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About

Weight management is fundamentally a thermodynamic equation: Energy In versus Energy Out. Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) represents the "Energy Out" component, aggregating your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT), and active exercise burn. This tool uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, currently recognized by the American Dietetic Association as the most reliable standard. Unlike static calculators, this application includes a Calorie Cycling planner, generating a non-linear weekly intake schedule ('Zig-Zag' method) to prevent metabolic adaptation and plateaus during dieting phases.

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Formulas

We calculate BMR using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation:

P=(10×m)+(6.25×h)(5×a)+s

Where m is mass (kg), h is height (cm), a is age (years), and s is +5 for men or -161 for women. TDEE is then derived:

TDEE=BMR×ActivityFactor

Reference Data

Activity LevelMultiplierDescription
Sedentary1.2Office job, little to no exercise
Lightly Active1.375Light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active1.55Moderate exercise 3-5 days/week
Very Active1.725Hard exercise 6-7 days/week
Extra Active1.9Physical job & training 2x/day

Frequently Asked Questions

Calorie cycling involves alternating high and low calorie days throughout the week while maintaining the same average weekly intake. This approach helps regulate hormones like leptin and ghrelin, potentially reducing hunger and preventing the metabolic slowdown often associated with linear dieting.
If you know your body fat percentage accurately (via DEXA or calipers), enter it. The tool will switch to the Katch-McArdle formula, which calculates BMR based on Lean Body Mass. This is significantly more accurate for individuals who are either very lean or have high obesity, where total weight is a poor proxy for metabolic activity.