# Daily Caloric Requirements to maintain weight

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 13, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476 "2003-04-13T18:04:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/1 "2003-04-13T18:04:08Z")

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Is there a simple formula to estimate the daily caloric requirement to maintain weight? I have recently started counting calories. I make an effort to keep my daily intake to between 1500 and 1700. This seems to be doing what I need, but I was wondering if there were a scientific method for setting my target caloric intake.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/2 "2003-04-13T19:56:23Z")

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Try [this link](http://www.healthkeeper.com/HealthKeeperFinding_Your_Ideal_Caloric_Intak.htm).

Was this inspired by someone mentioning that you look like John Candy, by any chance?

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/3 "2003-04-13T21:27:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \*  
> \*\*Try [this link](http://www.healthkeeper.com/HealthKeeperFinding_Your_Ideal_Caloric_Intak.htm).
> 
> Was this inspired by someone mentioning that you look like John Candy, by any chance? \*\*

LOL. Nope. I’ve been losing weight for about a year. I have lost 3 inches in the last year/year and half. I have tried different things and now I’m kinda trying the calorie counting thing. Mostly it was inspired by turning 40 and deciding that I couldn’t pretend that I would “lose it next year” forever.

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**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/4 "2003-04-14T00:42:39Z")

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Are you also counting daily calorie output? That is, if you walk or run or bike, there are measurements for how many calories are burned off.

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/5 "2003-04-14T00:49:34Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Violet \*  
> \*\*Are you also counting daily calorie output? That is, if you walk or run or bike, there are measurements for how many calories are burned off. \*\*

The only excercise that I am currently getting is from my weight-lifting. The theory being that an increase in muscle mass will increase my metabolism (muscle being so expensive to maintain.) I do like to hike or walk in the woods, but currently do not do so (that is usually an autumn thing.)

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-caloric-requirements-to-maintain-weight/168476/6 "2003-04-14T01:39:32Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Khadaji \*  
> \*\*The only excercise that I am currently getting is from my weight-lifting. The theory being that an increase in muscle mass will increase my metabolism (muscle being so expensive to maintain.) I do like to hike or walk in the woods, but currently do not do so (that is usually an autumn thing.) \*\*

You might want to add in a little aerobic exercise to spike your metabolism for a while. Short periods (20 minutes or so) of higher intensity aerobic exercise don’t burn any significant amount of muscle.