TDEE or MFP

sheepingly
sheepingly Posts: 237 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm trying to get fit again. I gained around 60-80lbs over the past several years.

TDEE method says i should consume around 1500 calories for 1-2lb/wk weight loss

MFP says 1200 calories for 1.9 / week weight loss.

I'm not sure what i should be doing regarding P/F/C .

In the past I just followed the MFP 1200 calories and whatever amounts they state for P/F/C but I always overeat cause im always hungry due to weight gain and probably 1200 isn't enough food.

Any advice?

Replies

  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    sheepingly wrote: »
    I'm trying to get fit again. I gained around 60-80lbs over the past several years.

    TDEE method says i should consume around 1500 calories for 1-2lb/wk weight loss

    MFP says 1200 calories for 1.9 / week weight loss.

    I'm not sure what i should be doing regarding P/F/C .

    In the past I just followed the MFP 1200 calories and whatever amounts they state for P/F/C but I always overeat cause im always hungry due to weight gain and probably 1200 isn't enough food.

    Any advice?

    MFP says 1200 + exercise calories while TDEE includes exercise calories. You're comparing two systems that work in different ways, and not including all the variables. To use MFP as intended, you need to factor in exercise.
  • JeepHair77
    JeepHair77 Posts: 1,291 Member
    How did you calculate TDEE? Using Scooby? Did you tell it you'd be exercising?

    If so - those numbers are not necessarily different. I think the choice is primarily one of preference. When I was actively losing, I liked the MFP method because I "earned" extra calories and there was just something about that mindset that worked well for me. Now, in maintenance/recomp/slight deficit, I prefer the TDEE method.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited July 2017
    Done correctly, the two methods are 6 of 1...the only difference is where you account for exercise.

    ETA: with MFP you're supposed to add in exercise calories after the fact when you log it...with TDEE they are included in your target.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    sheepingly wrote: »
    In the past I just followed the MFP 1200 calories and whatever amounts they state for P/F/C but I always overeat cause im always hungry due to weight gain and probably 1200 isn't enough food.

    Why not try doing the MFP method properly? 1200 + exercise calories? Then maybe you wouldn't be so hungry!

    Don't really get why you are happy to eat back exercise calories by following the TDEE method (an average amount is rolled up into your daily goal) but don't eat them when using the MFP method?
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    When I started tracking last year I was really confused by the 1200 MFP recommendation, because I didn't realize it intends you to be adding on calories based on exercise (as others have noted). I actually prefer not to track exercise calories as I find it too difficult to do accurately, so I just use the TDEE estimate. I've been losing for about six months now and started off aiming for just under my "maintaining" calories and am gradually reducing down from there. No point in being hungry all the time.
  • sheepingly
    sheepingly Posts: 237 Member
    Thanks guys. Makes sense -- I totally didn't not understand MFP and TDEE versions at all. With MFP i thought i had to eat 1200 exercise or not.

    No wonder I was always hungry especially after exercise.

    For the person who wanted stats.

    I am 37 yo Female, 5'6" and I think around 213lbs.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    If you eat your exercise calories
    MFP = TDEE.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    My numbers are really similar to yours: I'm slightly younger, shorter, and lighter. Based on my own tracking (which lines up very neatly with the TDEE suggestions) I start hitting deficit around 2200, so that was my original goal and I'm cutting back gradually from there. I really don't like being hungry. It took me several years to gain this weight, and if that's how long it takes to lose it and keep it off, that seems reasonable.
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