Calorie Calculators - I just don't get them...

I'm moderately active, I do a good mix of both cardio and strength training:

30 mins of "power walking" 5 days a week on my lunch break
MMA and Japanese Jutjutsu training 3 days a week
45 minutes of full-body strength training and conditioning before 2 of my marital arts training days
1.5 hours of full-body strength training and conditioning 1 day per week.

I have an office job, but I'm by no means sedentary during the day.

I'm 6'1", 235 lbs. and the calorie counter I downloaded from this forum says I need to eat 3592 calories just to maintain my size and strength.  I don't get it.  I seriously don't think I need to eat that many calories just to maintain.

Right now I eat around 2100 - 2200 calories a day, and I'm not losing any mass or strength.

I just don't get why I need to eat that many calories. 

"But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies."

Like I was told long ago those are just a guide.

I'm the same way. I was told that I needed 3,800. If I ate that much I would be a sumo in 6 months! The best way is to pick a number right around where you are now and weigh yourself after a week of eating that. IDK what your goals are but if you've lost weight(if you are trying to gain) add 500-1000 cals and see where you are next week. Just adjust it untill you are doing what you need to be.

Gin Rummy: Simply because you don't have evidence that something does exist does not mean you have evidence of something that doesn't exist.(from the boondocks)

agree that 3600 is to many but i would say you would probably lose weight with 2100-2200 calories a day for someone of your size i'd say 2500 atleast..depends on how your metabolism is and stuff though..

Goals by end of 2009:
Bench 205
Squat 255 ATG
Squat Clean 185

"There is no elevator to success, you must take the stairs."

This one is more accurate i think

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html

"No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical
training...what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the
beauty and strength of which his body is capable."

Wow you eat less than I eat and I lose mass and strength in like a week unless I am eating 3000-3300 calories a day. I'm only 5'10 155.........ecto

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

im eating 2700-2900 roughly a day and im able to hold around 280 on my fram (yeah my bf is 18.8% but cut me a mornin)

I don't know what my body type is.

I used to be fat my entire childhood, but then when I hit puberty and started getting more involved in martial arts, sports, and exercise in general in my early teens to late teens most of that fat dropped off to show a pretty good amount of natural muscle.

I had a kid, and then became somewhat sedentary throughout college.  But, I've never had any problems maintaining a certain weight. 

"But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies."

whaaa I don't get it Raaaymond are you ecto? I don't get why all of you say 3600 is too many cals when this is what I ate daily for a week and I actually lost 3 pounds... made me wanna kill myself ah.

stallone 2,700-2,900 to maintain?? wooooooooooow If only I would bulk with this amount +500  i'd be soo happy

My 5x5s as of November 2nd 2008.
Squat 155lbs
Bench 155lbs
Deadlift 155lbs

Connelly's 5x5s as November 2nd 2008
Bench 115
Squat 145
Deadlift 165

Andy11's 5x5 as November 2nd 2008
Bench 150
Squat 150
Deadlift 175