Hello! I wanted to try calorie counting this time around and I was looking up my calories using Harris Benedict equation. I work as a nurse aide. I'm on my feet all day, walking, standing, pushing, lifting. I can get around 11000 steps just from work without exercise. Most days I get around 15000 steps. I figure this would make me very active, especially when I add in exercise. So, according to the equation, I should be eating 3000 calories. That seems like SO much food. Am I doing this right? Or should I just use my basic BMR number?

All these calculations are nothing but estimates. Just pick a number to start-it doesn't really matter that much in the long run. Measure your weight and inches weekly. If it goes down the right amount, keep it the same for couple of weeks. If it doesn't go down or goes up, reduce the calories by 200-500. If it goes down too much and you're tired, increase calories by 200. I would just start at around 2500 and go from there.

Can you try to calculate how many calories you are eating and cut back from there? It might take a few days of counting but it would be worth it I think.

Because you are so active at work, my opinion is you could eat at least 1800 calories a day. I would start with that and not track your exercise or ignore that deficit and see what happens. If after a month you're not losing, go higher or lower and see what happens. Every one is different. Most days I eat back my exercise because i need the fuel but if for some reason I'm not hungry or whatever, I don't worry about it,.