Should I recalculate, and use MFP, or TDEE as model?

dagrees
dagrees Posts: 32 Member
edited December 20 in Health and Weight Loss

Hello,

I have lost 20 lbs since 1/8/19, using the mfp model.
Age 63
Female
5 ft 5.5
sw 179,
goal 140.
I initially set to 2 lbs loss per week. Sedentary, and logged my exercise. Eating back some calories.
It worked!
Lately I’ve been eating more than my goal, due to dinners out and beginning of ice cream season, so weight loss has slowed. That’s ok. I can move forward.
My question is, should I recalculate/restart, and do mfp model( at .5 or 1 lb per week), or use bmr , tde model?
I calculated my bmr at 1375, and tde at 2012 at slightly active( using the info from sticky on this site).
The more I read and learn the more confused I get.
Thanks!


Replies

  • emilysusana
    emilysusana Posts: 416 Member
    If the MFP model worked, and the only thing that changed was your eating, I’m not sure why you would change? I use MFP and enjoy seeing the “bonus” form exercise calories. That’s a personal preference. But if you’re tracking here, why not use the MFP method?
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    How often do you exercise? In my opinion, MFP is better for people with ocassional or inconsistent exercise. TDEE may be better for people who exercise on a regular, consistent basis.

    I do TDEE, but train 5-6 days a week of hard exercise, so I think it works better for me, especially since I don't have a reliable way of estimating my exercise calories.

    But for most people, I think the MFP model is probably the better choice. It's likely that using it like you have, and just recalculation your goal (you should slow your weight loss goal as you get closer to your goal weight anyways), it's probably the better choice for you.
  • dagrees
    dagrees Posts: 32 Member
    emilysusana wrote: »
    If the MFP model worked, and the only thing that changed was your eating, I’m not sure why you would change? I use MFP and enjoy seeing the “bonus” form exercise calories. That’s a personal preference. But if you’re tracking here, why not use the MFP method?

    That makes sense. Would I change my calorie and weekly loss goal though, as I have lost some weight?
  • dagrees
    dagrees Posts: 32 Member
    MikePTY wrote: »
    How often do you exercise? In my opinion, MFP is better for people with ocassional or inconsistent exercise. TDEE may be better for people who exercise on a regular, consistent basis.

    I do TDEE, but train 5-6 days a week of hard exercise, so I think it works better for me, especially since I don't have a reliable way of estimating my exercise calories.

    But for most people, I think the MFP model is probably the better choice. It's likely that using it like you have, and just recalculation your goal (you should slow your weight loss goal as you get closer to your goal weight anyways), it's probably the better choice for you.

    I exercise daily; 50 minutes strength training /cardio 3x per week, and brisk walking daily 40 minutes on average.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited April 2019
    dagrees wrote: »
    Hello,

    I have lost 20 lbs since 1/8/19, using the mfp model.
    Age 63
    Female
    5 ft 5.5
    sw 179,
    goal 140.
    I initially set to 2 lbs loss per week.     Sedentary, and logged my exercise. Eating back some calories.
    It worked!
    Lately I’ve been eating more than my goal, due to dinners out and beginning of ice cream season, so weight loss has slowed. That’s ok. I can move forward.
    My question is, should I recalculate/restart, and do mfp model( at .5 or 1 lb per week), or use bmr , tde model?
    I calculated my bmr at 1375, and tde at 2012 at slightly active( using the info from sticky on this site).
    The more I read and learn the more confused I get.
    Thanks!

    So you only have 19 pounds to lose now? Yes, do lower your weekly weight loss goal.

    9kjwnia17qv9.jpg

    ps - keep it simple, stick with MFP :)

    MFP uses a different calculation than TDEE, but it all works out the same, so no point overcomplicating things.
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    dagrees wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    How often do you exercise? In my opinion, MFP is better for people with ocassional or inconsistent exercise. TDEE may be better for people who exercise on a regular, consistent basis.

    I do TDEE, but train 5-6 days a week of hard exercise, so I think it works better for me, especially since I don't have a reliable way of estimating my exercise calories.

    But for most people, I think the MFP model is probably the better choice. It's likely that using it like you have, and just recalculation your goal (you should slow your weight loss goal as you get closer to your goal weight anyways), it's probably the better choice for you.

    I exercise daily; 50 minutes strength training /cardio 3x per week, and brisk walking daily 40 minutes on average.

    If that is the case, your TDEE is not "lightly active". It is somewhere between moderate and heavy.
  • dagrees
    dagrees Posts: 32 Member
    edited April 2019
    Change on activity makes my tdee even higher.
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    dagrees wrote: »
    Change on activity makes my tdee even higher.

    Yes. It should. But that is what the calculator is estimating for you. If you work out everyday, you are not in TDEE terms "lightly active".
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    If what you have been doing is working for you, I wouldn't change a thing. It seems that you have upped your calories via general lifestyle and that your weight loss has slowed. If you are still losing, then that's a win in my book, as it will be the most sustainable. If your weight loss stalls for a month, then you need to cut some calories somewhere.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    dagrees wrote: »
    Hello,

    I have lost 20 lbs since 1/8/19, using the mfp model.
    Age 63
    Female
    5 ft 5.5
    sw 179,
    goal 140.
    I initially set to 2 lbs loss per week. Sedentary, and logged my exercise. Eating back some calories.
    It worked!
    Lately I’ve been eating more than my goal, due to dinners out and beginning of ice cream season, so weight loss has slowed. That’s ok. I can move forward.
    My question is, should I recalculate/restart, and do mfp model( at .5 or 1 lb per week), or use bmr , tde model?
    I calculated my bmr at 1375, and tde at 2012 at slightly active( using the info from sticky on this site).
    The more I read and learn the more confused I get.
    Thanks!


    Honestly, the numbers should work out the same. Your MFP goal + Exercise = TDEE (give or take). So whichever method you use should have you eating the same cals each week, just perhaps spread out differently.

    2 lbs per week is really aggressive for your stats. Slow it down to 1 lb per week so you don't hit the proverbial wall or sacrifice far more muscle mass than you'd want to.

    All the calculators are just starting points, it's your real world results that should be guiding you forward. If what you were doing was comfortable for you and getting results, I personally wouldn't change methods. But I would aim for a slower rate :smile:
  • dagrees
    dagrees Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks all! Onward and upward- I mean downward.🙂
This discussion has been closed.

Categories