correct calories I'm at 315 pounds how many calories can I safely eat?

[Chasbo97]

My wife always sabotages my diets so I'm going to count calories and use the weight watchers container for portion control. How many calories would support a 250 lb man?

[JenniLacey · Accepted solution]

Shouldn't your fitbit tell you? A lot better than us since it knows how active you are and how many calories you burn through exercise. Your age makes a difference too.

[SailBeauty · Accepted solution]

You should talk to your doctor and have him suggest your calories intake. I did so I go by a 1200 cal diet. Age and weight and activities are all a factor. Good luck!

[gerrymcd]

There are several parts to the calculation of how many calories you can eat.

1.  The number of calories you use just staying alive..... for a 40 year old 325lb, 6ft male this would be ~2,700 calories.

2. The number of calories burned during activities.  If you walk 4 miles you would burn off 400 calories.

Which mean if you walk 4 miles every day you can eat 3,100 calories and your weight will remain constant (staying alive calories plus exercise calories). 

To loose a pound per week you would need to eat 500 calories less than 3,100 so your final tally would be 2,600 calories a day.  

I

[sosnowy]

Be aware that calculators for basal metabolic rate generally overestimate calories needs for those of us who are overweight. The calculators assume a muscle to fat ratio, and since muscle burns more than fat, they tend to be incorrect.

I have been told that a more correct way to estimate the BMR (the calories you'd burn lying in bed all day) is to use a calculator for your ideal weight + 1/4 of your additional weight. 

I know fitbit way overcalculates my calorie needs...