Eating Below TDEE But Not Losing

Nutrition
1

Hi Guys,
A technical question for you regarding calorie consumption and metabolism.

A little background. After looking at many different methods I settled on using the Harris Benedict Formula to calculate an individuals calorie requirements to maitain, lose or gain weight. This seems to be the most widely accepted formula for calculating an individuals calorific needs.

After sending guys out for a week I find a lot of guys are eating WAY below their maintanance requirements on a daily basis. In some cases they have been eating at least HALF of what the maths says is what they need to MAINTAIN weight. Yet these guys simply aren’t losing any weight at this level. Now these guys are NOT morbidly obese but they do have a higher composition of bodyfat. Even the Katch & Mccardle formula which takes into account bodyfat comes really close to the Harris Benedict Formula (within 100-200 calories).

It looks like these guys have actually been eating well below their TDEE for some years…yet they don’t lose any weight. They almost all skip meals, eat crap and don’t get anywhere near enough protein. They all have in common the occassional binge day where calories are higher (ussually form alcohol) but when ou average out their week they are still way under on a daily basis.

Logically though I would assume that even if they are eating crap, they should still be losing weight eating at these low amounts. I can only assume that they have slowly tanked their metabolism over a period of years of undereating.

I am curious to know what is happening with these guys as I can’t find a lot of information about what happens when there is THAT big a discrepency between the scientific mathamatical formula’s calorie requirement and what these guys are actually eating…and not losing weight. In some cases the discrepency is OVER 1500kcal PER DAY. Some men weighing in excess of 90kg are eating less than 1500kcal per day on a regular basis and have been for years. Rather than look anorexic they carry a great deal of bodyfat. Surely if they have been eating 1500kcal per day for that period they should be built like twiggy shouldn’t they!!!

Any advice or input is greatly appreciated. In particular if you recall any good articles or authors on this it would really help me learn the knowledge I’m missing here.

2

From what you are saying, it sounds like yes, they tanked their metabolisms. They need to up the calories closer to maintenance and that should get them headed in the right direction.

3

Ironicly, studies have shown that heavier individuals chronicly UNDERREPORT caloric intake, and the fatter you are, the larger the discrepency. the most obese subjects consistantly underreported their intake by about 50%.

here’s a article I found by doing a quick google search: Dieters Sometimes Eat More Than They Will Admit - The New York Times

this is the most plausable answer, it seems, to me.

If they really were eating 50% of their ACTUAL maintenance level, they would know it by the way they feel (i.e. hungry, tired, shitty, etc.)

4

They probaly aren’t able to work hard enough to get the results due to the small amount of energy consumed.

I would have these guys doing cardio first thing in the am, no breakfast, followed by 5 - 7 small meals and/or snaks thoughout the day and at least 3 resistance training sessions per week. Probably 4 - 5 actually.

I would hide the food when it gets within 2 hours of bedtime and get proper PWO meals or shakes…

Last thing I would make sure they are eating mostly lean protein and vegtables/fruit. Nothing to drink M - F except water!

Results = C (T + D) + R

C=consistency
T = Training your ass off!
D = diet
R = rest