Calorie calculators?

xmaplegunmanx
xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys!

So I used a calorie calculator to calculate how many calories I should consume a day in order to lose weight...

I've gotten different answers from them all. :/ They're falling within the range that I'm following. I'm going for 1400 but I'm worried I should eat less?

Does anyone know a sure fire way of calculating it? I work out 30 minutes a day otherwise I am pretty sedentary. :/ I'm on maternity leave and it's hard for us to get out since he's teething right now...

Is there a calculator that for sure works? Or a formula? Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,739 Member
    Pick one (mfp's for example), follow the calorie goal given, add in a portion of your exercise (altho, depending on what you're doing for those 30 mins, it might not be worth it), reevaluate after 4-6 weeks depending on if you gain, lose or maintain.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    1400 isn't a lot. Are you breast feeding?
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited January 2016
    I've linked to this one a few times just in the past few days :/ BUT I find it's very accurate for me. I averaged my actual intake from here, that I've been maintaining on for this weight, and compared - it was off by one calorie.

    http://www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced

    I also like it because you can break your TDEE down by activity. (Or build it up, rather, using the dials.)

    So you'd add in all your activity for an average day, get the total, and subtract 10-20% from it to get your target intake. You wouldn't log exercise on MFP because it's already counted.

    However, if you're breastfeeding, you need more calories.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Tomatoey, I just tried the calculator you posted.

    I am very steady with my weight and calorie consumption so know 1400 TDEE is what keeps little old me maintaining, and a 975 BMR is probably quite accurate.

    The calculator had me at 1114 BMR and 1917 TDEE. Someone 40 years younger only rates 71 cals extra for both. I think there is a glitch in it. I would be a bouncing ball eating almost 2000 cals, ooh the cheesecake!

    @xmaplegunmanx, you have to be careful with the external calculators. Some are TDEE, that is daily activity and exercise included, some are NEAT, like MFP, and only include daily activity, not exercise.

    I found, when I first started, using the MFP calculator and adding my exercise in the most useful as I hadn't established a set routine.
    Later I extrapolated what my actual TDEE was from the data in MFP.

    Eating back your exercise calories is a bit hit and miss using MFP's data base, if you decide to go that route, so try 50-75% and monitor your loss.

    TDEE is best if you have an established routine.

    Cheers, h.
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    Thanks for the replies guys!! I tried that calculator and it said 1600 was my metabolic rate. I don't even understand it. I'm so confused. On MFP if there is green in the remaining part, I did ok? It tells me I should lose 8-10 pounds the next five weeks when I complete an entry, so I should be alright? Ah, I'm so new at this and in the past just ate well and didn't see any weight loss. @_@ Really trying my hardest this time. There was only one day I ate over my limit before exercise.

    I am not breastfeeding so that isn't a factor. :)
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited January 2016
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    Tomatoey, I just tried the calculator you posted.

    I am very steady with my weight and calorie consumption so know 1400 TDEE is what keeps little old me maintaining, and a 975 BMR is probably quite accurate.

    The calculator had me at 1114 BMR and 1917 TDEE. Someone 40 years younger only rates 71 cals extra for both. I think there is a glitch in it. I would be a bouncing ball eating almost 2000 cals, ooh the cheesecake!

    Ah right! I forgot to mention, the gender has to be switched from male to female, don't know if that is super clear on it - I missed that the first time (was like whoa, no chance!). I do think this calculator gives a bit more of an allowance than some others, but that might be the reason for the huge difference.

    Oh also you'd adjust the dials to add activity (including sleep), otherwise it'll think you're awake for 24 hours. (Well it won't think anything, it'll just calculate, I guess.)
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    xmaplegunmanx wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies guys!! I tried that calculator and it said 1600 was my metabolic rate. I don't even understand it. I'm so confused. On MFP if there is green in the remaining part, I did ok? It tells me I should lose 8-10 pounds the next five weeks when I complete an entry, so I should be alright? Ah, I'm so new at this and in the past just ate well and didn't see any weight loss. @_@ Really trying my hardest this time. There was only one day I ate over my limit before exercise.

    I am not breastfeeding so that isn't a factor. :)

    Ok the metabolic rate is the number you shouldn't consume less than, for that level of activity. The Total energy expenditure, just underneath it, that should be a bigger number. That is the amount you would eat to maintain your current weight. To lose, you would subtract 15-20% from that, and just eat the same amount all the time, but not log your exercise (if you put it into the dial).

    So say someone's TDEE is 2000 calories, they'd have 1600 to 1700 for a goal.
  • punkrockgoth
    punkrockgoth Posts: 534 Member
    Honestly, for me it's mostly trial and error. I find that if I shoot for 2 lbs a week, I'm not eating enough and I feel dizzy and nauseous and cranky all the time. I downloaded the Google Fit app on my phone and use that to track my total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). I don't log any other activities with it. So this gives me an idea what I am burning without exercise. From there I subtract 500 calories and I don't eat back exercise calories. I monitor and reassess my hunger and cravings levels and compare it to my losses. It's been working really well for me. I'm not uncomfortably hungry all the time. I can focus on my studies and enjoy my life while still losing weight and improving my fitness.
  • ultrahoon
    ultrahoon Posts: 467 Member
    Pick a calculator, realise it is an estimate, do honest and accurate logging for 6 weeks with a consistent exercise routine, get solid data from there.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    @xmaplegunmanx (sorry for the slight detour below) Tomatoey is, as usual, giving you good advice so I will leave you both to it.

    @tomatoey, I had used that calculator before so did change gender and spin all the wheels ( so much fun). It could be because I was on my phone and it just doesn't work well from it. Nope fired up the laptop and same readings.
    ( ooh does this mean I can be a special snowflake, hahaha)

    Cheers, h.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    @xmaplegunmanx (sorry for the slight detour below) Tomatoey is, as usual, giving you good advice so I will leave you both to it.

    @tomatoey, I had used that calculator before so did change gender and spin all the wheels ( so much fun). It could be because I was on my phone and it just doesn't work well from it. Nope fired up the laptop and same readings.
    ( ooh does this mean I can be a special snowflake, hahaha)

    Cheers, h.

    Maybe?? People are different, after all! And it's an estimate. All I can say is it's very accurate for me. What does Scooby's give you?
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    To be honest @tomatoey IIFYM has usually given me the best numbers, a bit lower than Scooby. I worked out my numbers 2-3 years ago and they are still spot on. 6 years going over once and under twice means I am doing it, whatever it is, right, even when I am not physically counting.
    I just enjoy playing with calculators, and a chat with you is always nice too.

    Cheers, h.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    To be honest @tomatoey IIFYM has usually given me the best numbers, a bit lower than Scooby. I worked out my numbers 2-3 years ago and they are still spot on. 6 years going over once and under twice means I am doing it, whatever it is, right, even when I am not physically counting.
    I just enjoy playing with calculators, and a chat with you is always nice too.

    Cheers, h.

    Aw, ditto and ditto :) And yeah, I know you're fine, obviously so! For sure, it's experience that matters. I was just curious about the discrepancy, because the margin of error for me on that one is practically nil - I find the other calculators to be a bit unfair, lol.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    IIFYM or Scooby. But realize you will have to adjust because '1-3 hour of exercise' or '3-5 hours of exercise' is really vague when it doesn't take into account your normal daily activity.
  • veganbaum
    veganbaum Posts: 1,865 Member
    ultrahoon wrote: »
    Pick a calculator, realise it is an estimate, do honest and accurate logging for 6 weeks with a consistent exercise routine, get solid data from there.

    Agree. Why don't you just stick with MFP for a bit and see how it goes?
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    Thanks everybody!! I think I'll keep going and see if I actually lose weight. :) I am in no rush, after all. Just want to be healthy!
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    edited January 2016
    tomatoey wrote: »
    xmaplegunmanx wrote: »

    Ok the metabolic rate is the number you shouldn't consume less than, for that level of activity. The Total energy expenditure, just underneath it, that should be a bigger number. That is the amount you would eat to maintain your current weight. To lose, you would subtract 15-20% from that, and just eat the same amount all the time, but not log your exercise (if you put it into the dial).

    So say someone's TDEE is 2000 calories, they'd have 1600 to 1700 for a goal.

    Thanks for explaining that to me! I appreciate it! I think what I'm doing now will definitely help me lose weight but I'm pretty hungry at the end of the day maybe if I crunch numbers enough I should be eating a little more. I was just too scared to eat more and have no progress! I really appreciate everyone's help!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    @xmaplegunmanx if your juggling with the numbers doesn't give you a little extra for later in the day, try juggling with when you eat. There are no rules for the timing of food consumption so if you prefer something smaller for lunch, go for it and save those cals for night time.

    Really start taking note of what you find filling, everyone is different; some are fats, some carbs, and others protein. Bias your calories towards the most filling to keep you on track, but hitting your protein goal is important for muscle retention as you lose.

    It takes a while to get the right mix of food and timing sorted, but well worth it as it makes eating at a deficit more sustainable.

    He who can eat most while losing wins the race :)

    Cheers, h.
  • hamlet1222
    hamlet1222 Posts: 459 Member
    best to start with the target you have, and take it from there. Add 100 calories if losing weight too fast, subtract 100 if not losing any, and so on. 0.5kg per week of weight loss is considered optimum (any more and you're probably losing muscle).
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    @xmaplegunmanx if your juggling with the numbers doesn't give you a little extra for later in the day, try juggling with when you eat. There are no rules for the timing of food consumption so if you prefer something smaller for lunch, go for it and save those cals for night time.

    Really start taking note of what you find filling, everyone is different; some are fats, some carbs, and others protein. Bias your calories towards the most filling to keep you on track, but hitting your protein goal is important for muscle retention as you lose.

    It takes a while to get the right mix of food and timing sorted, but well worth it as it makes eating at a deficit more sustainable.

    He who can eat most while losing wins the race :)

    Cheers, h.

    Great advice!! Thank you. I think I'll do that, I notice I definitely eat less at breakfast and still feel full. :P

    Everyone has helped so much. I appreciate it.

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    @xmaplegunmanx, your welcome. It is always a pleasure talking to someone with a receptive, open mind.

    I am not a breakfast person so that is my low cal time of the day. I find it works for me. Probably 60-70% of my calories are eaten after 7 pm, I am a night owl.

    Once you have logged a while you will find your own path.
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    @xmaplegunmanx, your welcome. It is always a pleasure talking to someone with a receptive, open mind.

    I am not a breakfast person so that is my low cal time of the day. I find it works for me. Probably 60-70% of my calories are eaten after 7 pm, I am a night owl.

    Once you have logged a while you will find your own path.

    Oh my gosh! That's so funny! I'm the exact same way. I have gotten better since having a baby but I still stay up late and eat the whole time! Haha good advice though! I got it into my mind that I needed to eat 400 cal meals 3 times a day. I can see how it doesn't have to be that strict and I like the thought that I can move some calories to dinner time! Thanks! :)

  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I understand the struggle, OP! :)

    When I first started out with my weight loss - I was overwhelmed with all the online calculators and equally confused at the differing numbers all of them gave me. Unfortunately, these are all going to be estimates and the only way of really knowing your 'number' is by trial and error.

    I'm not sure if it's the BEST way of doing things but I visited 6 different 'online calorie calculators' and worked out the 'average' allowance. I stuck to that number and lost what I hoped I would lose.

    Simply pick a number, stick with it for a couple of weeks and re-assess if necessary.
  • xmaplegunmanx
    xmaplegunmanx Posts: 47 Member
    PinkPixiexox wrote: »
    I understand the struggle, OP! :)

    When I first started out with my weight loss - I was overwhelmed with all the online calculators and equally confused at the differing numbers all of them gave me. Unfortunately, these are all going to be estimates and the only way of really knowing your 'number' is by trial and error.

    I'm not sure if it's the BEST way of doing things but I visited 6 different 'online calorie calculators' and worked out the 'average' allowance. I stuck to that number and lost what I hoped I would lose.

    Simply pick a number, stick with it for a couple of weeks and re-assess if necessary.

    Good idea! And thanks for the tip! Did you lose what MFP told you? Like how it says "if you eat like this every day you'll lose -- in 5 weeks?" If it's true it's what I'm aiming for and hopefully this amount of calories is enough. Haha although I find myself not actually meeting the amount anyways. :S
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    xmaplegunmanx wrote: »
    PinkPixiexox wrote: »
    I understand the struggle, OP! :)

    When I first started out with my weight loss - I was overwhelmed with all the online calculators and equally confused at the differing numbers all of them gave me. Unfortunately, these are all going to be estimates and the only way of really knowing your 'number' is by trial and error.

    I'm not sure if it's the BEST way of doing things but I visited 6 different 'online calorie calculators' and worked out the 'average' allowance. I stuck to that number and lost what I hoped I would lose.

    Simply pick a number, stick with it for a couple of weeks and re-assess if necessary.

    Good idea! And thanks for the tip! Did you lose what MFP told you? Like how it says "if you eat like this every day you'll lose -- in 5 weeks?" If it's true it's what I'm aiming for and hopefully this amount of calories is enough. Haha although I find myself not actually meeting the amount anyways. :S

    I didn't pay attention to MFP's predicitions because there are so many variables that can affect it. Just hang in there, trust in the process and be realistic about it :) You can do it.

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