What's TDEE have to do with it?
calroseangelo
Posts: 144 Member
There's been a lot of talk about the calculations on MFP to be wrong so I went to fitnessfrog.com to find out what my BMR and TDEE are. I just found out that my actual BMR is 1660 (higher than what MFP gave me) and I found out my TDEE is 2863 (This is based on the fact that I I work out everyday for at least a half hour.). I'm trying to eat back all or most of my calories burned to get to my BMR...my question is what does TDEE have to do with anything? I know it's important, but why? Can someone explain this in a way that I'll understand please?
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Basically, your TDEE is the total amount of calories your body burns each day, including all exercise and all activity during the day. It is important to know your TDEE so you dont eat over that amount. Thus, take in more calories than you burn in a day.
You also want to stay above your BMR so that your body has the calories it needs to keep you alive ( ie: organs working, brain functioning.). It is a good idea to eat more than your BMR because it is assumed that a person moves throughout the day, beyond "basic body functioning." Thus, eating somewhere between your BMR and your TDEE is healthy and perfect for weight loss.
Hope that helps.0 -
So I should eat somewhere between 1660 and 2863 and net around 1660 with exercise? Just want to be sure I understand correctly...0
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So I should eat somewhere between 1660 and 2863 and net around 1660 with exercise? Just want to be sure I understand correctly...
eating 20% below your TDEE is a good place to start0 -
TDEE= Total Daily Energy Expenditure
This is the number defined by exactly what it stands for.
BMR= Basal Metabolic Rate
Amount needed to function (organs,muscles, etc.)
TDEE- caloric deficit = weightloss
BMR - caloric deficit = you die
try this http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html0 -
TDEE includes exercise so some say if you subtract 15% from your TDEE, then eat that each day, no matter what and do not eat back exercise calories UNLESS your net calories drop below your BMI.
Have fun eating well, and plentiful, working out and getting lean!0 -
This was an EXCELLENT explanation and finally made the whole TDEE make sense! Thanks!0
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So I should eat somewhere between 1660 and 2863 and net around 1660 with exercise? Just want to be sure I understand correctly...
eating 20% below your TDEE is a good place to start
20% below my TDEE is 2290. Is that what I need to eat before exercise? I assume so because I don't think I could EVER net that amount!:laugh: Sorry if that's a dumb question, but I want to do this the right way and understand why it is the right way.0 -
20% below your TDEE would be 2291 calories a day. But remember that you will not be eating your exercise calories back.
Some people do better by going with MFP's numbers and eating back exercise calories. I personally do better eating at a deficit below my TDEE (mine is currently at 2250).0 -
TDEE minus 15% - 20% is what you should shoot for. Many on these forums will tell you otherwise with no knowledge to back it up, but you always want to eat ABOVE your BMR. Anyone who tells you differently needs to educate themselves before giving advice.0
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20% below your TDEE would be 2291 calories a day. But remember that you will not be eating your exercise calories back.
Some people do better by going with MFP's numbers and eating back exercise calories. I personally do better eating at a deficit below my TDEE (mine is currently at 2250).
Depending on what your multiplier was when you came up with your TDEE, you very well could eat back your calories.0 -
P.S. I don't eat my exercise calories back, but I always aim to eat at least 2100 calories a day.0
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I went to the website and it was very accurate to what MFP has me set at right now. Im trying real hard not to change my settings because I'm in a hurry to lose.0
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Well if you're counting calories and a pound of fat = 3500 calories, you'd want to eat 500 calories less than your TDEE (assuming everyday is the same). That way you'd burn a pound per week. If you want to do two pounds per week, it would be 1000 less than your TDEE. You want to stay above your BMR because that's what your body takes to function, just make sure you don't go above it. Hope I helped!0
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P.S. I don't eat my exercise calories back, but I always aim to eat at least 2100 calories a day.
Okay, so for an example...let's say I eat 2290 and burn off 300 with exercise leaving me at 1990. I should NOT eat back the exercise calories. Right? That's what you're saying?
What I've seen A LOT of on here is eat your exercise calories back. If I ate to my BMR (1660) and exercised 300 off leaving me with 1360, do I eat those calories back?
Which way gives the best results? I want to do what is best for me and what I've been doing is the second scenario that I wrote. Netting as close to my BMR as I can. I'm so confused...0 -
Well if you're counting calories and a pound of fat = 3500 calories, you'd want to eat 500 calories less than your TDEE (assuming everyday is the same). That way you'd burn a pound per week. If you want to do two pounds per week, it would be 1000 less than your TDEE. You want to stay above your BMR because that's what your body takes to function, just make sure you don't go above it. Hope I helped!
Well said!
I have noticed when comparing MFP to other sites to calculate my TDEE, MFP is about 300-400 calories under. So what I did was enter my weight loss goal at 1/2 lb per week and that puts me right where I want to be 15-20% below my TDEE and 300-400 calories above my BMR0 -
Well if you're counting calories and a pound of fat = 3500 calories, you'd want to eat 500 calories less than your TDEE (assuming everyday is the same). That way you'd burn a pound per week. If you want to do two pounds per week, it would be 1000 less than your TDEE. You want to stay above your BMR because that's what your body takes to function, just make sure you don't go above it. Hope I helped!
I have NEVER been good with numbers...in fact I hate them. So let me clarify so I make sure I have this right with my numbers. To lose one pound a week it would be:
2290 (TDEE)-500= 1790 NET
Two pounds:
2290-1000= 1290 NET
Right? And I'd have to do this everyday.0 -
Thanks for the explanation0
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Now those would be your numbers ASSUMING you do the same thing everyday, so on days you're more active up your calories slightly.. on days you're more lazy, lower them but DO NOT go under your BMR. Like I said, you're BMR is the daily amount of calories your body needs to function (breathing, regulating temperature.. etc). If you are dipping below, you need to work out more so you can eat those calories back and still lose.0
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Now those would be your numbers ASSUMING you do the same thing everyday, so on days you're more active up your calories slightly.. on days you're more lazy, lower them but DO NOT go under your BMR. Like I said, you're BMR is the daily amount of calories your body needs to function (breathing, regulating temperature.. etc). If you are dipping below, you need to work out more so you can eat those calories back and still lose.
I THINK I get it...I'm glad you're my friend Jenn! :happy: You seem to know your stuff. My new question is how do I adjust my MFP account to reflect my new goal? I'm a visual person so I really need to see it to understand what's going on.0 -
Now those would be your numbers ASSUMING you do the same thing everyday, so on days you're more active up your calories slightly.. on days you're more lazy, lower them but DO NOT go under your BMR. Like I said, you're BMR is the daily amount of calories your body needs to function (breathing, regulating temperature.. etc). If you are dipping below, you need to work out more so you can eat those calories back and still lose.
Again, well said.
Remember, what works for some may not work for others. It will be a couple weeks of trial and error to see what strides you make. You didn't put weight on overnight, so you cannot expect it to come off overnight either. Stick with a plan, tweak it here and there to make it work for you and you will see results.
I really stress on doing some type of lifting weights. The more muscle you gain, the more calories you burn through the day and the better you will look in a mirrow. A pound of muscle looks alot better than a pound of fat, and it takes up a whole lot less room on your body.
Good luck.0 -
I spend A LOT of time searching stuff and reading. I know that what has worked for some might not work for me so I'm trying right now to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid starvation mode since I am eating fewer calories than ever before. If this doesn't work I will try to up my calorie goals to something a little more healthy for someone my size. Right now I am dipping below my BMR because I'm being lazy. This is what a doctor would say DO NOT DO! Lol.0
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Bump0
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http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
Check out this group for all the answers to your questions.0 -
P.S. I don't eat my exercise calories back, but I always aim to eat at least 2100 calories a day.
Okay, so for an example...let's say I eat 2290 and burn off 300 with exercise leaving me at 1990. I should NOT eat back the exercise calories. Right? That's what you're saying?
What I've seen A LOT of on here is eat your exercise calories back. If I ate to my BMR (1660) and exercised 300 off leaving me with 1360, do I eat those calories back?
Which way gives the best results? I want to do what is best for me and what I've been doing is the second scenario that I wrote. Netting as close to my BMR as I can. I'm so confused...
If you follow MFP's standard formula you should eat your exercise calories back as they are already accounted for in the settings.
If you decide to set your goal yourself following using your TDEE - 20% (having calculated it saying you are 'active' or whatever) then you don't have to eat your exercise calories back, AS LONG as you don't exercise so much that you fall below your BMR.
What I do is calculate my TDEE as sedentary, and then - 20%.... this allows me to log, and eat back my exercise calories, as they aren't already included.0 -
Thank you everyone for your input! It makes so much more sense now. I think what I'm going to do is try what I'm doing for this month which is netting close to my BMR. If that doesn't work for me I'll try the TDEE-20% and not eat back exercise calories. We'll see what happens. Thanks for clearing it all up for me! :happy:0
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bump0
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WrongBMR - caloric deficit = you die0
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