Question about calories.

[og512]

If losing is ultimately burning more calories than you consume, how do you know if you're getting enough calories to not let your body go into starvation?

 

[evolution]

There's not really a cut and dry answer; it's pretty subjective individually. I guess I have two questions-

How many are you consuming?
Are you getting weaker?

 

[Cynic]

Track what you eat through www.fitday.com

Also, you can get a calorie calculator excel spreadsheet from this post:

http://www.fitness.com/forum/showpost.php?p=104969&postcount=2

 

[buzz]

If losing is ultimately burning more calories than you consume, how do you know if you're getting enough calories to not let your body go into starvation?

you need about 12cals per 1lb bodyweight just to exist.
then you have to work out your cals burned during activitys.you can do all that on this site.

 

[Karky]

a way i have heard it is that if you know your maintance, cut that by 500 cals.

 

[buzz]

a way i have heard it is that if you know your maintance, cut that by 500 cals.

but you have to find out your maintanence first,
and you do that like this
you need about 12cals per 1lb bodyweight just to exist.
then you have to work out your cals burned during activitys.

 

[stroutman81]

Buzz, I would rather use a calculator or and mathematical forumla that uses your weight, bodyfat, etc to get a more precise maintenance level caloric intake.

Also, once you find this caloric intake, reduce it be 20%. It just so happens that this is around 500 calories for most, but it is better to used percentages since everyone is different.

 

[buzz]

Buzz, I would rather use a calculator or and mathematical forumla that uses your weight, bodyfat, etc to get a more precise maintenance level caloric intake.

Also, once you find this caloric intake, reduce it be 20%. It just so happens that this is around 500 calories for most, but it is better to used percentages since everyone is different.

i would agree but most people cant work the formula out .
12 to 14 cals per 1lb is near enough

 

[davidjr74]

i would agree but most people cant work the formula out .
12 to 14 cals per 1lb is near enough

I agree.
Those calculators are never a perfect measurement.

 

[malkore]

espeically if you are over 125% of your 'healthy' weight..then you have to do different formulas, blah blah blah...

essentially if you know your bodyfat percentage, you can determine your lean body mass. take that times 12calories to get an estimate on what your body (minus fat) needs to live, and go from there.