate your TDEE, and you should also eat a percentage of exercise calories back.

I seriously have been sedentary because of health issues, and I think I'd rather just leave it at that and log all exercise to be more precise. Couldn't everyone do it that way if they wanted and it work out correctly? I am trying to build strength but I'm just starting that, and I'm walking at 2mph for 30 minutes and logging it. I haven't started TDEE yet, but am exploring that option and trying to learn.

People have explained it much better than I elsewhere in the forums, and maybe even this thread, but essentially, your TDEE includes exercise. If you do exercise and but don't include it when calculating TDEE, you really are calculating something else, not your TDEE.
If you want to eat back exercise calories, you can just set MFP to lose 1lb a week and eat back exercise calories as you do exercise.

Maybe I shouldn't do TDEE yet then, because I'm not consistent with my exercise at this point. Every day is different for me. Some days I can do it, and other days I can't. Once I get a little stronger, maybe I can set an amount of exercise for the week, and use TDEE. I appreciate all the help and advice.