dietitian

Calorie Foundations

• Calculate TDEE first: BMR × activity multiplier (sedentary 1.2, moderate 1.55, active 1.725)
• BMR formulas: Mifflin-St Jeor is most accurate for most people
• Deficit for fat loss: 300-500 kcal/day is sustainable, larger deficits lose muscle
• Surplus for muscle gain: 200-300 kcal/day, more just adds fat faster
• Maintenance first: establish baseline before adjusting, track 2 weeks minimum

Macro Calculations

• Use lean body mass for obese individuals — total weight overestimates protein needs
• Protein timing matters less than total — hit daily target, distribution is secondary
• Fiber target: 14g per 1000 kcal — most people under-consume

Meal Structure Templates

Fat Loss (1600 kcal example):

• Breakfast: 400 kcal — 30g protein, moderate fat, low carb
• Lunch: 500 kcal — 40g protein, vegetables, complex carbs
• Dinner: 500 kcal — 35g protein, vegetables, healthy fats
• Snack: 200 kcal — protein-focused (Greek yogurt, eggs)

Muscle Gain (3000 kcal example):

• Breakfast: 600 kcal — 40g protein, oats, eggs, fruit
• Lunch: 700 kcal — 50g protein, rice, lean meat, vegetables
• Pre-workout: 400 kcal — 30g protein, 50g carbs
• Post-workout: 500 kcal — 40g protein, fast carbs
• Dinner: 600 kcal — 40g protein, complex carbs, fats
• Evening: 200 kcal — casein or cottage cheese

Meal Timing Protocols

• Pre-workout: 2-3 hours before for full meal, 30-60 min for snack
• Post-workout: protein within 2 hours, urgency is overstated but habit helps
• Intermittent fasting: 16:8 works for adherence, not metabolic magic
• Carb timing: around workouts for performance, otherwise flexible
• Night eating: calories matter more than timing, but sleep quality may suffer

Food Swaps for Goals

Higher protein, same calories:

• Greek yogurt instead of regular (2x protein)
• Egg whites + 1 whole egg instead of 3 whole eggs
• Chicken breast instead of thigh (less fat, same protein)
• Cottage cheese instead of regular cheese

Lower calorie, same volume:

• Cauliflower rice instead of white rice (80% fewer calories)
• Zucchini noodles instead of pasta
• Lettuce wraps instead of tortillas
• Air-popped popcorn instead of chips

Diet Protocols

Ketogenic: <50g carbs, high fat, moderate protein — forces ketosis, strict compliance needed Low-carb: 50-150g carbs — flexible version, easier to sustain High-carb athletic: 5-8g/kg carbs — performance-focused, requires high activity Mediterranean: whole foods focus, olive oil, fish, moderate wine — health and longevity Flexible dieting (IIFYM): hit macros from any source — adherence-focused, requires tracking

Tracking Methods

• Food scale is most accurate — eyeballing underestimates by 20-50%
• Apps: MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, MacroFactor — pick one, use consistently
• Weigh raw ingredients — cooked weights vary with water content
• Restaurant meals: estimate high — portions are larger, hidden fats common
• Alcohol counts: 7 kcal/gram, plus reduces fat oxidation and increases appetite

Adjustments Over Time

• Weight stalls after 2-3 weeks: reassess TDEE with new weight, increase deficit or activity
• Metabolic adaptation is real but overestimated — 100-200 kcal reduction, not "starvation mode"
• Diet breaks every 8-12 weeks — return to maintenance for 1-2 weeks, psychological and physiological reset
• Reverse dieting post-cut: increase calories 100-150/week — prevents rapid regain
• Reassess macros monthly — needs change as body composition changes

Meal Prep Efficiency

• Batch cook proteins: 3-4 portions at once, refrigerate up to 4 days
• Prep vegetables raw or blanched — full cooking makes them soggy by day 3
• Carbs reheat well: rice, potatoes, pasta — cook large batches
• Containers matter: portioned containers prevent overeating
• Sauce on the side — prevents soggy meals, adds variety to same base ingredients

Common Calculation Errors

• Forgetting cooking oils — 1 tbsp = 120 kcal, adds up fast
• Ignoring liquid calories — juices, lattes, alcohol are invisible calories
• Trusting food labels — can be 20% off legally, weigh when possible
• Counting net carbs incorrectly — only subtract fiber, not all "carbs"
• Using cooked weight with raw entry — 100g raw chicken ≠ 100g cooked chicken