I've been bouncing around websites trying to find out what my maint. calories are, and keep getting different figures. I'm 5'11" 163 pounds, and my activity level is either gym/HIIT every day, and both on some days. Aside from that, I sit at my computer alot and work around 5-6 hours a day. How many calories should I be eating to maintain weight?

Nobody knows for sure. Each person is different. The different formulas are basic ideas. Are they within 1000 calories of each other? If so, just pick a good range for yourself (or a particular number if you like), and try it. See what happens. Those formulas are pretty good guesses at best. It's a place to start. Soon, you'll know exactly where you are because you'll know how your body reacts to a certain number of calories/day.

Hope this helps.

The formula that uses BF% on

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html

I like best for me.

Others think it's too high. :whistle:

Pick a number and see after 2 weeks. Gained weight? Cut back. Lost weight. Increase.

The formula that uses BF% on

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html

I like best for me.

Others think it's too high. :whistle:

Pick a number and see after 2 weeks. Gained weight? Cut back. Lost weight. Increase.
I've never seen that before, but I just plugged it in for me and I found it quite accurate. Gave me around 2750 calories, which is high by most people's standards, but is pretty accurate IMO.

Just remember, there is no calculator that is going to be able to give you the exact calories you need ... they are all estimates and sometimes are far off. Half the time its confusing to even use them (i.e. how accurate is it when I guess what my "heavy" activity during the day is?)

Here is a way that will give you 100% accuracy:

1. Whatever you are eating now, use a food tracker to track the calories

2. Whatever that amount is, stick to those calories each day over a week

3. If you lose weight, increase the calories by your weight (i.e. if you weigh 200 pounds and you lost weight on 2000 calories, add 200 to get 2200 calories). If you gain weight, subtract your weight in calories

4. Repeat until you find the number that keeps your scale weight somewhat consistent

I find that if I only eat when I'm starting to get hungry, and then if I only eat enough to be satisfied (not stuffed or full) then I don't have to count calories as I tend to gravitate towards the amount I need to maintain my weight.

Then it's a simple matter of increasing my exericse if I want to cut.

Jeremy

Just remember, there is no calculator that is going to be able to give you the exact calories you need ... they are all estimates and sometimes are far off. Half the time its confusing to even use them (i.e. how accurate is it when I guess what my "heavy" activity during the day is?)

Here is a way that will give you 100% accuracy:

1. Whatever you are eating now, use a food tracker to track the calories

2. Whatever that amount is, stick to those calories each day over a week

3. If you lose weight, increase the calories by your weight (i.e. if you weigh 200 pounds and you lost weight on 2000 calories, add 200 to get 2200 calories). If you gain weight, subtract your weight in calories

4. Repeat until you find the number that keeps your scale weight somewhat consistent

I find that if I only eat when I'm starting to get hungry, and then if I only eat enough to be satisfied (not stuffed or full) then I don't have to count calories as I tend to gravitate towards the amount I need to maintain my weight.

Then it's a simple matter of increasing my exericse if I want to cut.

Jeremy
Couldn't agree more. :tu:

The formula that uses BF% on

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html

I like best for me.

Others think it's too high. :whistle:

Pick a number and see after 2 weeks. Gained weight? Cut back. Lost weight. Increase.

Might work if you have a correct BF% reading. How much have you lost?

Might work if you have a correct BF% reading. How much have you lost?

Me? Almost 50lbs from my biggest I guess. 45lbs for sure.

But the formula works for me at the moment :D