When I was training for my marathon I used the TDEE method and didn't eat back exercise calories. When I stuck to it I lost weight, dropped about 5 pounds over a couple months. But as I started getting into the longer distances I was over more often than not. So then I basically maintained throughout. For the days leading up to the race I used MFP but only to make sure I was hitting my goal for the carb load. I didn't worry about going way over, which I did. I didn't gain any weight. (Other than a couple of temporary pounds from water) So maybe you would want to try that method, it gives you a more even eating plan.

Interesting topic. I'm also training for a 50 miler and wonder the same thing. I have a few pounds to lose (also gained during ultra training; weird). I find MFP difficult while training because while I am not hungry at all on the days I run really, really long, I am STARVING the next day--rest day, when MFP gives me way less calories... It seems intuitively like a good idea to just eat the next day, as long as it is good stuff. That's what I try to do, but still end up feeling guilty for going pretty over my allotted calories.

No solutions, just sharing my experience!

Hm. Is there some reason to use TDEE from an external site? Why not just use MFP and enter calories burned? I'm unsure why so many people here use TDEE. I assume you don't enter calories burned then?

I have been training hard since July and have a 50 miler coming up in April. I am up 10 lbs so maybe I am not the best person to give advice. I usually gain during traning and lose it shortly after the event. Anyway, I carry over any unused calories for my rest days. I am starving all the time so I could not imagine not eating the calories back. I currently have it set for 1/2 lb loss per week but that is really my maintenance calories (I have thyroid issues).

I have never ran this hard in my life, I am working on my running bucket list. I was able to qualify for Boston, then I took an additional 4 minutes 6 weeks later. In order to do that I had to let go of the calorie counting. I found fueling up to be quite beneficial for my speed. I think most of my gain in water retention, I usually deflate a couple weeks after. I have been going hard since July. I am ready to slow down.

also, sorry, didnt mean to hijack the thread, I'm just very curious as well, a good question by the OP

What are your feelings / philosophy about drinking while running, and what do you do for electrolytes? Yeah, it could partially be fluid retention. Also, how much beer are you drinking after broomball?

I drink very little during a run, I try to keep the fluids up in the day before a long run, not right before or during lest I have to go to the bathroom.

On a hot day 8+ miles I'll take a little NATHAN water bottle with me... like 6oz, and I may fill it once at a drinking fountain on my route, but during the winter I don't bother, since I'm not sweating as much. Also in the summer if I'm going over 10 miles I'll mix a Gu in my bottle and/or strap a pack or two of sport beans to the side, but again, I don't bother in the winter, right or wrong... I drink about as much as I can stand after a long run. After this weekends 11 miler I drank 64 oz of Powerade zero in abut 30 minutes.

I have never been particularly susceptible to food related problems, I can eat pretty much whatever before hand and still go out and run without too much discomfort... I try to behave and eat smart of course. I also don't want to eat a ton before hand and feel "heavy" but I'm trying to get all these calories eaten appropriately.


And LOL, what a fantastic question, we used to meet up for a few beers afterwards but not so much lately, I usually hit up a pharmacy on the way home for a Gatorade and some carbs.

Hi, I'm not running ultras, just training for a HM (short distance in comparison), but I use TDEE method to spread calories evenly over the week. I also adjust this TDEE up or down if my training increases or decreases. TDEE works better for me because I found that if I was doing MFP + eat back exercise cals, I lost more weight because I often didn't fit in the extra cals from running that day, so ended up eating at more of a deficit than I intended.

When I started my training, I was on a small deficit, but since my training has ramped up I am eating at maintenance because I did not have the energy to fuel my runs, even with a small of deficit of 200 cals. My energy and pace decreased noticeably. On lighter training days or rest days, sometimes I am a hundred or so cals below maintenance because I am not as hungry, then I eat up on long run days.

ETA that I'm really impressed by anyone ultrarunning - been reading Dean Karnazes' books at the moment, and am amazed at what human bodies can do!

This thread has been super helpful. I like the idea of spreading the calories through the week by just using the TDEE and not counting exercise calories. I may try this until I'm done my ultra.