phord vs CC

A bit confused. On CC I entered my activity level to light because I work 8 hours a day at a desk job, but I'm fairly busy at home with a toddler, I walk 15-30 minutes each day during my work breaks, plus I do approx 30 min of moderate exercise 5 days a week.

I did the calculator on phord because I've heard it's more accurate as far as activity level. There I entered moderately active (based on moderate exercise 5 days a week) and it gave me a burn estimate of 1883.

That's 200 calories difference! Which is more accurate? I don't guess it really matters, as I still need to stay at around 1200 calories intake since I can't go below that, but I'd like to know if my deficit is within the recommended range.

If phord is more accurate, then I'm meeting my calorie deficit. If CC is more accurate, then it's going to take me a lot longer to make my goal weight or I somehow need to find more time in my day to increase my exercise time (really shouldn't increase intensity since I'm a beginner to exercise).

Here's the kicker. If I set my activity level on CC to moderate (because as a beginner, my workouts really get my heart pumping and I feel my muscles burning in both my legs and my arms plus I'm walking at work), then the burn meter says 1880 which is only off phord by 3 calories.

Which should I believe? Or should I not really worry about it and just keep doing what I'm doing and hope for the best?

The equations CC and phord use are the same. It's the explanation of what activity level to chose that differs. Some people are very confused by the CC descriptions, and find phord's to be more understandable (especially those of us who are sedentary, and add exercise, as opposed to those who are just always on the go).

As to which is appropriate for you, I'd say moderate (on either calculator), but the true test is when you eat 500 less than that, do you lose a pound a week?

Thanks for the explanation. That makes more sense.

As to your question. I've only been at it for a little over a week, but I did lose 1lb in my first week. I'm hoping that trend will continue.

I hope so too

If moderate is right, and you are burning 1880, I think 1380 (or thereabouts) would be a good starting point, instead of eating the bare minimum of 1200. Running after a toddler is a lot more activity than a lot of us get all day.

Well, it's only been a week, so I'm going to hold steady to what I'm doing for now but if I notice it's not working, then I'll up my calories a bit. But since I don't weigh or measure every morsel that goes into my mouth, I'm sure my calorie count probably fluctuates between 1200 and 1400 in a given day.

Phord's calculator is clearly more useful - make sure you scroll down the page for all the additional info, especially the MAX safe deficit (many people will need an intake of a lot more than 1200 kcal).

The activity level calcs are almost, but not quite the same. The following figures are very slightly rounded.

Sedentary = RMR (= BMRx1.2)

Light = RMRx1.15

A little more active (phord only) = RMRx1.2

Moderate = RMRx1.3

Very active = RMRx1.4 (phord) or RMRx1.45 (CC)

Extra active (phord only) = RMRx1.5