1. What is Calorie Deficit?

A calorie deficit occurs when you consume fewer calories than your body expends. This is the fundamental principle behind weight loss, as the body turns to stored fat for energy when intake is less than expenditure.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( TDEE \) — Total Daily Energy Expenditure (calories your body burns in a day)
• \( Intake \) — Calories consumed through food and drink

Explanation: The difference between what your body needs (TDEE) and what you consume (Intake) determines whether you're in a deficit (weight loss), maintenance, or surplus (weight gain).

3. Importance of Calorie Deficit

Details: Understanding and maintaining an appropriate calorie deficit is crucial for healthy, sustainable weight loss. A moderate deficit typically leads to steady weight loss while preserving muscle mass.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your TDEE (calculated separately or estimated based on activity level) and your daily calorie intake. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a healthy calorie deficit?
A: Generally 300-500 kcal/day deficit for modest weight loss (0.5-1 lb/week), or 500-1000 kcal/day for more aggressive loss (1-2 lb/week).

Q2: How do I calculate my TDEE?
A: TDEE can be estimated using formulas like Harris-Benedict or Mifflin-St Jeor, multiplied by an activity factor.

Q3: Can the deficit be too large?
A: Yes, deficits >1000 kcal/day can lead to muscle loss, metabolic slowdown, and nutrient deficiencies.

Q4: Should I adjust my deficit as I lose weight?
A: Yes, as you lose weight your TDEE decreases, so your deficit may need recalculation periodically.

Q5: Is calorie deficit the only factor in weight loss?
A: While fundamental, other factors like macronutrient balance, exercise type, sleep, and stress management also play important roles.