Daily Calorie Calculator (BMR + TDEE)
Estimate your daily energy — but read why this number probably is not the answer.
This estimates your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). We include it because it is one of the most searched health topics — but in metabolic disease, calories are not the whole story.
The Salinas Method does NOT operate on the calorie paradigm — it is hormonal (insulin, glucagon, leptin, GLP-1). Calorie counting is a theory from the early 1900s that assumes all calories are processed identically; modern evidence (Ludwig & Friedman 2014; Hall 2017; Taylor 2018) questions this. This tool is informational reference, not a clinical recommendation.
Enter your values above to see your result.
Formula
BMR (Mifflin-St Jeor): 10×kg + 6.25×cm − 5×age + 5(men)/−161(women). TDEE = BMR × activity (1.2–1.9) ± goal.
How it is calculated
Mifflin-St Jeor estimates resting energy (BMR), then multiplies by an activity factor to get total expenditure (TDEE).
The catch: this model assumes "calories in vs out" decides everything. In insulin resistance, that breaks down — two people with the same TDEE can have radically different body composition, because hormones decide whether you store or burn fat.
Frequently asked questions
Should I just eat fewer calories?
For many people with insulin resistance, cutting calories alone fails and backfires. Addressing the hormonal cause is more effective.
Scientific references
- Mifflin MD et al. Am J Clin Nutr 1990;51:241-7
- Ludwig DS, Friedman MI. JAMA 2014;311:2167-8
- Hall KD, Guo J. Gastroenterology 2017;152:1718-27
Educational tool — does not replace medical advice. Discuss your results with your doctor.