A Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Your Ideal Calorie Intake to Meet your Goals in 2024

Josh Cortis

Josh Cortis

13 min, 34 sec

The video provides a detailed guide to understanding energy balance and how it affects body composition changes, offering a practical approach to achieving weight goals.

Summary

  • Energy balance is the key to successful body composition changes, and maintaining it is essential for weight management.
  • Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) consists of Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), exercise activity, non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and thermic effect of food.
  • To find personal TDEE, one can use a calorie calculator and then validate it through a 14-day trial, adjusting intake based on changes in weight.
  • Adherence, diet composition, and metabolic adaptation are important factors to consider when aiming for weight loss or gain.
  • The video includes a promotion for a 50% off annual membership sale on mealprepmanual.com.

Chapter 1

Introduction to Energy Balance

0:00 - 40 sec

Introduction to the fundamental concept of energy balance and its importance in achieving body composition goals.

Introduction to the fundamental concept of energy balance and its importance in achieving body composition goals.

  • Energy balance is the key to making body composition changes with a 100% success rate.
  • Energy balance involves the equilibrium of energy intake (calories consumed) and energy expended by the body.
  • Maintaining weight, losing weight, or gaining weight all depend on whether you're in energy balance, negative energy balance, or positive energy balance respectively.

Chapter 2

Components of Total Daily Energy Expenditure

0:40 - 1 min, 9 sec

Explanation of the components that make up Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) and their individual contributions.

Explanation of the components that make up Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) and their individual contributions.

  • TDEE consists of Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), exercise activity, non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and the thermic effect of food.
  • BMR is the energy required for basic life-sustaining functions while at rest.
  • NEAT encompasses all non-exercise activities like walking to the car or fidgeting, and the thermic effect accounts for energy used in digesting food.

Chapter 3

Calculating Total Daily Energy Expenditure

1:49 - 59 sec

A guide to calculating Total Daily Energy Expenditure, including lab measurements, established equations, and trial and error.

A guide to calculating Total Daily Energy Expenditure, including lab measurements, established equations, and trial and error.

  • Most accurate TDEE measurement would be in a metabolic ward, but it's impractical for most.
  • Harris-Benedict equation is among the widely used formulas to estimate BMR and TDEE.
  • A combination of using TDEE equations and trial and error is recommended for finding accurate personal energy needs.

Chapter 4

Validating TDEE through Experimentation

2:48 - 5 min, 13 sec

Details on how to validate the estimated TDEE through a personal 14-day calorie intake experiment.

Details on how to validate the estimated TDEE through a personal 14-day calorie intake experiment.

  • Perform a 14-day experiment eating at the TDEE estimate and monitor weight changes.
  • Measure and weigh all food for accuracy and track using a calorie-counting app.
  • Adjust the estimated TDEE based on the weight change observed after the experiment.

Chapter 5

Implementing Energy Balance in Practice

8:01 - 2 min, 24 sec

Discussion on the practical challenges and considerations when applying energy balance to real-life scenarios.

Discussion on the practical challenges and considerations when applying energy balance to real-life scenarios.

  • Underreporting food intake is a common issue that can disrupt energy balance.
  • Calorie counting can have its pitfalls due to factors like nutritional label errors or individual absorption rates.
  • Understanding energy balance helps to navigate these challenges and adjust diet as needed.

Chapter 6

Dynamic Nature of Energy Needs and Diet Composition

10:26 - 52 sec

Exploration of the dynamic nature of energy needs and the role of diet composition in body composition changes.

Exploration of the dynamic nature of energy needs and the role of diet composition in body composition changes.

  • Energy needs change over time due to metabolic adaptation and changes in body weight and activity levels.
  • The composition of the diet, especially protein intake, can impact body composition and satiety.
  • Adjusting calorie intake to match new baselines is essential to continue progress.

Chapter 7

Promotion for Meal Prep Manual Membership

11:18 - 2 min, 10 sec

Promotional segment offering a 50% discount on an annual membership to Meal Prep Manual's website.

Promotional segment offering a 50% discount on an annual membership to Meal Prep Manual's website.

  • Annual membership sale on mealprepmanual.com offers 50% off, priced at $25 for the entire year.
  • Membership provides access to a wide range of recipes and new training information.
  • Sale runs from December 31st through January 2nd and supports the creator.