Calorie & TDEE Calculator Community
Questions, answers and tips from people who use the Calorie & TDEE Calculator. Daily calories to lose, maintain or gain weight.
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This page shows only real posts from real people, so it starts empty. The guide below has the questions people most often have about the Calorie & TDEE Calculator. Pick one to start a thread, or write your own.
From the tool guide: common questions about Calorie & TDEE Calculator
The items below are not posts by community members. They come from the written guide for this tool and are here to get a conversation started. Use “Ask a follow-up” to open a thread about any of them.
What is BMR?
Basal metabolic rate — the calories your body burns at complete rest.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upWhat is TDEE?
Total daily energy expenditure — BMR multiplied by your activity level.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upHow many calories should I eat to lose weight?
Roughly 500 fewer than your TDEE gives about 0.5 kg (1 lb) a week.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upWhich formula does it use?
Mifflin-St Jeor, widely recommended for adults.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upIs this medical advice?
No. Consult a doctor or dietitian before major diet changes.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upWhat this tool does
Your body burns calories even at rest — your basal metabolic rate (BMR) — and burns more through movement. Multiply BMR by an activity factor and you get your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE): the calories you need to maintain your weight. Eat less than that to lose weight, more to gain.
How to use it, step by step
- Choose your unit system and sex.
- Enter your age, height and weight.
- Select your activity level.
- Read your maintenance calories and goal targets.
Tips from the guide
- Treat the result as a starting point and adjust after 2–3 weeks.
- Do not go below about 1,200 (women) or 1,500 (men) kcal without medical advice.
- Prioritise protein and whole foods.
- Track your weight weekly, not daily.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overestimating activity level, which inflates the target.
- Cutting calories too aggressively.
- Ignoring that estimates can be 10% off for individuals.
Who uses it
- People losing or gaining weight. Set a realistic daily calorie target.
- Athletes and gym-goers. Fuel training and recovery properly.
- Health coaches. Get a quick starting estimate for clients.
How to ask a question people can answer
A good thread on the Calorie & TDEE Calculator saves everyone time. Start with a title that names the exact problem, such as the input you used, the result you expected and the result you got. A title like “Not working” is hard to answer, while a title with the specifics gets replies quickly.
- Say what you tried. List the steps you followed and any settings you changed, so replies do not repeat what you already did.
- Share a small example. A short sample input and the output you saw is worth more than a long description. Remove anything private first.
- Mention your setup. Your device, browser and whether you are on a phone or a computer can explain many odd results.
- One question per thread. Separate topics get clearer answers and are easier to find later with the search box above.
- Come back and reply. If a suggestion worked, say so and upvote it, and if you found the fix yourself, post it for the next person.
Community rules
Be kind, stay on topic and keep personal data out of your posts. Do not post adult, hateful or illegal content, advertising or repeated links. Every post is shown with its author’s username and date, and posts that break these rules can be hidden by moderators. This space is for help with the Calorie & TDEE Calculator and related tasks, and it is separate from the sitewide discussion forum where broader topics live.