Comments on: How to Determine Your Calorie Needs

By: Kristine Fretwell

Kristine Fretwell — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:32:00 +0000

I posted a couple days of my eating here: http://www.busybuthealthy.com/2012/03/05/a-day-in-the-life-of-what-i-eat/

& http://www.busybuthealthy.com/2011/04/10/kristines_food_diary/

although I wasn’t that specific to break down the macro percentages. I’ll get into doing that a bit more once the baby is born and I’m back to a more structured eating routine.

By: Carissa

Carissa — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:12:00 +0000

I always have issue with the “exercise” portion. So if I have a desk job, but do exercise 6 days a week…is that still considered “sedentary”? Some say yes, some say no. It doesn’t seem it is really an EXACT science, even though some will claim it is.

By: Anna @ The Guiltless Life

Anna @ The Guiltless Life — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:52:00 +0000

This is great – I haven’t used these calculators before but I just did it and it revealed very much the conclusions my naturopath and I have come to after months of tweaking. I’d say my carb/protein/fat ratio is more like the Zone (coincidence, not intentional, as I don’t follow the Zone diet or even really know what it is beyond the breakdown!) at 40/30/30 but I might try your tip of upping protein to 40% and keeping carbs and fat down to 30/30.

I can’t tell you how much better and satiated I feel eating 100g of protein a day (roughly what I’m taking in on 1600 cals a day right now). My nails are stronger, I’m always comfortably full, never bloated or sluggish. Having said that, it’s easy to do because I’m at home a lot or work close to home and can make my protein shakes. No idea how I will up my protein if I’m travelling etc, as that’s when carbs tend to go higher (being a vegetarian, eating out for protein is tough!). I’ll do my best though!

By: Kristine Fretwell

Kristine Fretwell — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:33:00 +0000

In reply to Kim.

It would be 1400 cals total. Not net calories. Do you know for a fact that you’re burning 600 calories in a workout? Do you wear some sort of monitor? If not, you may be over guessing calories burned. Also, if you pay attention to your ratios and get more protein and less carbs, that should make a difference too. Kristine Fretwell, Busy But Healthy, http://www.busybuthealthy.com

By: Jeannevanderveen8

Jeannevanderveen8 — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:08:00 +0000

This was such a great post! I have seen this calculator recommended on the oxygen site. I checked my cals again and it suggests 1700for me to maintain. I can do the cals no problem but it’s always the macros that I find difficult. I know you suggested focusing in grams of protein, carbs, fat but any other easy tips. Can you show us a day of your eating just to get an idea of the 40/30/30 macros. I know some blogs do wiaw (what I ate Wednesday) posts and I would love to see a day of your eats. 🙂 I try and use my fitness pals and am good with cals but always off on my macros and can’t seem to figure it out.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Such perfect timing for this post for me!

Ok here’s my situation. I used this calculator recently (found it in one of your old posts) and it tells me to 1415 for fat loss or 1769 to maintain (127 lbs, 5’1″, workout 5 days a week). My question is, is that 1415 total calories or net calories after subtracting calories burned? I feel like if I have a heavy workout and burn 600 calories that 1415 won’t be enough to sustain me. I’ve been aiming for around 1400 net but the scale isn’t really moving. Which I’m not overly concerned about because I am noticing changed in my body otherwise. Only I KNOW the scale can go lower because I’ve got a bit of a belly that won’t go away and I was down to 118lbs a few years ago and maintained it. Seems like after gaining back 15lbs being busy and not working out/watching what I eat that nothing I did before is working now.