Hey all.. starting over again

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
in Getting Started
Was using Carbon app for almost a year but their food database sucks and it was more annoying than anything.

So now i am coming back. However, looking to put in my own macros in to follow and not use the Myfitnesspal guidelines.

What TDEE calculator have you used that worked for you? i know all of them arent accurate but just looking for a baseline to start. Looking to good down pants sizes and not worry so much on scale.

I'm 5'8, 201 lbs, strength training 5 days a week and looking to get down to 180.

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    I just use the MFP system. The advantage for me is that my activity level changes grossly from day to day, and logging my exercise separately to everyday activity (generally sedentary) is much more precise than a TDEE calculator where exercise is included would.
  • kbrown1527
    kbrown1527 Posts: 65 Member
    I used the bodybuilding.com calculator. It is actually very close to MFP once you “eat back” your exercise calories, however I like to use a specific daily number for meal prepping purposes— just my personal preference. So I set my target according to the tdee number BB gave me. I am better able to stay consistent when I know my numbers ahead of time. I weight train 5x a week and do some form of cardio just about every day even if it is just walking.

    Good luck reaching your goals!

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    I just use the MFP system. The advantage for me is that my activity level changes grossly from day to day, and logging my exercise separately to everyday activity (generally sedentary) is much more precise than a TDEE calculator where exercise is included would.

    Yes, this is why I use MFP over TDEE.

    I did practically nothing the past two days, which is rare for me, but would be more common if I used a TDEE calculator and didn't have the same-day incentive to exercise.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    yirara wrote: »
    I just use the MFP system. The advantage for me is that my activity level changes grossly from day to day, and logging my exercise separately to everyday activity (generally sedentary) is much more precise than a TDEE calculator where exercise is included would.

    Yes, this is why I use MFP over TDEE.

    I did practically nothing the past two days, which is rare for me, but would be more common if I used a TDEE calculator and didn't have the same-day incentive to exercise.

    Oh yes, and this MFP method actually shows you what exercising does. While you can't visualize the health benefits you get extra calories in return. You don't see this in a TDEE calculator.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,598 Member
    I, too, prefer the MFP system. My major exercise is weather dependent and seasonal. The MFP method has not only helped me lose weight, but also maintain a healthy weight for 7+ years since loss (after about 30 years previously of overweight/obesity, during the last dozen of which I was doing pretty much the same exercise I do now). It's worked during periods when I couldn't exercise (illness, injury, surgical recovery) and periods with unusually much exercise (which needs extra fuel for performance).

    But TDEE can work for someone with a consistent exercise level who prefers to eat the same number of calories daily.

    If you want to use a TDEE calculator, I'd suggest this one:

    https://www.sailrabbit.com/bmr/

    I like it because it lets you compare several research-based formulas (including some that let you input body fat percent, if you have a reasonable estimate); and has more activity levels, each with a better description, than most other TDEE calculators. It also makes the activity level multipliers explicit (which IMU all TDEE calculators use, but most of them don't tell you what they are numerically).

    That amount of information does make the user interface look a little overwhelming at first, but if you step through it patiently, you'll soon understand it.

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