HeyOakley tools

Calorie Calculator

Estimate a realistic daily calorie starting point based on your body, activity, and goal.

A calorie target can be useful, but it should work in real life. This calculator gives you a practical estimate you can use as a starting point, then adjust over time.

Your details

Sex
years
lb
Goal
Pace preference

Your estimated calorie needs

Estimated BMR
1,778kcal
Estimated maintenance calories
2,756kcal
Your daily calorie target
2,756kcal
Practical range
2,7062,806kcal
Target ± 50 kcal

This is a useful estimate, not a rule you need to follow perfectly. A good target is one you can realistically return to over time.

What your calorie result means

BMR is an estimate of your baseline at rest. Maintenance calories add activity on top. Your target then adjusts up or down based on whether you want to maintain, lose, or gain—and how quickly you want to move.

Real life changes day to day. You might eat a little more on weekends and a little less on busy weekdays and still land in a sensible range over time.

If you feel low on energy, overly hungry, or stuck in “all-or-nothing” cycles, small tweaks often beat a bigger deficit every time.

Goal comparison

Examples use moderate pace for lose and gain; your target above reflects your selected goal and pace.

Maintain weight

Eat close to maintenance when you want your weight to stay steady while you train, recover, or focus on habits.

Example: 2,756 kcal/day

Lose weight

A deficit below maintenance can support weight loss. Gentler deficits are often easier to sustain than aggressive ones.

Example: 2,205 kcal/day

Gain weight

A modest surplus above maintenance can support muscle gain or weight restoration for people who need it.

Example: 3,032 kcal/day

FAQs

It depends on your size, activity, and goal. This calculator gives you a practical starting point for maintenance, loss, or gain. Most people adjust gradually after a few weeks based on how they feel and how their weight trends over time.
It is an estimate based on a common formula. Your real needs can vary with muscle mass, sleep, stress, and training. Use the number as a guide, then adjust with patience—not a single perfect week.
Not necessarily. Many people vary intake slightly by day while keeping weekly averages in a sensible range. Consistency over time matters more than matching one number every single day.
Listen to your body. If energy, mood, or training quality suffer, you may need a gentler pace, more protein and fiber, or a longer timeline. Big jumps down are rarely the only option.
If things are working, a check-in every few weeks is plenty. If your routine has changed a lot—or progress has stalled for a long stretch—a small tweak beats a full overhaul every few days.

Ready to make this practical?

HeyOakley helps you turn targets into everyday habits—without living in a spreadsheet.

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