Consensus on daily calorie calculation

alliecat123
alliecat123 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 8 in Food and Nutrition
Hi all,

Like most of us here, I want to make sure I'm eating enough calories and not eating too many. The MyFitnessPal app on my iPad asked for things like height, weight, activity level when calculating my daily caloric needs. I believe it also knows of my goal to lose 10 lbs.

Anyhoo, another site, SparkPeople, which I also love... gives me a more scientific way to calculate daily calories needed. And in this calculation, it tells me I need some 200-300 more calories than what myfitnesspal app does (1200).

Interested to hear what you use. Don't get me wrong, it's great thinking I actually need 200 more calories a day than what I'm currently doing... but I don't want to go by that calculation and gain weight instead of lose.

HELP!!! Thanks!

Replies

  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 961 Member
    I haven't tried the Sparkpeople calculator, but I suspect they might just use different methods. MFP starts at a crazy low calorie count assuming you do no exercise, then adds extra calories on when you get active.
  • alliecat123
    alliecat123 Posts: 8 Member
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calorie_calculation101.asp

    This is the calculator I used that resulted in 1400+ needed for me to lose weight. Thought it seemed high.
  • DaveMXF
    DaveMXF Posts: 52
    This is how I do mine:

    1) Determine your resting metabolic rate. Take your body weight (210lbs) x 10 = 2,100
    2) Add calories for Daily activity (NOT including Excercise) = +20% (of above #) = 420
    3) Add calories for what is burned during Excercise = 600 ( I took a weekly average)
    4) Add them up, we receive: 3120
    5) Now determine the calorie deficit you desire (3500 calories is 1 lb). I I shoot for 1000 per day. I really pay attention to my energy level during exercise and I modify when needed...

    As my metabolism become more efficient, I will increase my calories
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 961 Member
    That's a really good way to do it, and well explained.... and brings me exactly to my current goal which is 1700/day. Nice confirmation, thanks for sharing. :)
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    It looks like sparkpeople takes into account your exercise in your original calculation. MFP does not do this, but adds it in as you actually do it. I actually prefer this as it still allows me to be at a correct deficit if I can not work out for whatever reason (or I do a smaller work out due to time constrictions).
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