Calorie Calculator RT: Quick TDEE & Macronutrient Guide
What it does
- Estimates your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) based on age, sex, weight, height, and activity level.
- Breaks down daily calories into macronutrient targets (protein, carbs, fats) for goals like weight loss, maintenance, or gain.
How it calculates TDEE
- Uses a BMR formula (e.g., Mifflin–St Jeor) to estimate resting calories.
- Multiplies BMR by an activity factor (sedentary to very active) to get TDEE.
- Applies a goal adjustment: subtracts calories for weight loss, adds for weight gain.
Typical macronutrient splits
- Maintenance: 45–55% carbs, 20–30% fat, 15–25% protein
- Weight loss (moderate): 30–50% carbs, 20–35% fat, 25–35% protein
- Muscle gain: 40–55% carbs, 20–30% fat, 20–30% protein
(Note: protein often set to 0.7–1.2 g per lb bodyweight.)
How to use it effectively
- Enter accurate current weight and height.
- Choose the activity level that matches average weekly movement.
- Set a realistic goal rate (e.g., 0.5–1% bodyweight/week).
- Prefer a higher protein target for preservation/gain of muscle.
- Recalculate every 2–4 weeks as weight or activity changes.
Limitations
- Estimates only — individual metabolism varies.
- Activity factors can be subjective and misreported.
- Medical conditions or medications can affect calorie needs.
Quick example
- 30-year-old female, 140 lb, 5’6”, moderately active:
- BMR ~ 1,400 kcal → TDEE ~ 2,170 kcal
- For mild weight loss (−15%): target ≈ 1,845 kcal
- Macronutrients (30% protein, 40% carbs, 30% fat):
- Protein ≈ 139 g/day, Carbs ≈ 185 g/day, Fat ≈ 62 g/day
If you want, I can calculate a personalized TDEE and macro split—tell me age, sex, weight, height, activity level, and goal.