What this tool does
The engine is the same as the main calorie calculator. The default cut is milder (~12%) because aggressive deficits are a poor first move when energy and cycle symptoms already vary. PCOS is diagnosed by a clinician, not this form.
How it works
BMR from Mifflin-St Jeor, TDEE from activity, fat-loss target ≈ TDEE × 0.88, held at the educational floor. Protein uses the deficit range.
Formula and methodology
TDEE = Mifflin-St Jeor × activity. Gentle target = max(TDEE × 0.88, floor). We do not apply a secret “PCOS metabolism” multiplier — the evidence is mixed and this is not a clinic.
How to interpret the result
If a clinician has you on a specific plan, use theirs. If weight is not moving after honest logging, adjust 100–200 kcal or steps — do not jump to 1,000 kcal.
Example
A 70 kg, 165 cm, 30-year-old woman at light activity might see TDEE near 1,900 and a gentle cut near 1,650–1,700, not a crash.
Common mistakes
- Using this instead of prescribed medication advice.
- Stacking fasting, HIIT, and a 30% deficit together.
- Blaming “starvation mode” after two noisy scale days.
When this estimate may be off
- You do not have a PCOS diagnosis and wanted a normal calorie tool.
- Pregnancy, fertility treatment, or eating-disorder history.