How to calculate calorie goals according to NROLFW

fittiephd

New Rules of Lifting for Women suggests using these guidelines for calculating how many calories to eat each day:

Step 1: Find your weight in Kilograms
Take your weight and divide it by 2.2 = your weight in kilograms.
For example, I weigh 131 lbs, so in kilograms I weigh 59.55 kg

Step 2: Calculate your Resting Metabolic Rate
Multiply your weight in kilograms by 7.18
(MY example:) 59.55*7.18 = 427.54

Now add 795
795+427.54 = 1222.54
We'll call that number X

Step 3: Calculate your BMI
Use this chart: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.pdf
For example, I am 68 inches and 131 lbs, so I am about a 20 BMI.

Now:

If your BMI is 18-24.9:
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.6
On workout days: 1.8


If your BMI is >25
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.5
On workout days: 1.7

So for me, I'll do
Non-workout days: X = 1222.54 * 1.6 = 1956 calories
Workout days: X = 1222.54*1.8 = 2201 calories


Now, the book says that if you are also trying to lose lbs, you can subtract up to 300 cals from both days.

So I can eat NO LESS THAN a NET calorie count of 1656 calories, or 1901 if I worked out that day.

I'm starting at 1700/1950 for now, might go up a little more as my body gets used to eating this much. I was at 1300 so it is a big change for me!!!

The book also recommends doing 40/30/30 carbs/fat/protein. To set all of these manually, you can do a custom goal setting in MFP.

These calculations are approximations based off of averages, thus if you try it for a few weeks and you find it's not working how you want it to, then you can change it. The workout-days account for ~250 calorie burns because it is for ~30 min lifting sessions. If you do high intensity cardio one day and burn more than that, then you should eat more than that.

Good luck to all!

qtiekiki

Thanks for the info. This gave me almost 400 calories on non work out days. I wonder if that why I can still maintain when I go over my MFP caloric goal so often. Maybe I need to reevaluate.

AlayshaJ

Sweet. I am right on target.

fittiephd

Yeah I think this caloric measure is best for people who want to gain muscle mass while losing fat, which would make it seem like you're "maintaining" because the scale would stay around the same, but you're really getting stronger It makes for slow fat loss I think, which is definitely healthier in the end and better for a lifelong journey!

lilsassymom

bump

persilcolours

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kaitlynnrogers

bump!

pamfm

Thank you for posting this. I just bought the kindle edition of this book, and started reading today, but had not hit any actual recommendations yet. E-books are a pain to flip back through, so I'm glad to have found this all laid out clearly!

fittiephd

Don't worry when you get to it they explain it very well, basically exactly how i did

jen1127

Bump for later.

123Kate

thanks, I apparently am eating about 500 too little calories on my workout days. I am going to sit down tomorrow when i get the chance and rejig my calories and start logging again till i get used to eating more

fittiephd

No problem! I am not an expert and of course am only posting what the book says, but I truly believe that MFP should not be putting everyone and their brother at 1200 calories a day - unless you're very very short, it's really too little. It may seem excessive, but if everyone eats more they will still lose weight, will build muscle, and will be able to keep it going throughout their life without feeling like they are restricting themselves too much!

I ate at 1200 net for the first two months of my weight loss since January and while it worked fine, I'm a little ashamed because I should have done more research instead of just taking MFP's suggestions at face value. I don't believe that anyone should eat below 1400 net ever, and definitely even a little more than that usually. Especially if you're working out and want muscles to grow

LittleElephant

Bump

rchambers2072

Saving AND I really need that book!

MelBee29

save for later

hannahbanana0480

bump

mccarol1956

New Rules of Lifting for Women suggests using these guidelines for calculating how many calories to eat each day:

Step 1: Find your weight in Kilograms
Take your weight and divide it by 2.2 = your weight in kilograms.
For example, I weigh 131 lbs, so in kilograms I weigh 59.55 kg

Step 2: Calculate your Resting Metabolic Rate
Multiply your weight in kilograms by 7.18
(MY example:) 59.55*7.18 = 427.54

Now add 795
795+427.54 = 1222.54
We'll call that number X

Step 3: Calculate your BMI
Use this chart: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.pdf
For example, I am 68 inches and 131 lbs, so I am about a 20 BMI.

Now:

If your BMI is 18-24.9:
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.6
On workout days: 1.8


If your BMI is >25
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.5
On workout days: 1.7

So for me, I'll do
Non-workout days: X = 1222.54 * 1.6 = 1956 calories
Workout days: X = 1222.54*1.8 = 2201 calories


Now, the book says that if you are also trying to lose lbs, you can subtract up to 300 cals from both days.

So I can eat NO LESS THAN a NET calorie count of 1656 calories, or 1901 if I worked out that day.

I'm starting at 1700/1950 for now, might go up a little more as my body gets used to eating this much. I was at 1300 so it is a big change for me!!!

The book also recommends doing 40/30/30 carbs/fat/protein. To set all of these manually, you can do a custom goal setting in MFP.

These calculations are approximations based off of averages, thus if you try it for a few weeks and you find it's not working how you want it to, then you can change it. The workout-days account for ~250 calorie burns because it is for ~30 min lifting sessions. If you do high intensity cardio one day and burn more than that, then you should eat more than that.

Good luck to all!

I was wondering if I still do this if my only exercise right now is walking.. I walk at least 25 miles a week on my days off. Anyone know?

kazzamcamille

bump!

mightyafrodyte

My concern is that I am really overweight. I have huge muscles (not bragging at all.) But when I put my calculations in I get an INSANE number of calories to eat. I'm wondering what to do about that. I don't think that I can eat that much in one day... At least not healthily.

amysj303

I just started eating this way one week ago. I lift heavy three times per week and no cardio for now. I am curious to see how others have done following this plan.

KareninCanada

Yeah I think this caloric measure is best for people who want to gain muscle mass while losing fat, which would make it seem like you're "maintaining" because the scale would stay around the same, but you're really getting stronger It makes for slow fat loss I think, which is definitely healthier in the end and better for a lifelong journey!

This is DEFINITELY what I've been seeing happen!

Mainey13

bump

JLB05

bump

stephr2014

*bump*

TanyaCurtis

Bump

lilRicki

I follow this plan...sort of. I only upped my calories from mfp by 300 calories, not 500 that i was suppose to. I got a little hesitant eating that much...turns out that was the key to losing. I've been at this weight loss thing for a long time, and i've restarted my ticker twice...but this is the first time i've seen consistent loss, because i'm eating what i'm suppose to be eating. I lift 2 times a week with NROL4W and I do cardio at least 4 days a week (walking, elliptical). I also changed my macros to what the book suggested, but i'm not doing the diet plan, i'm still eating what I want but in moderation.

TanyaCurtis

New Rules of Lifting for Women suggests using these guidelines for calculating how many calories to eat each day:

Step 1: Find your weight in Kilograms
Take your weight and divide it by 2.2 = your weight in kilograms.
For example, I weigh 131 lbs, so in kilograms I weigh 59.55 kg

Step 2: Calculate your Resting Metabolic Rate
Multiply your weight in kilograms by 7.18
(MY example:) 59.55*7.18 = 427.54

Now add 795
795+427.54 = 1222.54
We'll call that number X

Step 3: Calculate your BMI
Use this chart: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.pdf
For example, I am 68 inches and 131 lbs, so I am about a 20 BMI.

Now:

If your BMI is 18-24.9:
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.6
On workout days: 1.8


If your BMI is >25
Multiply X by:
On non-workout days: 1.5
On workout days: 1.7

So for me, I'll do
Non-workout days: X = 1222.54 * 1.6 = 1956 calories
Workout days: X = 1222.54*1.8 = 2201 calories


Now, the book says that if you are also trying to lose lbs, you can subtract up to 300 cals from both days.

So I can eat NO LESS THAN a NET calorie count of 1656 calories, or 1901 if I worked out that day.

I'm starting at 1700/1950 for now, might go up a little more as my body gets used to eating this much. I was at 1300 so it is a big change for me!!!

The book also recommends doing 40/30/30 carbs/fat/protein. To set all of these manually, you can do a custom goal setting in MFP.

These calculations are approximations based off of averages, thus if you try it for a few weeks and you find it's not working how you want it to, then you can change it. The workout-days account for ~250 calorie burns because it is for ~30 min lifting sessions. If you do high intensity cardio one day and burn more than that, then you should eat more than that.

Good luck to all!

I was wondering if I still do this if my only exercise right now is walking.. I walk at least 25 miles a week on my days off. Anyone know?

Yes! Walking is exercise!

dwightdegroff

Thank you for posting this. I just bought the kindle edition of this book, and started reading today, but had not hit any actual recommendations yet. E-books are a pain to flip back through, so I'm glad to have found this all laid out clearly!

There should be a way to set "bookmarks" on your Kindle - it's very useful for books like NROLFW with charts, etc. hope that helps.

rok1977

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graysmom2005

Bumpity bump!

melanieparker13

BUMP FOR LATER