How does this quick weight loss calculator work?
This weight tool takes into consideration the various sides involved in weight loss from the amount of lbs or kgs we are allowed to healthy take off in a period of time to the count of calories that we need to eliminate from our diet in order to lose weight.
The information in regard of your health condition that you need to input reflects your gender, age, weight (that you can put in either kg or lbs), height (either cm or ft in) and daily activity level, where you have to choose from no sport/exercise, light, moderate, highly or extremely active).
In regard of your weight loss plan you have to clearly state how many kg or lbs you want to lose and then choose one of the two methods in which you want to do it, either by entering the amount of time in which you want to plan your weight loss or the number of calories you are ready to reduce.
If you choose the first scenario you will be then given the amount of calories that you are allowed to have in order to accomplish your goal. However, if your goal is unrealistic, in terms of health you will be then warned and explained why you shouldn’t resort to such risk.
If you choose to enter the number of calories you can renounce at, then you’ll be given an estimate on the time that it will take you to lose the desired amount of weight in a healthy way.
Please note that the basic weight loss calculator should not replace a medical professional’s recommendations and should have only an illustrative value for your weight loss planning. Everyone has different bodies and different ways to burn calories.
Example weight loss calculation:
In order to prove the functionality of this weight loss form we need to take a complex situation in consideration.
Let’s take the case of a 35 year old female, currently weighing 170 lbs at a height of 5ft 2in, with a no sport exercise lifestyle. She would like to lose 16 lbs.
For the first form, let’s assume she is eager to get rid of those lbs in just 40 days. Could she have a healthy planning in this regard?
This is her result from the basic weight loss calculator:
Warning: your goal requires you to lose 3 pounds per week. This implies a high risk for your health and is not recommended!
Warning: your goal requires you to lose 1,400 calories per day, which means you are supposed to intake only 415 calories daily. This implies a high risk for your health and is not recommended!
- Your goal is to lose 16 lbs for 40 days;
- To maintain your current weight, your safe daily calories intake is around 1,815 calories;
- To reach your goal, you will need to reduce your daily calories intake with 1,400 calories, which means to get 415 calories daily.
For the second form will assume that she is willing to give up 800 calories per day of her diet. Is this recommended? Let’s see in how much time she will reach her goal.
Warning: your goal requires you to lose 800 calories per day, which means you are supposed to intake only 1,015 calories daily. This implies a high risk for your health and is not recommended!
- Your goal is to lose 16 lbs for 70 days;
- To maintain your current weight, your safe daily calories intake is around 1,815 calories;
- To reach your goal, you will need to reduce your daily calories intake with 800 calories, which means to get 1,015 calories daily.
The formula behind the tool:
The calculator uses a formula calledthe Harris-Benedict principle that can assess your BasalMetabolic Rate (BMR). This formula reveals the number of calories your body needs to fulfill only the basic functions, like heart beat, breathing etc. The BMR value depends on factors like height, weight, gender and age.
After it knows how many calories your body needs in order to survive it can calculate how many calories you need per day in order to keep the current weight. Once this number of calories is discovered things become a matter of subtraction. As it is generally known that a deficit of 3,500 calories can lead to loosing a pound, so in order to lose one pound a week you should cut back your calorie intake with 500 calories a day. The tool correlates this information with the time weight loss goals you established and delivers you with an estimation of how many calories you should reduce in order to lose weight in your desired amount of time.
But don't be hasty and don't forget that a healthy weight loss rate is of 0.5 to 2 pounds per week. Never cut back to less than 1,200 daily calories as you can put your health to risk. Being patient and making little changes will add up in the long run.
References
1) Tomiyama AJ, Ahlstrom B, Mann T. (2013) Long-term effects of dieting: Is weight loss related to health? Social and Personality Psychology Compass; 7(12): 861-877.
2) Asher RC, Burrows TL, Collins CE. (2013) Very low-energy diets for weight loss in adults: a review. Nutrition and Dietetics; 70(2): 101-112.
3) Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. (2014) Health benefits of losing weight. Fact sheet, Informed Health Online; Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
17 Dec, 2014
