# Daily calorie intake calculator > For an accurate number we need some basics about you. MealSnap uses the Mifflin-St Jeor formula, the same one the app uses to build your plan: calories to maintain are your basal metabolic rate times an activity factor. The lose number subtracts 550 kcal, the pace of about half a kilo per week, and never goes below a safe floor. _These numbers are general guidance, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or dietitian before making big changes, especially with a medical condition, during pregnancy, or with a history of disordered eating._