Are Calorie Calculators Accurate?

Ow3593
Ow3593 Posts: 21 Member
edited December 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering why other calorie calculators tell you to eat more when you only exercise 1-3 days compared to when your sedentary. Also why doesn't myfitnesspal use the same method. Is myfitnesspal more accurate on how many calories you should consume for weight loss. Please see the example below if confused.

example of a online calculator:
http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Replies

  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    I think both methods are similarly incorrect.

    It is all estimation in the end. For me, MFP is too low. My maintenance is 2000 calories while MFP tell me that it is 1500. For others it can be spot on.
  • Ow3593
    Ow3593 Posts: 21 Member
    Wow that's not surprising, i have tried several different calculators and all tell me different numbers. Thanks for the help i was just trying to figure out which calculators to trust.
  • jplucheck
    jplucheck Posts: 275 Member
    oops
  • SmileyFaceGuy
    SmileyFaceGuy Posts: 201
    <edit>
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    I think both methods are similarly incorrect.

    It is all estimation in the end. For me, MFP is too low. My maintenance is 2000 calories while MFP tell me that it is 1500. For others it can be spot on.
    MFP gave me 1200 to lose a pound a week
    I was very very sedentary at the time and even logged going to my car as exercise. It wasn't enough food.
    I NET 1700 and lost a pound a week.
    I'm still netting 1700 and regularly go over more often then not and I'm not gaining. MFP tells me to maintain I have to eat 1650.

    Those with HRMs doing cardio activities (because hrms are inaccurate otherwise) find that the calorie estimates for exercise can be almost double off on mfp compared to their hrm. It's very very estimated.

    Edit: Your calorie counter has me at 1564 to maintain while sedentary. I was maintaining on much more then that and sat in bed most of the day studying and doing reports.

    Your calorie counter uses the Harris-Benedict Formula by the looks of it (judging on the BMR calculation). This can be off if you have a different then average body composition (ie more fatty/muscular). You're better off learning the Katch-McArdle Forumla.
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