who eats TDEE but isnt a gym rat?

tenpets
tenpets Posts: 423 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I like to exercise, but I'm not a fanatic who wants to do tons each day (like insanity). I do Chalean Extreme weight lifting. I'm not doing the cardio part of it right now. Do any of you eat your TDEE calories each day and work out about 3x a week? If so, are you losing weight? MFP says I should eat 1200 calories. My TDEE minus 15% is 1710! I think if I ate that much I'd gain weight. But, if eating TDEE actually leads to weight loss, I'd give it a try.

The past two weeks I've been pretty good about staying between 1000-1300 and my clothes actually feel tighter. I lost 0.75 lb last week. I weigh in tomorrow and it feels as though I've gained. What's up with that? I no longer have TOM, so it's not that.

I have 30-ish pounds to lose. Thanks for any input.

Replies

  • tenpets
    tenpets Posts: 423 Member
    Well, I guess no one eats that many calories exercising only 3x week. Suppose I'll stick with my 1200. :-)
  • eden2004
    eden2004 Posts: 34
    Bumping this up.

    I am trying this method now after eating at 1480 and having a plateau. (I have lost 7 since starting MFP, about 21-23 total b/c my weight fluctuates.) I work out 4 days a week.
  • jfaure23
    jfaure23 Posts: 114 Member
    Hi,

    I started eating my TDEE just over a week ago since I was at a plateau and hadn't budged my weight for three weigh-ins. I am down 2lbs this week. So far, I would say that eating your TDEE works. It makes sense to me, that I eat the calories that my body needs. Whether I am at 170lbs or at my goal weight of 148, I will eat the same calories.

    I did it a bit different, as I am eating TDEE set for lightly active, less 300 cals so that I lose quicker. When I do exercises that are in excess of this, then I eat back my calories burned. It works out that my TDEE is about 2100, my BMR is 1550, and I aim to eat 1750 cals per day. If I exercise on top of my 'lightly active' then I eat those cals back so that my net calories are at 1750. It seems to be working so far.

    I have a blog at jessicapeaches.blogspot.com which you are free to follow me at. Then you will see how my progress actually goes.

    Best of luck in your journey!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i dont understand how you can lose weight if you're eating the amount of calories your body needs? TDEE - total daily energy expenditure which is what your body would need to maintain it's current weight. you should neither be losing or gaining if you're truly eating your TDEE
  • jfaure23
    jfaure23 Posts: 114 Member
    You're right. I am using figures provided by fat2fit which provides caloric recommendations based on goal weight, not current weight. So it is not my current TDEE, it is based on what my TDEE will be at my goal weight.

    So in hindsight, I am not eating at my TDEE, for if I were I don't think I would lose any weight, I would be maintaining.

    Try this site for another take on TDEE and daily calories--> http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • kristinL16
    kristinL16 Posts: 401 Member
    You are also not eating at your TDEE because you subtracted 300 calories from that. You could say that you used your goal weight TDEE to determine your calorie goals but it is not accurate to say that you are eating your TDEE. Based on your post I gathered that, but want to make sure people are clear on what you are doing. There is already enough confusion on the boards as it is. :)
  • jenniejengin
    jenniejengin Posts: 784 Member
    bumping for later
  • tenpets
    tenpets Posts: 423 Member
    Thanks, everyone for your input! I really appreciate it.

    So, perhaps I'll figure my TDEE at my goal weight x my light activity level and then subtract the 15% for weight loss. It sounds like that's what you're doing and it's working for you.

    This week I ate far fewer calories than last week (on vacation) and last week I lost 0.75lb, but this week lost just 0.7lb. I think that speaks highly to the fact that more calories are better for weight loss. In fact, this week I had a few days around 900 calories. I know, I know. That's way too low, but I was experimenting to see what happened.

    BTW, silly question:tongue: ... what does it mean when people write "bump"? Does it just move the topic up in the message boards?

    Thanks again!!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories