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Magic weight loss math

November 4th, 2010 at 03:05 am

Get out your calculators. I have the magic formula for dieting and weight loss, straight from my dietician.

Use this to figure out the minimum number of calories you should consumer in a day:

For women:
665 + (4.35 x weight) + (4.7 x height) - (4.7 x age)

For men:
66 + (6.23 x weight) + (12.7 x height) - (6.8 x age)

Okay, take that number, which is your base metabolic rate.

Multiply by 1.2 if you are a couch potato
by 1.375 if you exercise 1 - 3 days a week
by 1.55 if you exercise 3 - 5 days a week
by 1.725 if you exercise 6-7 days a week.

That's how many calories a day you need to eat to maintain weight.

To lose half a pound a week (current doctor recommendation), cut 250 calories a day. For a pound a week, cut 500 calories a day.

I found this incredibly helpful. Also, if you are not diabetic, 50 percent of your calories should come from carbs.

8 Responses to “Magic weight loss math”

  1. Single Guy Says:
    1288843942

    OK, lots of questions here...

    What is the height? Inches? Feet? Meters?
    What is the weight? Pounds? Kilos?
    Women start with 665, but men with 66? Are you sure thats right?
    And if you have a muscular frame (from exercise) you will burn through lots more calories than is taken into account with the multipliers.

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1288876307

    Interesting...and would be interested to know if the same questions as single guy. Thanks!!

  3. SnoopyCool Says:
    1288877303

    I've seen these formulas before. I think the weight is in pounds and the height is in inches. The 66 - I've no idea.

  4. ThriftoRama Says:
    1288878753

    Everything is in U.S. measurements. Height in inches, weight in pounds. And yes, women start at 655 and men at 66. It's called the Harris Benedict calorie formula. You can google it and get the kilo version.

    This is used to calculate the bare minimum calories you need. The dietician said it is amazingly accurate, even given the differences in peoples' physiques.

  5. campfrugal Says:
    1288882545

    Well, then I should be eating no more than 1,217 calories a day. Hmm. I never calculate how many calories I eat in a day, I just try to eat healthy well-balanced meals and somehow it just maintains my weight. I am pretty active though, so I am sure that helps. I walk three times a week and have a Zumba class once a week; and I am constantly running errands, it seems.

  6. Single Guy Says:
    1288895686

    Well my calculation comes in at 2800 (yes it came in exactly at that number), but to be honest I just worry about eating healthy and getting the right nutrients. And exercising every work day. I never count calories. Its worked for me going from 250 down to 180 in the past 5 years. Of course one frugal & easy way to burn some extra calories is keeping your house cold in the winter. You save money on heating, and your body burns extra calories just keeping warm.

  7. Jerry Says:
    1288961310

    I think that these kinds of formulas can be very good tools for helping people to see how many calories will lead to loss or maintaining of weight, but it doesn't offer any insurance of the ingestion of healthy calories... That is a huge part of the equation!
    Jerry

  8. ThriftoRama Says:
    1289187699

    Yeah. What you eat is super important. The Dietician said about half of those calories should come from carbs, unless you are diabetic. Good carbs, like whole grains and oatmeals.

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