CALORIC NEEDS

Question
hello kim, i am very confused when it comes to calorie intake, it seems like each calorie calculater on the internet gives you a different total. i am a former professional kickboxer who recently started training again, i weigh 240 lbs at 6'3 i'm 36 and would like to attain my old fight weight of 220-225 lbs. i train for a total of about 100 minutes a day 5 days a week doing the traditional fight training about 3 miles of running, bagwork, weights, bodyweight exercises etc. can you please give me a general idea of what my caloric intake should be to get down to my goal of 220-225? thank you!

Answer
Mike,
You have to keep in mind that calorie calculators or any method used to calculate calorie needs is ONLY an estimate or guesstimate!!  That is why they tend to differ so much.  It also depends on what equation the site is using to estimate calorie needs.  Also keep in mind that these calculators do NOT take muscle mass into consideration.  We can only estimate because everyone is different and will burn calories at their own individual rate.
Your needs come up very high because of your activity.  I would guess you need somewhere around 2500-3000 calories to lose weight slowly.  AGAIN, that is a complete estimate, nothing specific!!!  This is without knowing your present eating habits, fat percentage, etc...  I would need to work with someone on a one-to-one basis to be more specific about calorie needs.  I would recommend, if you are really serious about your training and weight, to see a registered dietitian in your area that specializes in sports nutrition!!  He/she could set you up with an exact plan and help you more individually.  You can check out www.eatright.org to find a dietitian in your area.
Good luck,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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