Thinking of trying TDEE (-20%)

I'll argue the other side as @SezxyStef . I prefer TDEE (although I only subtract 10%). I like knowing how many calories per day to shoot for. When using MFP plus exercise calories, my daily # of calories would change. It was like shooting at a moving target. I hated having to try to make my calories work at the end of the day. Now I just shoot for 1930 calories every day. Much easier to get into a rhythm and hit my goals.

BTW, I am also 5'9", currently 179 pounds, 41 year old female. So, your TDEE sounds like a realistic number to me.

quiksylver296 wrote: »

I'll argue the other side as @SezxyStef . I prefer TDEE (although I only subtract 10%). I like knowing how many calories per day to shoot for. When using MFP plus exercise calories, my daily # of calories would change. It was like shooting at a moving target. I hated having to try to make my calories work at the end of the day. Now I just shoot for 1930 calories every day. Much easier to get into a rhythm and hit my goals.

BTW, I am also 5'9", currently 179 pounds, 41 year old female. So, your TDEE sounds like a realistic number to me.

I agree actually as I prefer TDEE (but don't as I have a tracker) and used TDEE for 2 years...but it was the inconsistent exercise the OP indicated which made me think that until it was consistent it might not be best.

I prefer TDEE method too.

TDEE is your total daily burn including exercise. One method of losing weight is to estimate your average TDEE over a week (if you have a consistent exercise schedule) and subtract 20% (or 10%).

I RESEARCHED IT. NOW I KNOW WHAT TDEE IS!

SezxyStef wrote: »

honeyroastedstrawberries wrote: »

I gained about 20lbs in about 3 months due to quitting my restaurant job (on my feet 8-9 hrs day/5 days a week) and helping out with a sick family member (at times crazy stressful - not moving a lot and just eating a lot while in the hospital).

I just started on MFP again in the past couple of weeks (Friday is my 3rd weigh in) and I also started using my fitbit again.

According to MFP I should eat approx. 1610 calories per day to lose 1.5lbs per week and I have my activity level set to Sedentary (it was easier because I can't work out everyday). I usually eat about 1400 - 1600 daily and don't eat back the fitbit calories. I try to get in 10k steps 5x per week.


My question is I'm wondering if my calories are too low. I did a TDEE (-20%) check and they have my calorie level at 2400 a day with 3/5 hour workouts per week.

I know I'm just starting but don't want my body to go into starvation mode early and then I have to backtrack to undo damage before moving forward.

My family keeps telling me that it's going to take time for the weight to come off and I'll admit I'm not patient (yet I HATE working out, lol). I lost about 50lbs 3 years ago counting calories and doing turbo fire and I miss that me (even though I was absolutely paranoid about eating - and THAT I know wasn't healthy).

Appreciate the time and wisdom.

Stats:
Female
Weight: 250.2
Height: 5' 9"
GW: 210
Approx. BF: 37%

TDEE-20% is probably close to your goal here +exercise calories.

Activity level should not include exercise.

and TDEE is used typically when you are certain of work outs which you indicated you can't be sure you will be working out consistently.

My suggestion is to give MFP way a go first. Log accurately and consistently and eat some of your exercise calories and if you get to the point where you are exercising consistently use the TDEE method but you will find it is the calories given here+exercise calories (or very close to it)

Just wanted to second this. You should be logging your exercise and eating back a portion of those calories on MFP. When I do that, my weekly calories using MFP method is almost exactly what my TDEE calculated calorie goal would be.

TDEE is general, so it may or may not apply to you.

i lose 1/2 a pound a week eating what the scooby calculator says is just under my BMR - obviously it isn't or i'd be losing too much weight and feeling weak, but i'm not. and the TDEE minus 20% on scooby is my maintenance, so take it all with a grain of salt.

I would also suggest that if you do decide to try TDEE...with that big of a calorie difference between what you are doing now vs. TDEE calories, I would SLOWLY work my way up. Maybe add 100 calories a week or something and see what happens. Sometimes jumping too high too quick can cause your body to struggle to readjust to the new level. But since you haven't been eating at the lower calorie level for long, you might be able to add more per week.

I use the Scooby calculator as well. It has me eating about 2000 a week and right now I'm at 1900 and doing well. (I started at 248 and am at 231lb now, 5'5" and 35 years old). I currently walk about 6 miles a week and swim for an hour. Honestly I'm thinking I'm going to up it to the 2000 to see how things go. I started out at 1700 calories a day with a 20 minute yoga routine as my only exercise. I saw fair movement on the scale, but once I upped my exercise (with the increase in calories as well) I've had a lot more success.

Regardless of which you choose, monitoring your measurements and weight are important. If you are losing fat (inches) but not actual pounds, you might be closer to maintenance calories. If you are dropping weight and inches, you are likely in the sweet spot for calories. I wouldn't change it unless you start seeing a plateau or you are dealing with a LOT of hunger or fatigue. Those last two are kinds of signals that are a good indicator you aren't eating enough.

You could eat the same # of calories with tdee-20% or MFP cal #s...just with MFP they'll start you off with the 1610 and if you work off 300 cals in exercise and eat them back then you eat 1910 cals and still have the same deficit;)

A couple of weeks.

Honestly, I hadn't heard of the TDEE thing before now, but my exercise is variable anyway. I have MFP set at sedentary (because I don't work and mostly stay home) and goal of losing 1.5 lbs per week. Then when I do exercise (which has been every day because of MMF's darn challenges encouraging me) I often just ignore the extra calories (which would boost me to more like a 2 lb loss) or if I'm craving an extra treat or just plain still hungry, I eat them back and then I'm still at the 1.5 lb per week loss. It's all going to depend on your mentality. I would rather get an extra surprise at the end than bank on doing a certain workout every day. Things come up and it's easier to think of it as getting something extra when you do exercise than having to cut back if you don't get your workout in.

honeyroastedstrawberries wrote: »

Thanks so much everyone...sounds like everyone is here is encouraging TDEE which I admit I may prefer (especially planning the workouts ahead to hit the set macros). I'll finish up with the MFP numbers for this week (see what happens loss wise) and since my bday is next week I might try TDEE for a few weeks to see what happens. I'm also thinking TDEE may work better because I can already feel myself becoming paranoid about not eating earlier in the day so I can make sure I don't go over my daily calories by the end.

quiksylver296 wrote: »

I'll argue the other side as @SezxyStef . I prefer TDEE (although I only subtract 10%). I like knowing how many calories per day to shoot for. When using MFP plus exercise calories, my daily # of calories would change. It was like shooting at a moving target. I hated having to try to make my calories work at the end of the day. Now I just shoot for 1930 calories every day. Much easier to get into a rhythm and hit my goals.

BTW, I am also 5'9", currently 179 pounds, 41 year old female. So, your TDEE sounds like a realistic number to me.

Wow...your stats are pretty close to mine (although I don't think I can ever get that low weight wise ). If you don't mind sharing (either here or just send me a message) are you still aiming to lose or at maintenance with that daily calorie count?

1930 is my TDEE minus 10%. My TDEE is approximately 2200 calories. My goal weight is 165.