For the 500,000 time EATING MORE WORKS

17810121318

Replies

  • blondejillie
    blondejillie Posts: 305 Member
    I have no idea about all the acronyms, I keep it really simple. I try my very best to always NET at least 1200 calories. Some days that means I eat 1400 cals and others 1600 or more, but my net is always at least 1200. It works for me, and at just over 5 weeks, I'm still a newbie. Maybe down the road I will need to know those acronyms and how to calculate them, but for now the KISS method is working.


    :love: :flowerforyou: :love: :flowerforyou: :love: :flowerforyou:
  • alexbusnello
    alexbusnello Posts: 1,010 Member
    I know there are a million and one topics out there about this
    But I feel there needs to be one more confirmation for those ppl struggling at 1200 calories and not losing
    Here is my story of how increasing calories worked

    I've been on this site 100 days and lost maybe 4 pounds in the first 40 days while struggling to only eat 1200 calories
    after that nothing.....for 60 days I just stayed the same
    1 week ago I took advice from another thread and found out my BMR and TDEE measurements and increased my calories to 1500
    and this week lost 1.5 pounds....

    So for those of you who "Can't stay under 1200 cals" it's really not necessary
    Just thought I would share my success

    But if you're someone like me who is in starvation mode and is holding onto anything you eat or drink and is still losing muscle, you have to EASE your way into eating more. I made the mistake by eating more right away....now I'm fatter.
  • Woman38
    Woman38 Posts: 2
    Wow! This is what I've been looking for. For someone to approve - Eat More! LOL
    The more I read about weight loss the more I'm getting confused..... Please HELP! I jazzercise/aerobics 4 times a week burning about 400-700 cals and currently struggle to eat between 1000-1300 cals. Per the website mentioned, I calculated the following -
    Weight - 144.6
    Lean Body Mass - 95lbs
    Fat - 49.6 lbs
    Body Fat Percentage - 34.3 %
    Goal Body weight - 127 lbs
    BMR - 1392
    Daily Calories -1800-2000

    I haven't lost any weight in many years in spite of trying different things. I get frustrated and cheat every now and then, but mostly get back and stay away from refined flour/breads/pasta etc. If I ate that many cals, what should be the ratio of fat/protein/carbs? I feel so deprived .. Can I add a sweet treat as long as they fit in my cal count! HELP!!!
  • esteelewis
    esteelewis Posts: 96 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am 34 and 5'2" and my BMR is 1396 according to fat2fit. Not sure what my TDEE is. I.work out 3-5 times per week for about 30 minutes. Fat2fit says I should be eating around 1770 calories. This sounds way to high. I was eating 1200 calories a day plus my workout calories and increased to 1300 calories. I have had only a 1 pound loss in the last 30 days. I think I need to increase my calories but not sure how much. Please help!

    Which activity level was the 1770?
    Chart on fat2fit with my information.

    1770 was lightly active 1-3 days per week
    Activity Level Daily Calories
    Sedentary (little or no exercise, desk job) 1544
    Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk) 1770
    Moderately Active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk) 1995
    Very Active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/wk) 2220
    Extremely Active (hard daily exercise/sports & physical job or 2X day training, i.e marathon, contest etc.)

    You may want to be between lightly active and moderately active, depending on how intesnse you workouts are. However, assuming lightly active, you should be going with 1,770. Remember, this includes exercise so you do not 'eat your calories back' if you log them in MFP as they are already baked into the 1,770.

    You may want to increase by 100-200 a week until you get to the target - this seems to work better for folks than all of a sudden increasing. .

    So let's see if I have this right.....My current BMR is 1396 and my TDEE with Moderate activity 3-5 days per week is 2163.80. So if I subtract 500 calories from my TDEE then I should consume 1663.80 calories per day. Plus eat back my exercise calories to come up to the recommended moderately active calories of 1995 by the fat2fit chart. Do I have this correct? I am currently working out 4-5 days per week and aiming for 6 days per week and I average 200 calories burned but would like to increase to get at least 300 calories burned per day. And how much protein/carbs/fat?

    If you got the calorie target from the activity table in fit2fat, the deficit is already included (see blurb in explanation above the table) - so you eat 2164 at that level of activity. The excerise is already included in this number so you do not eat them back.

    If you want to have it so you eat back your exercise calories (as they may be inconsistent week to week), you pick the level of activity without work-outs and then eat your calories back.

    The suggested ration is 40/30/30 - carbs/fat/protein
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    The numbers given includes a deficit - your TDEE is 20% more = maintanance. If you eat over 2160 (1800 = 20%) you gain weight.

    Remember, you need to give your body a couple of weeks to adjust. Some people see an immediate loss, and some gain for a week or two.
  • kizzaii
    kizzaii Posts: 52
    I've recently discovered this too. It's such an odd concept, if only more people believed it.
  • esteelewis
    esteelewis Posts: 96 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    The numbers given includes a deficit - your TDEE is 20% more = maintanance. If you eat over 2160 (1800 = 20%) you gain weight.

    Remember, you need to give your body a couple of weeks to adjust. Some people see an immediate loss, and some gain for a week or two.

    Ok...so if my TDEE is 2160 am I supposed to cut that number by 500 calories to lose 1 lb a week? Although that would also put me below the BMR. Or am I supposed to just eat between 1980 and 2160?
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    The numbers given includes a deficit - your TDEE is 20% more = maintanance. If you eat over 2160 (1800 = 20%) you gain weight.

    Remember, you need to give your body a couple of weeks to adjust. Some people see an immediate loss, and some gain for a week or two.

    Ok...so if my TDEE is 2160 am I supposed to cut that number by 500 calories to lose 1 lb a week? Although that would also put me below the BMR. Or am I supposed to just eat between 1980 and 2160?

    Sorry - did not spot your BMR. You should eat your BMR in this case. Periodically re-*kitten* and re-run your numbers. Your BMR should decrease as you lose weight.
  • esteelewis
    esteelewis Posts: 96 Member


    Sorry - did not spot your BMR. You should eat your BMR in this case. Periodically re-*kitten* and re-run your numbers. Your BMR should decrease as you lose weight.

    Ok thank you. I will give it a try!
  • abouck
    abouck Posts: 71 Member
    Thank you! This topic has been extremely helpful! I plan to make some changes and start eating more and hope for the best.
  • esteelewis
    esteelewis Posts: 96 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    The numbers given includes a deficit - your TDEE is 20% more = maintanance. If you eat over 2160 (1800 = 20%) you gain weight.

    Remember, you need to give your body a couple of weeks to adjust. Some people see an immediate loss, and some gain for a week or two.

    Ok...so if my TDEE is 2160 am I supposed to cut that number by 500 calories to lose 1 lb a week? Although that would also put me below the BMR. Or am I supposed to just eat between 1980 and 2160?

    Sorry - did not spot your BMR. You should eat your BMR in this case. Periodically re-*kitten* and re-run your numbers. Your BMR should decrease as you lose weight.


    One more question....If I just allow MFP to calculate my calories for a 2 lb a week loss, it puts me at 1830 calories a day. So should I manually change that goal up to 1980?
  • esteelewis
    esteelewis Posts: 96 Member
    Ok 2 questions actually...along with the question ^^^^
    Am I supposed to eat my exercise calories? Or can I just do the 1980 and not eat more on days i exercise?
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Ok 2 questions actually...along with the question ^^^^
    Am I supposed to eat my exercise calories? Or can I just do the 1980 and not eat more on days i exercise?

    If you use TDEE, there is no need to eat your exercise calories unless you do extreme amounts of exercise.
  • purpleface
    purpleface Posts: 21 Member
    Thank you for this. I have been struggling with my 1200 cal goal for months now & yes, I've lost 12lbs, but it's not enough for the amount of time I've been at it. So starting from today, I'm upping my calories. My BMR is around 1600cals a day, so I've put my calorie goal at 1580 (which according to MFP should give me a loss of 1lb a week) so hopefully this might help! Thanks for this post.
  • Thought I'd add my 2 cents, especially for breastfeeding moms: I'm a new mom - had my babe 12/14/11... I'm losing weight significantly faster than I thought by doing this very thing. I kinda stumbled upon it by not trying to lose weight too quickly because I didn't want my milk supply to dip, so for that I'm thankful. :-) Here's the numbers- for those of you breastfeeding or exercising, or both, you may want to read. I used www.fat2fit.com to calculate my figures. I also explain how I arrive at TDEE because I'm not sure if it's explained quite right in prior posts. If you want a MUCH simpler way of figuring these figures out, go to http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm - you should come up with roughly the same figures if you want to experiment.

    Anyhoo - using www.fat2fit.com: My current Katch-McArdle BMR at 187lbs is 1450 calories. If my goal is to be 145 lbs, my TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure- TOTAL IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN MY CURRENT WEIGHT) is 1712 (BMR @ sedentary) ***plus*** 20% for a grand total of 2054- what this means is if I exceed this number, I will gain weight. **Based on a sedentary level of activity, 1712 is the number of calories that I will be able to eat to lose weight now and maintain my goal weight. in other words, if I start eating like the thinner me, I will eventually become that thinner person. As I get closer to my goal weight, my weight loss will start to slow down, but initially it is OK to eat a few hundred calories less than my 1712 per day to speed up my weight loss at this point. (typically 200-300 less *but I should not reduce enough to be at or below my BMR of 1450!!).... why don't I want to eat at or below my Katch-McArdle BMR? Because I don't want to be losing my lean muscle mass.... I want to burn fat, not muscle.

    What's the importance of knowing your TDEE?? To know what you need to not exceed in order to not gain weight - Let's say you want to cheat a little one day, but still want to not "gain" really... staying at your current weight's maintenance level will allow you to do that, you just can't do it too many times. :-)

    Now, from www.freedieting.com - again, set to little or no exercise to figure out the base figures it says:
    Maintenance 2041 CALORIES/DAY
    Fat Loss 1633 CALORIES/DAY
    Extreme Fat Loss 1496 CALORIES/DAY

    I would then add my breastfeeding (plus 500) and exercise (via MFP adding back) to these figures.

    This is not too far from what was figured above- either way will get you in the ballpark you need to be in.

    CONCLUSION: my goals, set up in MFP, should be about 1500-1700 NET calories per day before any exercise (plus 500 cals for breastfeeding (I add this -500 via the meal section under breastfeeding and it bumps my caloric goal up) for a grand total daily of 2000-2200/day *consumed* (but not to exceed 2554) - wow! Far different than the school of thought of 1200 cals/day! :-) This is pretty much what I've already been doing and it's working! See below for my results. :-) ***and I STILL need to eat my exercise calories back as well - ex: daily caloric intake of 2000-2200 now turns into 2200-2400 w/ a 2 mile walk burning 200 cals. It's working... nuff said. :-)

    If you give this a month, and understand that you can initially gain 2-4 lbs at first, you'll be very pleased in the long run. Your body is re-setting itself, preparing for a different way of life in simple terms. My first month, I lost over 11 lbs, my second month I lost a little over 8 lbs. Am I happy I tried this?? You bet I am! Do I think this trend of loss will continue? Absolutely. No longer am I afraid to eat... no longer will I struggle! Finally!

    17881265.png
  • watboy
    watboy Posts: 380 Member
    Sign me up
    you can even eat more Pringles as long as they fit your calories and macros.:tongue:
    Pringles.
    EATING MORE doesn't work for me

    Eating more than what? eating more than TDEE won't work for anybody.

    But eating less than TDEE has to work for everyone - if it doesn't you have calculated it wrong.
  • msmileyface
    msmileyface Posts: 76 Member
    For anyone patient enough to check my understanding..

    I found that my BMR is 1450 and my TDEE is 1740. Based on reading, this is what I am assuming to be true- please tell me if I am wrong, I won't be offended! I should be NETTING between 1450 and 1740 per day. I read somewhere that I should try to NET around 200 over my BMR, so around 1650?

    Currently MFP has me set to 1480, but I'll be honest, I am 90% of the time netting less than 1480 except on a once in awhile cheat day. Should I really be netting 1480 or more on a daily basis?

    Thank you for checking my facts.. just being paranoid.. I am very appreciative for the support.
  • nisijam5
    nisijam5 Posts: 9,964 Member
    tumblr_lxct57xVQT1r6amvbo1_500.jpg

    I think my liver works harder than that number...
  • kathyc727
    kathyc727 Posts: 187 Member
    A LOT of people, including myself, are scared ****less of the thought of eating more but there are too many sucess stories out there claiming it works, so after a long struggle of my own, I have decided to give it a try, and if it works for me, I shall be shouting it from the rooftops!!!

    Well done on your sucess!

    Me too. Just raised mine to 1400 yesterday. Only thing is, after exercise, I still have over 900 calories left. I am really not hungry & the only thing I can think of eating is my daughter's chocolate bunny for Easter. She'll never even miss it. LOL
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    The numbers given includes a deficit - your TDEE is 20% more = maintanance. If you eat over 2160 (1800 = 20%) you gain weight.

    Remember, you need to give your body a couple of weeks to adjust. Some people see an immediate loss, and some gain for a week or two.

    Ok...so if my TDEE is 2160 am I supposed to cut that number by 500 calories to lose 1 lb a week? Although that would also put me below the BMR. Or am I supposed to just eat between 1980 and 2160?

    Sorry - did not spot your BMR. You should eat your BMR in this case. Periodically re-*kitten* and re-run your numbers. Your BMR should decrease as you lose weight.


    One more question....If I just allow MFP to calculate my calories for a 2 lb a week loss, it puts me at 1830 calories a day. So should I manually change that goal up to 1980?

    You can manually change it - or lower the expected weight loss to get near to the 1980 goal.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Ok 2 questions actually...along with the question ^^^^
    Am I supposed to eat my exercise calories? Or can I just do the 1980 and not eat more on days i exercise?

    Because you BMR is high, it does not allow for a standard 20% deficit. You can create a greater deficit by exercising, but unless you do some crazy cardio, you shoud not be eating them back.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    For anyone patient enough to check my understanding..

    I found that my BMR is 1450 and my TDEE is 1740. Based on reading, this is what I am assuming to be true- please tell me if I am wrong, I won't be offended! I should be NETTING between 1450 and 1740 per day. I read somewhere that I should try to NET around 200 over my BMR, so around 1650?

    Currently MFP has me set to 1480, but I'll be honest, I am 90% of the time netting less than 1480 except on a once in awhile cheat day. Should I really be netting 1480 or more on a daily basis?

    Thank you for checking my facts.. just being paranoid.. I am very appreciative for the support.

    Which site did you get your TDEE from?
  • bump.

    thanks y'all!
  • RonneyMichelle
    RonneyMichelle Posts: 27 Member
    I am breastfeeding too, but not a newborn. She's 9 months and eating other food. I do think that her nursing has helped me lose weight, but I haven't been taking this into consideration as calories burned though. Hmmm I guess I should be doing that, LOL
  • I am breastfeeding too, but not a newborn. She's 9 months and eating other food. I do think that her nursing has helped me lose weight, but I haven't been taking this into consideration as calories burned though. Hmmm I guess I should be doing that, LOL

    see this thread I started - I give more info on "older" babies as well:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/549124-eat-more-not-less-especially-for-new-moms-even-while-br

    Hope this helps! :)
  • shellsy0424
    shellsy0424 Posts: 127 Member
    What is TDEE?? please
  • For those who are confused / mathematically challenged / having a hard time understanding, etc... If you want to make it really easy on yourself, you can use this site instead and it'll get you in the same ballpark:

    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

    Maintenance = TDEE
    Set your calorie goal in MFP to somewhere between the Fat Loss and Extreme Fat Loss number.

    I found that the Extreme Fat Loss number was just slightly above my BMR, and the Fat Loss number matched up pretty much with what I should be eating not counting any activity (sedentary lifestyle) for base figures.

    You'll need to re-do your numbers periodically as you lose weight because your TDEE will change as you become a lighter person.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    So I am a bit confused. I went to the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ calculator and entered in the info.

    Age 28
    Female
    Your height (in inches): 66
    Your CURRENT weight (in pounds): 335
    Your GOAL weight (in pounds): 155
    Your body fat percentage (if known): 51

    This says my BMR (using the Katch-McArdle Forumla) is 1980.
    I do not see where it says my TDEE? Is this somewhere on here also?
    For a sedentary lifestyle it puts my calories at 1810.

    1810 is lower than my BMR...so am I supposed to eat the BMR or the calories it estimates?

    Currently I eat 1600 calories. I lose weight if I eat 1600 calories. If I eat 1800 calories I gain weight. So I am wary bumping it up to 2000. Every time I eat 1800 calories I end up gaining. Just trying to figure this out.

    I am misreading what the TDEE is? Is a different calculator? Thanks!

    I know for a fact that page gave you a warning that your goal loss was too great, that's why you see anything in the table less than your BMR.

    You did it right though, and are thinking correctly, just missed that warning.

    So go back, make the goal weight 245 for now. When you get to 250, go back and make it 155.

    The site does not show you your current TDEE, it is showing you your TDEE at goal weight. You could put current weight in as goal weight, and see what TDEE would estimate to.
    Then go back to 245 goal weight.
    So current TDEE minus eating level is your real deficit.

    Read the paragraph right above the table. That is what you eat. It should include your exercise, so only Sedentary if you do not.
    Wrong level if you do exercise. And then you do not eat back exercise calories.

    And you do NOT gain fat weight eating at 2000 - your TDEE is much more than that. You would have to eat above your TDEE to actually gain fat from a surplus.

    But let me guess, you are exercising pretty decently. What you have gained is merely topping off glucose stores with water that is attached in your muscles. Required weight if you plan on exercising.

    You'll lose fat once your body is fed properly.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    What is TDEE?? please

    Total Daily Energy Expenditure.

    It's your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) 70% + daily activity including exercise 20% + thermogenesis (food processing)10% = TDEE

    Eat a whole lot less, thermogenesis comes down, the BMR slows down if underfed, which causes the daily activity calories to be less than what they could be.

    TDEE would be considered maintenance level. MFP calls maintenance level what does NOT include exercise, because they don't know about it until you log it.
This discussion has been closed.