Using TDEE

marcellara
marcellara Posts: 44 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone use their TDEE daily calorie amount rather that that given on MFP? If so, how is working for you?

Replies

  • Jgal8123
    Jgal8123 Posts: 1,378 Member
    Been following TDEE-20% since Jan 1 and down about 6 pounds so far. Before that, I was using MFP numbers and lost a total of 1/2 pound. I'd say it's working pretty well for me =)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I switched after a few months and never looked back!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    They are essentially the same thing if you have entered correct parameters.

    Only difference is that if you use TDEE minus 10% or 15%, then you eat the same number of calories regardless of your workout schedule.

    With MFP, you regulate your calories daily depending on your activity level. MFP is much more labor-intensive on your part, but also allows for missed workouts or lower/higher activity days.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    I switched to TDEE after about a month and wouldn't do it any other way. It's just simpler for me to not have to eat back calories and thereby vary my intake so wildly day to day. Eat X-amount, exercise for X-number of minutes per week, done.

    Rigger
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Been using the TDEE method for about two years - best move I ever made. I've had my best success with losing the fat and inches while maintaining lean muscle, NOT being hungry or deprived, and feeling fantastic. :drinker:

    This I can do for LIFE!
  • FindingMyPerfection
    FindingMyPerfection Posts: 702 Member
    I do TDEE because I don't wAnt to have to change my cal count daily. I love it and would never have been able to be consistent with the MFP way.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be in the same neighborhood as a properly set TDEE - % goal.

    The difference is whether you have to keep track of exercise calories or not.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be in the same neighborhood as a properly set TDEE - % goal.

    The difference is whether you have to keep track of exercise calories or not.

    This...I switched in 21/2 months and it's been great...it's not that I lose faster just easier as I lift weights and do hiit hard to tell the burn on that....

    My TDEE came from actual calculations tho...not a website.
  • marcellara
    marcellara Posts: 44 Member
    I switched to TDEE after about a month and wouldn't do it any other way. It's just simpler for me to not have to eat back calories and thereby vary my intake so wildly day to day. Eat X-amount, exercise for X-number of minutes per week, done.

    Rigger

    Rigger, how do you know how many minutes per week you should be working out. Do you have a calculation that you use to figure your TDEE amount?
  • marcellara
    marcellara Posts: 44 Member
    A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be in the same neighborhood as a properly set TDEE - % goal.

    The difference is whether you have to keep track of exercise calories or not.

    This...I switched in 21/2 months and it's been great...it's not that I lose faster just easier as I lift weights and do hiit hard to tell the burn on that....

    My TDEE came from actual calculations tho...not a website.

    What calculation did you use?? I have seen a couple different results so want to make sure that I am accurately calculating it :)
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    They are essentially the same thing if you have entered correct parameters.

    Only difference is that if you use TDEE minus 10% or 15%, then you eat the same number of calories regardless of your workout schedule.

    With MFP, you regulate your calories daily depending on your activity level. MFP is much more labor-intensive on your part, but also allows for missed workouts or lower/higher activity days.

    yep. the numbers end up being around the same if you do it the TDEE way or the MFP way. the main advantage with the TDEE way for me is that I have the same calorie goal and macros per day.

    my numbers were set up with the assumption that i'd be exercising 3-5 days a week. I did the math and figured out that the assumption was that I'd be burning an additional 1500 calories in exercise for the week, which is pretty much what i do
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be in the same neighborhood as a properly set TDEE - % goal.

    The difference is whether you have to keep track of exercise calories or not.

    This...I switched in 21/2 months and it's been great...it's not that I lose faster just easier as I lift weights and do hiit hard to tell the burn on that....

    My TDEE came from actual calculations tho...not a website.

    What calculation did you use?? I have seen a couple different results so want to make sure that I am accurately calculating it :)

    Well, you can start with a website calculator. But keep in mind that all calculators are estimates. You can narrow it down by actually eating at your calculated TDEE for several weeks to find out if you stay the same weight, and then eating for a few more weeks at a surplus or deficit to see if you gain or lose the expected amount.

    Here is one calculator that many people on here use: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • YorriaRaine
    YorriaRaine Posts: 370 Member
    I kinda like the hybrid method of using TDEE -20% but keeping the activity level as what you do minus exercise. Then still eating exercise calories back. However, I'm extremely inconsistent with how much I exercise every week and that is why I kinda like that method. I just keep track of my cardio calories burned with a hrm.
  • KeepGoingKylene
    KeepGoingKylene Posts: 432 Member
    Best thing I ever did!
    I did notice a few different numbers from different calculators so I took an average of them all.
    Been working great for me!
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    I decided to try TDEE after a year of logging the MFP way. After collecting a year's worth of data, I realized that I am really happy with my level of activity and fitness, I just eat too much! Picking a number based on TDEE is helping me to plan my food better, to be more honest, and to separate my fitness from my calorie count. The "game mode" of trading food for exercise was really motivating when I first lost some weight last year, but stopped working for me longer-term. I had a really hard time taking rest days, because eating only my net calories sucked. After a month of staying around TDEE- 10% the scale is finally moving down again, a predictable .5 lb a week. I was actually surprised, because I have been pretty busy and have missed workouts. I feel satisfied and sane on this method, and I’m actually eating fewer total calories. Of course, a month is nothing, but I’ll have more data as time goes on….

    ETA: I pay more attention to my weekly average calories than my daily and have my goal set 100 lower than may actual goal to allow for my weekend overages. All tricks on myself that work for me.

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