metabolic calculator

So I have been trying to figure out for the longest time how many calories do I really burn each day?! I have done so many different searches and I keep coming up with numbers varying from about 1800 to well over 2300. I recently used the MSN one: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/measure-you r-metabolism.aspx but I'm not sure how reliable it is...also part of me thinks that it should be more legit than say CC's calculator.

let me know any of your thoughts!

They are all estimates. If you really want to know exact number you can do RMR test in a local exercise lab.

UD

Original Post by shapes44:

 

So I have been trying to figure out for the longest time how many calories do I really burn each day?! I have done so many different searches and I keep coming up with numbers varying from about 1800 to well over 2300. I recently used the MSN one: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/measure-you r-metabolism.aspx but I'm not sure how reliable it is...also part of me thinks that it should be more legit than say CC's calculator.

 

let me know any of your thoughts!

My guess since your getting such a varied number is that you are calculating different things. Your bmr is the minimum number of cals that your body needs to function properly and eating below this number will slow your metabolism. To figure this out, google bmr and use the first link.

The other number that you may be getting is your estimated calorie burn. If you are sedentary, this is calculated as your bmr x 1.2. Your bmr is equal to how many calories you would burn lying in bed all day or in a coma. Your sedentary calorie burn is an estimate of how many calories you would burn just walking around your home, going to work and living a typical day.

Well Im not sure how good that MSN calculator is...its the first one that gives me a low number to maintain my current weight.  All the other calculators give me 1,600 calories..while this one gives me barely 1,460 calories just to maintain...and 1,460..to me feels like undereating....or maybe Im wrong, but like umneydurak said, its better to just get it checked for real at some exercise lab. If I had one near home I'd definitely pay to have that checked out since finding out how much I burn in a day has always been something I wanted to know.

good luck.

I think you can waste a lot of time and spend a lot of money trying to work it all out.  It's better to go with averages rather than specifics because, realistically, nobody does exactly the same things every day and doesn't eat the same amount of food either.  It's not a maths exam, it's life... 

If you're female, over 20, reasonably active, average height and between BMI 20 and 25 then you'll use up 1900-2100 cals a day as a good working average.  I think that's as useful as anything you're going to get back from a lab.  The acid test is ... does your weight stay the same?  If it does, then your question is answered.