Anyone try eating 1100 calories or has a low TDEE?

playcolours
playcolours Posts: 2
edited October 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I calculated my TDEE using my body fat %, which gave me a BMR of 1340 and TDEE of 1608. Last year when I was 13 pounds heavier, I didn't even know any of this existed, and netted regularly at 1200 and lost weight without plateauing. I must have lost muscle, I assume, although now my protein intake is 1g/body pound and I lift so I'm sure I won't be losing much if at all.

Recently I've been zig-zagging my calories, so by the end of the week, the average is 1100. Having the low BMR/TDEE that I have, I think my body can handle 1100 on average, especially since I'm already at an average weight.

I guess I'm just wondering about any input or experiences! (but please refrain from mentioning "starvation mode" as I am not planning on eating a ridiculously low amount of calories for an extended amount of time)

Replies

  • TheGetFitGal
    TheGetFitGal Posts: 98 Member
    Depends on how tall you are and whats your age? To be honest if your 5.3" and below its ok for 1100 calorie intake if u have a desk job or something like that but 0- less activities
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    People who are shorter than "normal" need fewer calories than what is recommended for normal sized people. I don't see why 1100 would be a problem for a short woman, since it is close to the recommended minimum.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    How can you have such a low TDEE (which is based on being sedentary) if you are working out? There seems to be something wrong with the calculation.

    Also, how do you know your BF%?

    Depending on other factors, like how much you have to lose, eating at an excessive deficit will typically lead to excess loss of muscle mass even if you are doing strength training and eating lots of protein. If you care about that, I'd maybe make sure you are confident in your numbers.
  • chriscolh
    chriscolh Posts: 127 Member
    I'm sub-5' (4'11.5", to be exact) and my numbers are similar. My bmr is right around 1350, and I have a low TDEE. To maintain my weight, I must keep it between 1500-1600 cals, and to lose I've got to keep it around 1100. I don't eat exercise calories back (I exercise 5 days a week and use a hrm to calculate calories) when I want to lose. Really sucks. Honestly. On Thursday I was hungry (I had done a spin class in the morning, went on a field trip to the zoo with my 7 year old - lots of walking! - and then swam laps while my boys did swim lessons. SO HUNGRY!!!), so I had some celery and peanut butter. Lots of celery and peanut butter. (Did I mention I was hungry???) Anyway, I ended up eating 4 TB of peanut butter. Really not a lot, but that "snack" ended up being over 400 calories, which is over 1/3 of what I can eat for a day. I guess I just get frustrated that I really can't eat a whole lot and lose weight, especially when what I was eating wasn't "junk." I know all about low calorie/high bulk foods, and I get that peanut butter wasn't in that category, but I just wanted protein. I'm slowly coming to the realization that my body just doesn't need that much to fuel itself, but I'm not quite at peace with it - yet. Working on it. (It doesn't help that I have 5 sons, including 3 teenagers, who can - and do - eat nonstop and just grow up instead of growing "out." So jealous of what their bodies can pack away and just burn off!)
    Good luck!
  • NotQuiteNorm
    NotQuiteNorm Posts: 283 Member
    I'm about same as you OP - My goal is set to 1000 to remind me to exercise before I eat extra! But I am very flexible with going over a little and would not suggest eating 1000 calories in a day! It's purely to keep me at a 500 deficit once I get up and move about a bit!
  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    I'm 5ft0 and aim for about 1100 each day- without exercise cals (which I eat depending upon whether or not I'm hungry). But at the moment I'm not exercising and have a desk job and drive to and from work. I aim to get back to exercising soon.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Me too.
  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    Same here. I'm 5'3", desk job and don't exercise that much. I like to take 20-30 min walks at lunch and maybe elliptical 2-3 times a week. So, my TDEE is around 1550. I did the recommended .5 lb loss per week since I only want to lose another 5-8 lbs, but that is only a deficit of 250...and I easily underestimate how much I eat and overestimate how much I workout!... so that tiny deficit was easily washed out I'm discovering...So now I am not eating back any exercise calories (which isn't that many to begin with) and netting 1100/1200 and it seems to finally be working.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    oqdyh8r4k3t3.jpeg
  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    oqdyh8r4k3t3.jpeg

    I am learning from trial and error ...and this works for me :smiley:
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    oqdyh8r4k3t3.jpeg

    Ha, almost got me too.

    I was going to ask why OP was eating below BMR. But then I saw it was a necro thread.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    I'm 4'11. I don't use the TDEE method, just what MFP gives me. I have a desk job so I list myself as sedentary. MFP gives me 1210 for a .5 lb loss. But I prefer to eat closer to 1400 so I exercise every day to ensure I can eat more!
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    KBmoments wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    oqdyh8r4k3t3.jpeg

    I am learning from trial and error ...and this works for me :smiley:

    I think the point was that you responded to an old thread.... resurrecting it from the dead.

  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    KBmoments wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    oqdyh8r4k3t3.jpeg

    I am learning from trial and error ...and this works for me :smiley:

    I think the point was that you responded to an old thread.... resurrecting it from the dead.

    Oh, yep...duh.

  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I would suggest TDEE - 15 to 20% which would give you 1286 to 1367 cals/day on average. With less than 10lbs to go there is no reason to have a deficit larger than 15% of TDEE.

    Eating too little cals, not getting enough protein and not taking part in a progressive overload strength training programs will lead to a larger % of your loss coming from lean muscle instead of fat.
  • KBmoments
    KBmoments Posts: 193 Member
    erickirb wrote: »
    I would suggest TDEE - 15 to 20% which would give you 1286 to 1367 cals/day on average. With less than 10lbs to go there is no reason to have a deficit larger than 15% of TDEE.

    Eating too little cals, not getting enough protein and not taking part in a progressive overload strength training programs will lead to a larger % of your loss coming from lean muscle instead of fat.

    I agree. The only reason I set it lower is because without fail, I know I will under estimate what I eat. It's really hard for me to be that precise...so that way, it gives me a buffer.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    gaurikudav3 wrote: »
    Depends on how tall you are and whats your age? To be honest if your 5.3" and below its ok for 1100 calorie intake if u have a desk job or something like that but 0- less activities

    OP probably figured it out in the last two years
  • Zilla100
    Zilla100 Posts: 139 Member
    Yes, between 1100 and 1200 a day generally. I'm fine with it.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories