I'm pretty sedentary (student, coding) with a BMR of about 1700, and my TDEE is quite low without exercise. I eat at maintenance level (1800 kcal), and then create my deficit through exercise, burning a total between 2200-2300 daily.
So, for those who run a typical 500 calorie deficit and prefer to create it through exercise, what do you do? My difficulty is burning the required amount on a consistent, daily basis, mainly because so much cardio involves the legs.
For example yesterday I went for a 3 mile walk and later in the day did 30 mins of jump rope. Today my legs were wasted so I opted to use my arms and chop wood with a splitting axe for two hours.
One of my favorite ways to burn them is just to go for a long walk, like over 6 miles. That usually burns around 500 calories if you do it in under 2 hours. It's so easy going, however not very time efficient.
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[–] dirkgently 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
What is your weight height? I have somewhere in the same range of body fat % but it's thrown off by my gut. I have like nothing through most of my body but it concentrates it my face and gut. I lift 5 days a week and and medium active the rest of the week, My maintenance level is about 2000, right now I am taking in 1200-1500 calories a day right now and I'm losing body fat. I will say that i have noticed that no matter what the calories are, if I eat carbs, I can not loose body fat. Maybe because I'm not running currently but that's just my experience.
Also when I was really shedding fat I ate like 800-1000 cal a day and you learn to be hungry, its pretty easy once you get over that first week. I almost look at it like the feeling of hunger is really my body digesting its own fat and that is a good thing.
[–] voatkick [S] ago
5'11'' (180 cm), 158 lbs (72 kg).
I used to do low calorie and alternate day fasting diets for a long time and that didn't work out so well for me, so I'm treading cautiously this time around. I'll see how far 1800 kcal can take me and then if I need that final push I guess I will just have to commit to a bit more exercise every day. It should get easier when it comes time to maintain as I'll be able to eat a couple hundred kcal extra per day.
[–] dirkgently ago
Not sure I would handle the alternate day fasting well. Another thing I heard and basically this is how I eat now, is called intermediate fasting? I think that is the term. You just eat minimal calories during the day and eat one big meal early evening. the theory is your body will process your food as energy due to the fasting and wont covert it to fat. I find it easier to do as I can just drink a protein shake in the morning and for lunch another shake and a salad then most of the rest of the calories for dinner.
Good luck.