Question 1

What is TDEE in simple terms?

Accepted Answer

The total calories you burn in a real day — resting metabolism plus digestion plus all movement. Eat about your TDEE and your weight tends to stay put; eat consistently below or above it and weight gradually falls or rises.

Question 2

What's the difference between BMR and TDEE?

Accepted Answer

BMR is the engine idling: calories burned at complete rest. TDEE is the engine driving: BMR scaled up by an activity multiplier (1.2–1.9) to cover digestion, movement, and exercise. Targets are set against TDEE, not BMR.

Question 3

How big should a calorie deficit be?

Accepted Answer

A 250–500 kcal/day deficit below TDEE is the conventional starting range, producing roughly 0.25–0.5 kg (0.5–1 lb) per week. Larger deficits cost muscle, energy, and adherence; below-BMR intakes belong under medical supervision.

Question 4

Why does every TDEE calculator give a different number?

Accepted Answer

Different BMR equations, different multiplier scales, and different rounding. The spread is usually 5–10%. Ours shows both the equation and the multiplier so nothing is hidden — and real-world tracking beats all of them.

Question 5

How often should I recalculate?

Accepted Answer

Whenever your weight changes by more than a few kilograms or your routine genuinely changes. TDEE falls as you lose weight — recalculating every 5 kg or so keeps a deficit from quietly disappearing.

Question 6

Is this the same as the MyPlate calorie calculator?

Accepted Answer

Related but different: the MyPlate Plan uses the IOM EER equations that USDA's food patterns are calibrated to, then translates calories into food groups. Your profile carries over with one click.

Free TDEE Calculator — Total Daily Energy Expenditure (2026)