Can I Maintain on This Amount?

Alright, so I have had varying responses in another post, some saying that I could, some saying that it might be inaccurate, and some saying that I could be eating more. So, I would like to get a slightly more definitive answer. I am 16 years old, and therefore, see it within reason to take advantage of the following calculator:http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/energy/energ yneeds_calculator.htmIf I am active for at least 30 minutes a day, then is it a relatively safe bet that I will not gain weight following its recommendation? I know that everyone is different, but I am just curious to see how many people have found this particular calculator to be accurate for them. I welcome all those who have used it to share their results. 

Edit: Just out of curiosity, when people input their activity seperately from their overall daily burn, are they short-changing themselves? I mean, does engaging in exercise cause one's metabolism to speed up at all, or does it simply mean that one will burn the equivelant of the calories used for exercise? If the latter is the case, then theoretically speaking, the calculator that I mentioned in the first paragraph is most certainly wrong, as me walking for 30 minutes could not conceivably boost my daily needs by some 300 calories. Let me reiterate that all input is very much welcome!

Nobody is going to be able to answer that question with any accuracy [especially considering you didn't give any numbers to go by]. Guessing what kind of metabolism a person has, or if they actually work up a sweat and tax their cardio system, or if their weight routine is actually getting them anywhere is just not going to happen, try this.

Live your life as it is now, which includes all activities, eat what you want for 4 to 6 week recording every single thing you put in your mouth and adjust the amount you eat so you weight becomes stable. Divide your total calories over that time period and you have your maintenance calories.........from there it simple, hopfully. At least you won't have to figure out if doing laundry burns 50 or 75 calories....

The way I see it, walking for 30 minutes a day will raise your needs by 300 *if done regularly*. Regular exercise causes your metabolism to function better even when you are resting, so you are burning just a little more all throughout the day, and it adds up in the end.

This is what causes the discrepancy. So if you walk every day I think you should choose a higher activity level, while if you only walk every now and then you should choose a lower one and add your exercise manually.

Of course, there is also the grey area for people who do a routine for 3-4 times a week.. this is usually handled via the 'blind monkey approach' (trial and error). xD

It's unlikely that, at 16, you're only getting 30 minutes of activity per day.  Younger people tend to be quite active just 'living' without appreciating that they are.   A 16 year-old body still has about 5 years of growing left to do.... so that's another factor.

I would suggest a different approach to weight-management for someone in your position.  That would be to focus more on eating well and eating regularly.... making healthier food choices as often as possible, getting 5-a-day fruit and vegetables and a good variety of other foods.    Really leaving the calorie-counting out of the picture entirely and simply eating to satisfy your appetite.  When a young person is reasonably active with a good diet, it's very difficult indeed for them to overeat.

Calorie-counting is a good servant but a very bad master.  Weight-maintenance is ultimately about finding a healthy & enjoyable balance.... getting pleasure from nice food and from being active.  Turn it into a maths exercise when you don't have to and it can become a very miserable & obsessive business.

Original Post by ily51:

The way I see it, walking for 30 minutes a day will raise your needs by 300 *if done regularly*. Regular exercise causes your metabolism to function better even when you are resting, so you are burning just a little more all throughout the day, and it adds up in the end.

This is what causes the discrepancy. So if you walk every day I think you should choose a higher activity level, while if you only walk every now and then you should choose a lower one and add your exercise manually.

Of course, there is also the grey area for people who do a routine for 3-4 times a week.. this is usually handled via the 'blind monkey approach' (trial and error). xD

Well, I do walk everyday, so I suppose that I will stick with low active, since I only walk for about 30 minutes most days, as opposed to 60.

Haha, that's great. Does the monkey really have to be blind, though? ;D 

Original Post by gi-jane:

It's unlikely that, at 16, you're only getting 30 minutes of activity per day.  Younger people tend to be quite active just 'living' without appreciating that they are.   A 16 year-old body still has about 5 years of growing left to do.... so that's another factor.

I would suggest a different approach to weight-management for someone in your position.  That would be to focus more on eating well and eating regularly.... making healthier food choices as often as possible, getting 5-a-day fruit and vegetables and a good variety of other foods.    Really leaving the calorie-counting out of the picture entirely and simply eating to satisfy your appetite.  When a young person is reasonably active with a good diet, it's very difficult indeed for them to overeat.

Calorie-counting is a good servant but a very bad master.  Weight-maintenance is ultimately about finding a healthy & enjoyable balance.... getting pleasure from nice food and from being active.  Turn it into a maths exercise when you don't have to and it can become a very miserable & obsessive business.

I wish I could stop calorie counting. Past efforts have not worked so well. I have been doing it for so long, and am familiar with so many foods, that it's practically innate at this point. However, I will make a conscious effort to take in the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables and what not. As for the listening-for-hunger approach, that does not work so well as I am terrible at differentiating discomfort from actual hunger. I attribute that to two bouts with anorexia.