Different Calorie Allowance Calculations

Nicola0000

MFP has my maintain calorie allowance at 1680. Im just about to start New Rules Of Lifting For Women, and the book works out my maintain calories at 1937, with extra on lifting days. There is different calculations to work out each, but which one is best to go for??

Nicola0000

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Chairless

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Nicola0000

No-one wants to answer :sad:

Dokota2021

Maybe consult a 3rd source...or a physician?

Meggles63

My impression is that the NRFL cals. are not Net...i.e. you don't eat back your exercise calories. That would make up for the difference.

sandiburn

I agree. I talk to nutritionist when I have a question about cal intake. good luck.

AmyLRed

i will say, that for many, MFP sets your cals a little low. Why not split the difference between the two and start there? You can either decrease or increase, after a few weeks, depending on how its going!

maf66

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

Maybe this will help.

billtonkin

Does the book tell you what method it's using? If it's the Katch-McArdle Formula, then that is the most accurate. Something like this:

BMR = 370 + (21.6 x LBM) Where LBM = [total weight (kg) x (100 - bodyfat %)]/100

susannamarie

I wouldn't be surprised if the difference were in exercise calories.

kikih64

I just read the New Rules too, and the difference in calories makes me nervous too. I think the book said that you need to try it for a few weeks and adjust if necessary. Yesterday was my first day and I felt like I ate all day long.

Smuterella

My impression is that the NRFL cals. are not Net...i.e. you don't eat back your exercise calories. That would make up for the difference.

This.

kanmuri

MFP tells me I should eat 1200 or less, but my nutritionist puts me at 1383 a day. He says it can be dangerous to eat 1200. I usually go over 1200, eating back some of my workout calories. So basically, I don't fret too much if I'm over 1200.

UsedToBeHusky

I don't know anything about the New Rules of Weight Lifting, but I can tell you that MFP and pretty much everything else are only guessing. There is no real way to accurately know how many calories your body burns with activity. It could truly vary from moment to moment. There are so many different parts of your body that require energy that there just is no way to be absolutely certain. My suggestion would be to follow the program that you are most interested in for at least 3 to 4 weeks. If you are not happy with the results, then change your calorie intake.

OnWisconsin84

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

Maybe this will help.

This site was extremely helpful. I've been struggling with BMR, TDEE, etc. on other posts (I'm not an analyzer...) and this has very clearly laid things out for a spaz like me. Thank you

mes1119

Ahhhh, I need to know the answer to this. I haven't started yet bc I can't decide. I have seen a few people not follow the nutrition guidelines and eat a lower amount of calories. I'm thinking I'm going to do 1700, my guidelines are about 200 calories more than yours, however.

SaraADaigle

I would defiantly go speak to a nutritionist or a physician that can do an accurate BMR on you before you start your program.

TrainingWithTonya

As a nutritionist and exercise physiologist with a minor in nutrition, I was overwhelmed by the shear number of formulas to estimate Calorie needs. We each pick our own favorite to memorize and look up any others we may need based on the specific needs of the individual we are working with, so you may very well get two different recommendations from two different nutritionists or dietitians. For example, while doing a research study in our local hospital as part of the internship I just finished, I recommended completely different numbers to the patients in my study then the registered dietitians on staff. I consulted with them prior to giving the recommendations and it was determined that my formula should be used because it accounts for activity and exercise where the formula they use regularly doesn't since they are primarily figuring Calorie needs for patients who are sedentary due to their hospitalization. Since my study was on patients who come in on an outpatient basis to exercise for cardiac rehab, they need more calories to for the exercise they are getting and their normal activities of daily living.

So my recommendation to you, look at what you are doing activity wise. Go with the Calorie recommendation that is going to best meet your activity needs. Also, check your body fat for your results, not just the scale. Losing weight on the scale is useless if it is lean mass you are losing. If one program is providing a better body fat loss, then that is the program you need to follow. Try each one for a minimum of 4-6 weeks and see which one works best for you to pick as your standard.