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Confused by calorie calculators

dancing_daisy
dancing_daisy Posts: 162 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am starting a new part of my journey by eating a very small deficit whilst doing a routine of cardio and weight lifting. Problem is I’ve found various online calorie calculators give me anywhere between 1650 and 1850 as a maintenance level for my otherwise sedentary lifestyle. I’m a 31 year old female, 5 ft 10, 161 pounds and only want to eat 100 to 200 calories under my maintenance level. Can any one advise please?

Replies

  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,246 Member
    It has to be trial and error. Stick to one figure and see in what weight loss it results after a month. Then recalculate if necessary. Calculators are estimates only.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Use the calculator on here, set it to lose 0.5lbs a week which is 250cals under maintenance. Try it for 6-8 weeks and see what has happened to your weight over that time. Then you can reassess.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    dancing_daisy wrote: »
    I am starting a new part of my journey by eating a very small deficit whilst doing a routine of cardio and weight lifting. Problem is I’ve found various online calorie calculators give me anywhere between 1650 and 1850 as a maintenance level for my otherwise sedentary lifestyle. I’m a 31 year old female, 5 ft 10, 161 pounds and only want to eat 100 to 200 calories under my maintenance level. Can any one advise please?

    i agree that its trial and error. start with what MFP gives you, setting your rate of loss to 0.5lb per week, or even maintenance, and then tweak after 4-6 weeks
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