Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (2024)

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With Upfit’s Calorie Calculator, you can quickly and easily calculate your caloric needs and determine your perfect macronutrient and micronutrient distribution for weight loss, clean eating, muscle building and definition. On request, you can also receive recipes for your personal calorie and nutrient needs for one day.

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Your goal

  • Lose Weight

  • Clean Eating

  • Build Muscle

  • Body Definition

years

cm

kg

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (1)

    < 15% Body fat

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (2)

    16-20%

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (3)

    20-30%

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (4)

    > 31% Body fat

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (5)

    < 10% Body fat

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (6)

    11-18%

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (7)

    19-25%

  • Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (8)

    > 26% Body fat

Level of Normal Everyday Activity

Weekly Exercise Activity

Calculate Calorie Requirements Now

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Your Calorie Requirements

You have a normal weight

Your needs/day Fats Proteins Carbs
Your needs/day
Fats
Proteins
Carbs

Your Micronutrients/day

Calcium Iron Folate Magnesium Iodine
Vitamin B1 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Zinc
Calcium
Iron
Folate
Magnesium
Iodine
Vitamin B1
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Zinc
Breakfast Snack 1 Lunch Snack 2 Dinner
Breakfast
Snack 1
Lunch
Snack 2
Dinner
  • 3 Meals a day
  • 4 Meals a day
  • 5 Meals a day

Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (10)

Get the perfect meal plan for your calorie requirements

100% individual plan

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Upfit Calorie Calculator

Author: Lynn Erdmann (B.Sc. Nutritional Science) · Proofreader: Till Ebener (Dipl. Sports Sciences) · Updated: · Sources · 6 min read

View table of contents

  1. Why should you know your caloric needs?
    1. What is a calorie?
    2. Difference between calories and kilocalories
  2. How your calorie needs are determined
    1. Basal metabolic rate
    2. Physical activity level
    3. Total energy expenditure
  3. Adapt the Calorie Calculator to your goal
    1. Calorie intake for Weight Loss
    2. Calorie intake for Building Muscle
    3. Calorie intake for Definition
    4. Calorie intake for Clean Eating or Maintaining Weight
  4. Calorie Calculator / calorie requirements for men and women
  5. This is how the Calorie Calculator works
    1. What science is the Upfit Calorie Calculator based on?
  6. Sources

Why should you know your caloric needs?

Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (12)

Targeted to reach your dream weight – many diets fail because they aren’t individually adjusted to your personal calorie consumption. Anyone who successfully and sustainably losses weight or builds muscle knows how important it is to know their personal caloric needs. Because: At the end of the day, the calorie balance is always crucial for achieving the goal. Everyone knows, if you eat fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight – simple logic! But exactly how much do you burn? and how much should you eat to reach your goal? The Upfit Calorie Calculator can answer that.

What is a calorie?

The term “calorie” is derived from the Latin word “calor” which means heat. So it is not surprising that both energy and heat are given in calories. 1000 calories equals the amount of energy, or heat, needed to heat 1 liter of water by 1 degree Celsius.

A calorie is thus a measure of the amount of energy that a person gets from his food. If food did not contain calories, we would simply starve to death. The more calories a food contains, the more energy it provides. Accordingly, foods may have different calorie densities. Thus, alcohol, with about 7 kcal per gram, has a higher calorie density than protein and carbohydrates, each with about 4 kcal per gram. Fat has the highest calorie density at approx. 9 kcal per gram.

Per 1 Gram Caloric Value
Fats 9,3 kcal / 39 kJ
Carbohydrates 4,1 kcal / 17 kJ
Proteins 4,1 kcal / 17 kJ
Ethanol (Alcohol) 7,1 kcal / 29 kJ

Difference between calories and kilocalories

On food packaging, the calories of the food are always given in “kcal”, which stands for “kilocalories”. Are calories and kilocalories the same? No. These are in fact two different units of measure. One kilocalorie equals 1000 calories. In everyday language, the abbreviation “calorie” prevailed, however this actually means kilocalories. In fact, 100 grams of fat do not have “930 calories”, but 930,000 – or 930 kilocalories. By the way, by the end of the 1970s, the calorie was officially replaced by the international unit Joule. Since 2010, the calorific values of food in the EU must be displayed in kilojoules per 100 grams. The additional information in kilocalories is also permissible. One kilocalorie is equivalent to about 4.2 kilojoules. However, this new unit of measurement has never really established itself in the common colloquial language, which is why the calorific value of food is still always given in kilocalories. At the end of the day, it does not matter who uses kilocalories or kilojoules. The knowledge about the calorific value of food is of little use, if you do not know your own calorie requirements.

This is how your caloric needs are determined

Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (13)

Your calorie needs are primarily made up of two components: your basal metabolic rate and your physical activity level. Together, these two values make up your total energy expenditure, and thus your actual optimal daily caloric requirements.

Basal metabolic rate

Basal metabolic rate is a theoretical value that describes your body’s calorie expenditure when it is in absolute rest. Such a condition does not exist in reality. Even when sleeping, energy is consumed. Basal metabolic rate is the amount of calories your body needs to maintain itself and keep all vital functions running.

Physical activity level

Your physical activity level includes all the calories that you additionally burn through physical activity. This includes everything you do: sleeping, walking, talking, eating, and everything else. The basic principle is always: The higher your activity level is, the higher your caloric needs.

Total energy expenditure

Your total energy expenditure makes up your actual daily calorie needs when you combine your basal metabolic rate and your physical activity level. This amount of calories is needed to maintain your current weight and to provide you all the necessary nutrients.

Basal metabolic rate + physical activity level = total energy expenditure

Adapt the Calorie Calculator to your goal

Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (14)

Upfit’s Calorie Calculator distinguishes between these 4 different goals and calculates your calorie and nutrient needs accordingly:

  • Weight Loss
  • Clean Eating / Maintain Weight
  • Muscle Building / Gaining Weight
  • Definition / Reduce Fat

Calorie Intake for Weight Loss

A calorie deficit is essential to lose weight. If you give your body less calories than it requires to maintain its weight, you lose weight. The body uses the stored energy reserves, also known as fat deposits. That being said, starving yourself to lose weight is the wrong way! If the calorie deficit is too big, your body will treat the diet as a famine – a slowing down of the metabolism is the consequence. When you finish your diet, your extra pounds are likely to return quickly. Many people quickly return to their original weight after such a crash diet, or gain even more weight than before: this in known as the dreaded yo-yo effect. Knowing your calorie consumption is one of the first steps to successfully losing weight. The Upfit Calorie Calculator takes care of this for you. In addition, it determines the right amount of calories for you to effectively and sustainably lose weight. Further information and helpful tips and tricks can be found in our Upfit Guide to Losing Weight – or just create your individual Upfit nutrition Plan now and start your path to success today.

Calorie Intake to Build Muscle and Gain Weight

To build muscle, your body requires extra energy – more calories than your calorie needs to maintain weight. The extra food provides your body with the energy to build new muscle mass and provide them with sufficient nutrients. The main building material of muscle mass is protein. Therefore, a slight change in your macronutrient distribution is essential. As a general rule, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns when at rest. Keep in mind, however, that the calorie surplus should not be too high, as then it will become extra fat. For more information and helpful tips and tricks, see our Upfit Nutrition Guide for Building Muscle – or just create your individual Upfit nutrition Plan now and start your path to success today.

Calorie Intake for Definition

Of course, after a hard workout, you want to reap the rewards and see results. The goal: to get new muscles and reduce excess fat. This is how the hard-trained muscle mass finally becomes visible. The focus is not so much on weight loss in general, but specifically on reducing fat. This process is a bit more difficult because the degree of weight loss and pure fat loss can be very narrow here. A slight calorie deficit and a high-protein diet help you achieve your goal. The Upfit Calorie Calculator can help you choose the correct calorie deficit and the right macronutrient distribution. For more information and helpful tips and tricks, see our Upfit Nutrition Guide for definition – or just create your individual Upfit nutrition Plan now and start your path to success today.

Calorie Intake for Clean Eating or Maintaining Weight

In a healthy diet (clean eating), the body is given exactly the amount of calories it needs to maintain its current weight. The focus here is on the distribution of macro and micronutrients so that the body gets everything it needs for total well-being. The Upfit Calorie Calculator will give you exactly the calorie count and optimal distribution of macronutrients and micronutrients that best suits your body. For more information and helpful tips and tricks, see our Upfit Nutrition Guide to Healthy Eating – or just create your individual Upfit nutrition Plan now and start your path to success today.

Calorie Calculator / calorie requirements for men and women

Apart from weight and size, the gender of a person has a decisive influence on his or her calorie requirement. Men naturally have more muscle mass, which increases the calorie requirement on average. On the other hand, women evolutionarily, tend to have fatty deposits on their hips, buttocks and legs. This is supposed to be suitable for strenuous times such as pregnancy or lactation. The Upfit Calorie Calculator also takes these factors into account and calculates your optimal amount of calories for you and your goal.

This is how the Calorie Calculator works

The free Calorie Calculator from Upfit calculates not only the optimal amount of calories for you and your personal goal, but also your ideal macro- and micronutrient distribution! This makes it the best free calorie calculator on the Internet. The calculator determines various important parameters, such as your height, weight, and activity level. It will help you to determine your calorie consumption in detail and adjust your calorie needs to optimize your goal.

What is the Upfit Calorie Calculator based on?

We rely on a strong scientific basis and specific empirical values to find out how many calories you should eat and from which nutritional components. To calculate your caloric needs, we use the best and most accurate formula – the so-called Harris-Benedict formula. First we determine your basal metabolic rate (1). Then we determine your physical activity level, known as the PAL factor), we then factor in your personal nutritional goal: either an energy surplus (muscle building), energy balance (maintaining weight) or an energy deficit (losing weight, definition). We divide the resulting amount of calories into the 3 macronutrient groups on according to the latest scientific findings (2, 3, 4) and based on the experience of expert practicing coaches and dietitians. The recommendations on micronutrient intake are based on the guidelines of the World Health Organization (5) and the German Nutrition Society (6). The body weight rating in relation to height is expressed in terms of the BMI value based on the research of Adolphe Quetelet and Ignaz Kaup (7). So we can guarantee a secure, working and efficient tool that optimally supports you on your way to realizing your dream body.

Sources

  • Amirkalali, B. et al. (2008). Measuring or predicting resting energy expenditure. Indian Journal of Medical Science Vol. 62 No. 7. S. 283-290.
  • Arciero, P. et al. (2016). Protein-Pacing Caloric-Restriction enhances body composition similarly in obese men and women during weight loss and sustains efficacy during long term weight maintenance. Nutrients. 2016 Aug 8 (8), S. 476 ff.
  • Petersen, J. (2017). Attenuating the side effects of caloric restriction through exercise and increased protein intake. Nutrition & health sciences dissertations & theses (71). University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
  • Helms, E. et al. (2014). A systematic review of dietary protein during caloric restriction in resistance trained lean athletes: a case for higher intakes. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism (24), S. 127-138.
  • Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO). Link: http://www.euro.who.int/de/home
  • Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE). Link: https://www.dge.de/
  • Quételet, A. (1871): L’anthropométrie ou le mesure des differentes facultés de l’homme. Bruxelles: Muquardt, C.
Calorie Calculator by Upfit - calculate your custom caloric needs (2024)

FAQs

What calorie calculator is most accurate? ›

FAQ #1: What is the best calorie calculator? If you don't know your body fat percentage, the Mifflin-St Jeor calorie calculator equation tends to produce the most accurate results. If you know your body fat percentage, the Katch-McArdle equation is the most accurate.

How do I calculate my total calorie needs? ›

Your total calorie needs are calculated by multiplying your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) times your Lifestyle Factor: Once you know your total calorie needs you can make the appropriate calorie adjustment to get the number of calories your need to lose weight (Adjusted Calorie Budget).

How do I calculate how many calories I need to be in a calorie deficit? ›

To perform a manual calculation, moderately active people can multiply their current body weight by 15 to estimate how many calories they would need each day. Anything less than this is a deficit.

How many calories should a 55 year old woman eat to lose weight? ›

Over 50: Women over 50 require fewer calories. A moderately active woman over 50 years needs 1,800 calories per day to maintain weight and 1,600 calories per day to shed 1 pound a week.

How many calories should I eat a day to lose weight? ›

In order to lose at least a pound a week, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, and reduce your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional.

How many calories do 10,000 steps burn? ›

How many calories do 10,000 steps burn? Most people burn 30-40 calories per 1,000 steps they walk, meaning they'll burn 300 to 400 calories by walking 10,000 steps, Hirai says.

How many calories are in one egg? ›

How many calories are there in an egg? The calories in an egg will vary depending on the size and how it is prepared. However, on average a single medium-sized egg will contain around 66 calories, an average small egg will contain around 55 calories and an average large egg around 80 calories.

How do I calculate calories in my daily diet? ›

A gram of carbohydrates also has 4, and a gram of fat is worth a whopping 9 calories. If the item you're eating contains 20g of protein, 35g of carbs, and 15g of fat, this means you would multiply 20x4, 35x4, and 15x9 to find the number of calories contributed by each macronutrient—80, 140, and 135, respectively.

Is a 1500 calorie diet good for weight loss? ›

Consequently, most people will lose weight following a 1,500- to 1,800-calorie diet. If you want to be even more precise about how many calories you should eat each day to lose weight, this simple calculation will give you a daily calorie goal that can help you lose a healthy 1 to 2 pounds per week.

How to burn 1000 calories a day? ›

Run at a pace of 8 mph for 60 minutes during your cardio workout. Running for a whole hour at a speed of 8 mph burns around 1,000 calories if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg). If you weigh less but still want to keep your time at the gym around an hour long, you may need to run a bit faster.

What should my calorie daily deficit be? ›

A calorie deficit of up to 500 calories per day is effective for healthy and sustainable weight loss. Eating a well-balanced diet of whole foods and exercising or getting some kind of physical activity for 150–300 minutes per week are great ways to help you maintain a calorie deficit.

How does a 55 year old woman lose belly fat? ›

Eat a healthy diet.

Focusing on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choosing lean sources of protein, such as fish and low-fat dairy products. Limiting processed meats, as well as the saturated fat that's found in meat and high-fat dairy products, such as cheese and butter.

What is the best supplement to speed up your metabolism? ›

5 Vitamins and Minerals to Boost Your Metabolism and Promote Weight Loss
  • B vitamins.
  • Vitamin D.
  • Iron.
  • Magnesium.
  • Green tea extract.
  • Supplements that don't work.
  • Talk to your doctor.

How many calories a day to lose 20 pounds in a month? ›

“A 20-pound weight loss [goal within one month] would require a person to eat around 2,300 fewer calories than they burn every single day. This [deficit] would be pretty difficult [to achieve] unless their daily metabolic rate is considerably higher than 2,300 calories,” she explains.

Which calorie tracker is most accurate? ›

Garmin's Vivomove Sport Watch is our top overall pick for its accuracy, comfort, ease of use, and so much more. Whether we're tracking our step count, calories burned, or time spent sleeping, we find the metrics to be spot on.

Which calorie formula is most accurate? ›

Of these equations, the Mifflin-St Jeor Equation is considered the most accurate equation for calculating BMR with the exception that the Katch-McArdle Formula can be more accurate for people who are leaner and know their body fat percentage.

What is the best website for accurate calories? ›

The 5 Best Calorie Counter Websites and Apps
  • MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular calorie counters right now. ...
  • Lose It! Lose It! is another health tracker that includes an easy-to-use food diary and exercise log. ...
  • FatSecret. FatSecret is a free calorie counter. ...
  • Cron-o-meter. ...
  • SparkPeople.

How accurate are calorie calculators? ›

Knowing that calorie calculators aren't 100% accurate, your intake doesn't have to be perfect to still work. If a calculator tells you to eat 2000 calories, you don't necessarily have to be perfect and eat 2000 calories on the dot every single day. If you try to do that, you'll just drive yourself crazy.

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