Best way to calculate TDEE

Nerdycurls
Nerdycurls Posts: 142 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
A while ago I read the thread on adaptive thermogenesis (read it, it's informative) and researched TDEE.

I'm starting to experience what others are writing about-- my weight has barely budged and it's been some time. Of course, weight loss isn't linear (read that post, too). However, I've experienced this before where my weight didn't budge when I was around this weight after a similar weight loss.

What is the best way to calculate TDEE? I found these:

http://www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Both gave me different results. It was interesting to compare, but how does anyone know what to use? Scooby's says your numbers must be recalculated after every 5 pound loss.

Replies

  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    The scale will tell you much better than an online calculator. If you're not losing, you're eating at maintenance. If you're accurately tracking, you know your TDEE.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,106 Member
    The best way to calculate TDEE is to weigh yourself with a consistent scale, log everything you eat for a minimum of four weeks (eight to ten would be better, especially if you're a female who is currently subject to monthly hormonal cycles) using a food scale and accurate database entries, then weigh yourself again with the same scale. Add up all the calories consumed, add 3500 calories per pound lost over the period in question (or subtract 3500 calories per pound gained), and divide by the number of days in the time period for which you have been logging. That's your TDEE.
  • minties82
    minties82 Posts: 907 Member
    Use the myfitnesspal data extract tool if you can't be bothered calculating it from your loses (like me).

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/EvgeniZyntx/view/mfp-data-export-tool-the-overview-659927
  • Nerdycurls
    Nerdycurls Posts: 142 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    The best way to calculate TDEE is to weigh yourself with a consistent scale, log everything you eat for a minimum of four weeks (eight to ten would be better, especially if you're a female who is currently subject to monthly hormonal cycles) using a food scale and accurate database entries, then weigh yourself again with the same scale. Add up all the calories consumed, add 3500 calories per pound lost over the period in question (or subtract 3500 calories per pound gained), and divide by the number of days in the time period for which you have been logging. That's your TDEE.

    Doesn't TDEE change with weight loss? If a person's TDEE was 2200 cals a day, after a 30 pound loss that won't be the same.
  • Nerdycurls
    Nerdycurls Posts: 142 Member
    sheldonklein wrote: »
    The scale will tell you much better than an online calculator. If you're not losing, you're eating at maintenance. If you're accurately tracking, you know your TDEE.

    I'm eating less and I round my weighted food up.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    sheldonklein wrote: »
    The scale will tell you much better than an online calculator. If you're not losing, you're eating at maintenance. If you're accurately tracking, you know your TDEE.

    Yep
  • minties82
    minties82 Posts: 907 Member
    edited September 2015
    Nerdycurls wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    The best way to calculate TDEE is to weigh yourself with a consistent scale, log everything you eat for a minimum of four weeks (eight to ten would be better, especially if you're a female who is currently subject to monthly hormonal cycles) using a food scale and accurate database entries, then weigh yourself again with the same scale. Add up all the calories consumed, add 3500 calories per pound lost over the period in question (or subtract 3500 calories per pound gained), and divide by the number of days in the time period for which you have been logging. That's your TDEE.

    Doesn't TDEE change with weight loss? If a person's TDEE was 2200 cals a day, after a 30 pound loss that won't be the same.

    You could figure it out for each day, week or month if you liked. Mine did not change too much after 30lbs down.

    I have it all noted down. My average TDEE during...lets pick a random week...the week starting on the 20th of Jan this year: 2405. My average weight that week was 242.8lbs.

    My observed TDEE is generally on an upwards trend, the smaller I get.

    2l94chh.png

    I know all of this because DATA!

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