What is the formula used to calculate calories

i6Shot

Hello myfitnesspal,

I'm curious to know the formula used to calculate calories. Do you use the Harris-Benedict Equation? Every time I look at my recommended calories I feel it is a little lower than what it should be, especially when I calculate it myself based on the Harris-Benedict Equation.

Just curious.

Cheers,

terbusha

I think it's best to figure out your ideal calorie range for yourself with trial and error. Calculators may be wrong for you because they make assumptions that may not be true for you. What I do and what I recommend to people is to eat at a calorie level that allows you to make good progress towards your goal. If you are trying to lose weight, eat so you drop 1-2 lbs/week. This assumes an average calorie burn from you getting in all of your workouts. This will be different for everyone, so you'll have to do some trial and error to figure it out. I'd start ~2200 cal/day. Hit this goal, along with your macros and getting in your workouts, for 2 weeks. If you lose 1-2 lbs/week, you're good to go. If you lose too much, increase your intake and repeat. If you don't lose enough, reduce your intake a bit and repeat. After a few cycles, you'll figure out what works for you in your situation.

malibu927

MFP uses the NEAT method, where exercise is not figured in like TDEE formulas (which is what Harris-Benedict is). That's why it's suggested to eat back some of your exercise calories, as the exercise has raised how much you should be burning that day.

DeguelloTex

i6Shot wrote: »

Hello myfitnesspal,

I'm curious to know the formula used to calculate calories. Do you use the Harris-Benedict Equation? Every time I look at my recommended calories I feel it is a little lower than what it should be, especially when I calculate it myself based on the Harris-Benedict Equation.

Just curious.

Cheers,

If you think you know what it should be, just use that number.

They're all just starting points, anyway.

msf74

It's based on Mifflin St Jeor I believe.

i6Shot

DeguelloTex wrote: »

i6Shot wrote: »

Hello myfitnesspal,

I'm curious to know the formula used to calculate calories. Do you use the Harris-Benedict Equation? Every time I look at my recommended calories I feel it is a little lower than what it should be, especially when I calculate it myself based on the Harris-Benedict Equation.

Just curious.

Cheers,

If you think you know what it should be, just use that number.

They're all just starting points, anyway.

Exactly what I do. Was just curious because it seemed quite low to me. Still I find it interesting the varying differences from one equation to the next.

Thanks all for the feed back to my question.