Calorie Calculator...confused... HELP!

Bebe6740

Hello all,

So I've been reading through Scooby's site, especially the fat loss sections and the 'calorie calculator' sections...and came across a few different calorie calculators. One is called the 'World’s Most Accurate Calories Burned Calculator'...to assist with finding out how many calories we are actually burning.... At the very bottom this is what I found...

"There are two ways you can count calories, you have to use one or the other but you cannot use both! One is easier and one is harder but more accurate.

Method 1: The easiest way is to use my caloric calculator or my accurate calorie calculator. In these calculators you simply estimate the total number of hours cardio you do in a week, strenuous cardio – lifting weights does not count. These calculators actually do a great job at getting pretty darn close to estimating your caloric targets and they are easy to use."

In calculating my TDEE etc, I've been using the moderate activity level, because I lift heavy 3-4 times a week (for 1 hr approximately), and I squeeze in about 30 minutes of cardio a week.... I work from home sitting by a computer for most of the day, don't have children, very low activity at home....

My question then- to calculate TDEE are we NOT supposed to be counting heavy lifting as excercise? Should I be using light active instead?

Any feedback in welcome!

Thanks,
Marilyn

Jennbecca33

I've never seen that area on the Scooby site, but yes, you DO absolutely count heavy lifting. Of course 4 hours of lifting would burn a lot less than four hours of straight cardio (maybe that's what he is saying) but of course you still count it. Lifting also gives afterburn that you don't have nearly as much of with cardio. You are moderate activity, so be sure to stay at that level. Remember also that daily activity outside of exercise counts too. I know you said you are not too active outside of workouts, but even just getting up and going about your day burns a lot more than staying in bed. So think about 3-4 hours heavy lifting plus 30 min cardio - plus daily life puts you in moderate activity.

Use this calculator on Scooby and choose moderate:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Bebe6740

Hello Jenny,

Thanks for that! Yup- I will stay at moderate active level

Here is the link I read this on: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calories-burned/

If you scroll down to the very bottom you'll see the blurb I posted earlier... I'm not going to lie, it did bring doubt to my calculations, but I haven't really changed my calorie level...still eating at 2000-2300 I wouldn't want to change it, I love it, and it's working wonders!

Thanks again.
Marilyn

Jennbecca33

Thanks for that link. That's interesting. That's one of Scooby's calculators I had not seen yet and I'm confused as to why he says not to count lifting. It must be specific to that calculator and it's formulas as he doesn't say that underneath his other calculators. Oh well, rather confusing. But yeah, just stick with that link I gave you and stay right where you are if you're getting great results!

heybales

Yep, I've always wondered when someone would notice that.

Both calc's are exactly the same for the levels, most accurate just gives options for which BMR to start with, or RMR since it contains that.

Considering they start with that 1919 study formula to build the tables with, and don't include non-exercise increased daily activity, and are rather rough, I'm wondering if even a simplified version of my spreadsheet would be useful.

Just the stats for the Mifflin BMR to use.
Then lines for lifting, running level cardio, walking level cardio, and increased daily activity by hours would be enough.
Give the TDEE.
Give the 10% and 15% deficit's and resulting TDEG.

That's it.

Bebe6740