When calculating TDEE, what counts as exercise?

AshwinA7
AshwinA7 Posts: 102 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Specifically, I'm using the calculator at iifym.com

http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

When calculating TDEE, it gives you BMR/Sedentary/Exercise 1x/2x/3x/4x/5x/6x

How exactly do you define exercise in this case? Because honestly, the calorie amounts for the TDEE on here are ludicrously high. There's no possible way I could lose weight eating what they recommend, even though I "work out" 7 days a week (lift heavy 3x, run/rock climbing 7x)

Also, on that same site, they have the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation listed as:
BMR = 10 * weight(kg) + 6.25 * height(cm) - 5 * age(y) + 5

I don't see activity even listed as part of the equation, so how do they factor in the activity level?

Has anyone had success using TDEE (with an activity multiplier) to lose weight?

Replies

  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Calculators are just to give a general range but everyone's tdee is going to be unique.
  • Slinky_BraveHeartBunsOfSteel
    Slinky_BraveHeartBunsOfSteel Posts: 10,908 Member
    Bump for later :)
  • beautifulwarrior18
    beautifulwarrior18 Posts: 914 Member
    If you were doing it when you got fat, it doesn't count as exercise. So work, cleaning, etc don't count it. If you were actually regularly hitting the gym, then you may count it.
  • changergirl
    changergirl Posts: 81


    Also, on that same site, they have the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation listed as:
    BMR = 10 * weight(kg) + 6.25 * height(cm) - 5 * age(y) + 5

    I don't see activity even listed as part of the equation, so how do they factor in the activity level?


    BMR doesn't include activity so that's why it isn't in the equation.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Typcially TDEE-X% is how you lose the weight.

    I use the TDEE-X% method and as you can see by my ticker I have lost a lot of weight.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    I have lost 70+ and use TDEE almost exclusively. My TDEE minus 20% is roughly 2500 calories and it seems ridiculously high, but it works. I've learned, largely the hard way, that math does actually work for the average person with no additional factors to account for (such as PCOS, diabetes or hypothyroidism).
  • AshwinA7
    AshwinA7 Posts: 102 Member
    Phrick & SezxyStef -

    Can you tell me what your workouts are like and what you put as your activity factor when you figured out your TDEE?
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Phrick & SezxyStef -

    Can you tell me what your workouts are like and what you put as your activity factor when you figured out your TDEE?

    My first TDEE was calculated after weighing my food for 3 weeks and doing circut training (body weight stuff) 5x a week....my personal TDEE calculated at 1995 at that point hence the 1700 now...TDEE-15%.

    I have recently recalculated for maintenance after lifting 3x a week for 6 months, and adding in HIIT for 15 weeks (since Jan) and it is now 2148. My lifting is the strong lift 5x5 program where my maxes atm are 210lb DL, 180lb squat, 120 bench, 88lb OHP and 120lb row...

    I will be upping my calories soon since my TDEE has gone up...hitting maintenance by summer at the latest.

    ETA: I don't use a website I use this caclulation I found in the ETP group

    total calories consumed+(pounds lost x 3500)/49 (49 days of data) but you can use 2 weeks if you want.
  • AshwinA7
    AshwinA7 Posts: 102 Member
    SezxyStef -

    Really appreciate you breaking that down for me. Thanks!
  • KeepGoingKylene
    KeepGoingKylene Posts: 432 Member
    I used that same site to calculate mine and have lost 92lbs so far, so yes it works to eat more!

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