# New, very accurate & simple to use method for determining daily calorie requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 31, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-very-accurate-simple-to-use-method-for-determining-daily-calorie-requirements/350759 "2006-03-31T21:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-very-accurate-simple-to-use-method-for-determining-daily-calorie-requirements/350759/1 "2006-03-31T21:17:50Z")
One of the frustrations I have had over the years is the wildly varying estimates of daily calorie requirements posted on the web. I count calories daily and I’ve gotten pretty good at it over the years. My calculations of what I was burning daily for weight maintenance per lb of body weight, relative to my activity level, was wildly at odds with most of the pages I visited [like this one](http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm), and was far below the calorie burn rates posted as “normal”. I kept wondering whether I was some freak with a hyper slow metabolism or the posted calculations were in error. Now I know - I was right and they were wrong. The following is a web page that has a simple to use daily calorie needs calculator. I tried it on a lark and thought I would come up with the usual huge overshot, _but this one didn’t_. Intrigued I looked further into it and it explained that it was based on the latest scientific assessments of what people actually burn. It’s a small and geeky point, but I do feel somewhat vindicated that my empirical measurements were not in error and that my BMR needs are entirely normal. I found [this page](http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm) which provides the most accurate method of calculating daily calorie requirements I have seen to date. [Explanation of new formula below](http://www.freedieting.com/calorie_needs.html) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-very-accurate-simple-to-use-method-for-determining-daily-calorie-requirements/350759/2 "2006-03-31T21:28:48Z")
Nice one. I shall do more research on this. The regular guidelines are hopelessly generalised. I’m a short fella who does little exercise. The recommended 2,000 - 2,500 calories would make me blow up like a balloon. That calculator says I need only 1,500 to burn fat. Since just this morning I found out my blood pressure’s slightly high for the first time in my life, and that I can avoid an operation by just strengthening my abdominal muscles, I’m bookmarking this. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-very-accurate-simple-to-use-method-for-determining-daily-calorie-requirements/350759/3 "2006-03-31T21:33:27Z")
I’m a work-at-home desk job gal and I haven’t been working out. I don’t even have the walk from the car to the office anymore. I’m doing around 800 calories a day and just maintaining. I think I need to cut it down to about 600 if I want to lose 5 lbs. Or get off my ass and start working out again.