How Many Calories Do You Need?

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Another member gave this to me and I find it to be very accurate. If you're not getting enough calories, your metabolism slows down, so you want to be sure to get the recommended amount of calories per day and eat high in protein, fruits, veggies, etc. I hope this helps:

1) Ideal weight x 4.35
2) add 655
3) height (inches) x 4.32
4) age x 4.7
5) subtract step 4 from step 3
6) add step 2 to step 5

Replies

  • eating4balance
    eating4balance Posts: 743 Member
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    Is that the number of calories you would need to lose weight or maintain that weight?
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
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    This would put me less than 1200 calories..... no thanks.
  • TorridCutie
    TorridCutie Posts: 84 Member
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    This is a formula for calculating the basal metabolic rate (BMR) at your ideal weight.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
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    It's right. I missed a step the first time.
  • debydoodles86
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    Interesting formula. Thanks for posting. The number I got seemed pretty accurate- 1444 calories.
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
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    I am a little confused?

    1) 140 (ideal weight) x 4.35 = 609

    2) add 655 = 1264

    3) Height (inches) -67 inch x 4.32 = 289.44

    4) 27 x 4.7 = 126.90

    5) 126.90 - 289.44 = -162.54

    6) -162.54 + 1264 = 1101.46

    They say not to go lower than 1200 calories or is this wrong? I just am curious not trying to be a pain I swear! Thanks for the extra info. Did I do my math correct?
  • tinlady
    tinlady Posts: 23
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    Sounds right to me 1264 thank!:smile:
  • quietlywinning
    quietlywinning Posts: 889 Member
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    699??
  • cjasins
    cjasins Posts: 93
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    thanks for the formula....I wonder if some of the people who are getting low #'s are not doing it correctly. I came up with 1764.38 which is really close to what I got from a BMR calculator.
  • tinlady
    tinlady Posts: 23
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    Don't forget to add step 2 and 5.:smile:
  • stariera
    stariera Posts: 224
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    I am a little confused?

    1) 140 (ideal weight) x 4.35 = 609

    2) add 655 = 1264

    3) Height (inches) -67 inch x 4.32 = 289.44

    4) 27 x 4.7 = 126.90

    5) 126.90 - 289.44 = -162.54

    6) -162.54 + 1264 = 1101.46

    They say not to go lower than 1200 calories or is this wrong? I just am curious not trying to be a pain I swear! Thanks for the extra info. Did I do my math correct?
    I think you mixed up some of the numbers hun I got if I read it correctly you are supposed to subtract 126.90 from 289.44 which would change your numbers... it'd make your ideal calories intake about 1426 a day.
  • marianeo
    marianeo Posts: 161 Member
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    Thanks for this, just did the calc and it's 10 cals off the MFP calc for me to lose 1lb per week
  • stariera
    stariera Posts: 224
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    When I did this this is how my numbers went
    Step 1: 4.35x 140= 609
    Step 2: 655= 1264
    Step 3: 66.5x4.32=287.28
    Step 4: 37x4.7=173.9
    Step 5:Subtract step 4 from step 3= 113.38

    Add Step 2 1264 with Step 5= 1377.38
    MFP gave me 1200 as my daily goal here however with my daily activity I don't always eat back all of my calories so I often fall in that calorie range or close to it. usually about 1200-1500 a day depending on my daily activity I try to get within 500 calories of my daily activity but fall short on my more active days. I've seen a loss in inches as well as pounds fairly regularly.
  • k2quiere
    k2quiere Posts: 4,151 Member
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    Isn't there a disconnect between using your ideal weight and your current weight for what you need to make it through the day? Or maybe it only works that way when you are VERY overweight because according to this calculations for my ideal weight, I need more than 700 calories LESS than what MFP has calculated me to eat daily.

    Just curious how this all works, as this is my first time actually keeping track of what I'm eating.
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
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    Thanks :)
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
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    I'm really bad at math. I somehow came up with 11000-odd calories. Even if I have an extra zero in there, that puts me at 1100 calories...NO WAY is that appropriate for my height, weight, or fitness level!!!
  • eating4balance
    eating4balance Posts: 743 Member
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    I'm really bad at math. I somehow came up with 11000-odd calories. Even if I have an extra zero in there, that puts me at 1100 calories...NO WAY is that appropriate for my height, weight, or fitness level!!!

    I just figured yours out, and it should be 1430 calories.
  • momofJandA
    momofJandA Posts: 1,038 Member
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    1289.74- seems about right, MFP has me at 1200 so close
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
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    I'm really bad at math. I somehow came up with 11000-odd calories. Even if I have an extra zero in there, that puts me at 1100 calories...NO WAY is that appropriate for my height, weight, or fitness level!!!

    I just figured yours out, and it should be 1430 calories.

    Thanks. That's actually lower than what I have mine set to on MFP, I manually adjusted it to give me a daily calorie allowance of 1610, but I also am currently at my original goal weight and was putting my ideal weight as 155...