TDEE

BMR is theoretically what your body would burn in a coma state. Basically how many calories the body needs to simply carry out vital functions. TDEE is your total daily energy expenditure. This is just what it sounds like, it's all the calories your body uses in a day. It includes your BMR, your purposeful exercise, your non purposeful exercise (walking around the house, cleaning, cooking, brushing teeth, etc), and even the calories it requires to break down food (thermic effect of food). To lose weight you figure out your TDEE and subtract some calories from it. Eating 500 calories below your TDEE each day on paper nets about 1 lb of fat loss a week. Since all these numbers are simply estimates and are not fixed, you're actual results will always very. Simply pick any reasonable number for your starting calories, eat them consistently for a few weeks, and if you don't lose weight, simply reduce the number. Also if using this method DO NOT eat back exercise calories. They are already counted in your total daily energy expenditure.

Wow, this makes it clear as mud. So if I substract the 500 from my TDEE I am left with 2070. So if I eat this daily along with regular exercise I will lose weight?

I also have a question about this.

I've been doing something like 1200-1500 with a BMR of 1800. Since I'm below the BMR, doesn't that mean I'm doing damage to my body? I don't notice a huge difference in terms of health, and I'm definitely not getting tired all the time. Now I'm wondering if I'm logging properly..

Eating below your BMR does not automatically mean you are doing damage to your body. Also, a BMR of 1800 is pretty high for a female. What is your height and weight, how did you come to that number. I'm 6'1 205 and my bmr is only about 1950. A female MY height and weight would have a bmr less then 1800. Are you bigger then 6'1 205?

I also have a question about this.

I've been doing something like 1200-1500 with a BMR of 1800. Since I'm below the BMR, doesn't that mean I'm doing damage to my body? I don't notice a huge difference in terms of health, and I'm definitely not getting tired all the time. Now I'm wondering if I'm logging properly..

Eating below your BMR does not automatically mean you are doing damage to your body. Also, a BMR of 1800 is pretty high for a female. What is your height and weight, how did you come to that number. I'm 6'1 205 and my bmr is only about 1950. A female MY height and weight would have a bmr less then 1800. Are you bigger then 6'1 205?

He is a guy.

BMR is theoretically what your body would burn in a coma state. Basically how many calories the body needs to simply carry out vital functions. TDEE is your total daily energy expenditure. This is just what it sounds like, it's all the calories your body uses in a day. It includes your BMR, your purposeful exercise, your non purposeful exercise (walking around the house, cleaning, cooking, brushing teeth, etc), and even the calories it requires to break down food (thermic effect of food). To lose weight you figure out your TDEE and subtract some calories from it. Eating 500 calories below your TDEE each day on paper nets about 1 lb of fat loss a week. Since all these numbers are simply estimates and are not fixed, you're actual results will always very. Simply pick any reasonable number for your starting calories, eat them consistently for a few weeks, and if you don't lose weight, simply reduce the number. Also if using this method DO NOT eat back exercise calories. They are already counted in your total daily energy expenditure.

Wow, this makes it clear as mud. So if I substract the 500 from my TDEE I am left with 2070. So if I eat this daily along with regular exercise I will lose weight?

So if I am basing my calories on my TDEE should I take into consideration the calories I burn exercising? I walk 10,000 steps a day, run 3-4 days a week for 30 mins minimum and lift weights for 45 minutes 3 times a week. I use a fit bit that I currently have tied into MFP. I know that the calories burned are not 100% accurate. I am trying to change things up to keep up the body change. I am working towards losing more inches and getting in shape for a photo shoot in 7 weeks.

Vismal - thank you thank you for clearing that up, great explanation!

So if I am basing my calories on my TDEE should I take into consideration the calories I burn exercising? I walk 10,000 steps a day, run 3-4 days a week for 30 mins minimum and lift weights for 45 minutes 3 times a week. I use a fit bit that I currently have tied into MFP. I know that the calories burned are not 100% accurate. I am trying to change things up to keep up the body change. I am working towards losing more inches and getting in shape for a photo shoot in 7 weeks.

I also have a question about this.

I've been doing something like 1200-1500 with a BMR of 1800. Since I'm below the BMR, doesn't that mean I'm doing damage to my body? I don't notice a huge difference in terms of health, and I'm definitely not getting tired all the time. Now I'm wondering if I'm logging properly..

Eating below your BMR does not automatically mean you are doing damage to your body. Also, a BMR of 1800 is pretty high for a female. What is your height and weight, how did you come to that number. I'm 6'1 205 and my bmr is only about 1950. A female MY height and weight would have a bmr less then 1800. Are you bigger then 6'1 205?

He is a guy.

I see. In that case his bmr is probably correct. Again, eating below does not automatically cause damage. If I was him I would ensure my logging and tracking was accurate before increasing calories. If he isn't weighing his food on a scale and if he eats out or does a lot of estimation, he may very well be eating quite a bit more then he thinks. Most men would be very hungry eating 1200-1500 calories every single day.

True, I would think he'd be very hungry. However, I do know a man who ate 1500 a day, and he lost tons of muscle mass. I wouldn't recommend it, if that is really what is going on.