In the sticky post, "My Guide To Nutrition For Weight Loss" they recommend the Harris Benedict Formula to calculate daily calorie requirement.

However, John eats a lot fewer calories than that formula recommends for his height, weight, age and activity level.

I'm curious because I assumed that, since this is a sticky post, it would be something John approves of/agrees with, but the calorie thing seems very different to what he does.

Does John calculate his calorie needs using a different formula (and, if so, which one?) or is he currently cutting? What's the deal?

In the sticky post, "My Guide To Nutrition For Weight Loss" they recommend the Harris Benedict Formula to calculate daily calorie requirement.

However, John eats a lot fewer calories than that formula recommends for his height, weight, age and activity level.

I'm curious because I assumed that, since this is a sticky post, it would be something John approves of/agrees with, but the calorie thing seems very different to what he does.

Does John calculate his calorie needs using a different formula (and, if so, which one?) or is he currently cutting? What's the deal?

Harris-Benedict has worked well for me. It's probably a good benchmark, if you are honest about your activity levels. I'm not sure what formula John is using to determine his calorie intake needs. I weigh less than ten pounds more, and Harris-Benedict puts me ~3000 calories per day for maintaining my weight.

I think our bodies are very adaptable from a metabolic standpoint and try to resist changes. So, if you adapt your body to a very low calorie diet, well under 2000 cal/day, then eventually you will maintain your weight at that calorie level. Right now, I am at the other end of the spectrum -- I weigh about 176, and I am barely gaining weight on a diet of ~3500 calories per day. Adaptation is probably at play there as well.

I was influenced very heavily during my big weightloss phase by the posters on the Men's Health Forum. The dogma there was that men should not go below 2,000 calories per day while cutting weight (exceptions, of course, for more lightweight guys). I'm continually surprised by the large number of people here who are on such low calorie cutting diets. But obviously there are different means to an end result.

There are several factors that go into calorie intake for a person. For example, personal beliefs, appetite, metabolsim speed, activity level, etc. John apparently feels comfortable at the sub-2000 calorie level as do many others around here. It seems to work for many, so it's hard to condemn it.

I personally am one of believers of the 2000+ calories for males. I like the idea of using the Harris-Benedict formula as a starting point and taking it from there. And if it recommends <2000 calories then make 2000 calories your starting point unless you are very light. Just my 2 cents.