Fast Day Calories for the Non Average

This topic contains 2 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by skyhacienda 10 years, 7 months ago.

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dianehelen

1:27 pm
13 Jul 13
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I just started 5:2 and did the recommended 500 calories for women on my first fast day. It was not too difficult.

But I am wondering, what if your starting weight/BMI etc are way above average? I used the calculating tools, and it says my TDEE would calculate my fast day calories a bit higher than the recommended average of 500 for women. Should be about 580 (ya Im fat 🙂 )

So, my questions is should I adjust my fast days, or just stay at the recommended 500 for those days?

Thanks for any guidance here
Diane

Jeanius

2:21 pm
13 Jul 13
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Hi, Diane (dianehelen) – and welcome to this forum. Yes, you’re right: your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) represents the number of calories suggested to maintain your current level of activity each day at your current weight and one-quarter (25%) of that would be the maximum suggested calorie allowance for your fast days. The 500 calories is only based on Ms Average.
However, once one has lost a significant amount of weight (say, every 7-14 pounds/ 3-6 kg perhaps, depending on just how much or how little one needs to lose overall) then the TDEE figure starts to reduce too and one’s appropriate intake probably needs to be re-calculated.
Some people prefer not to calorie count at all on their non-fast days whereas others feel they do need to keep track of their overall weekly intake, at least until they become familiar with suitable portion sizes and food choices. I hope you find a good mode of operating for yourself and happily succeed at achieving all your goals. All best wishes.

skyhacienda

2:04 pm
30 Sep 13
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Thank you for your clarification on TDEE, Jeanius. As I suspected you have to divide your TDEE by 25% to get your allowance for your fast days. In my case 500 is too many and I have to stick to 425 and make sure I don’t exceed 1700 on my feast days to get good results.
I suspect that many people who don’t do the numbers and are disappointed with weight loss are petite like me and need to disregard the 500 calories recommended for Ms Average.