NEIL SMITHERS

Books by Neil Smithers

Food and fitness,
made clearer.

Straightforward books to help you understand your choices, build your knowledge and bring more variety to the food you enjoy.

I’m Neil Smithers, an author, personal trainer, gym owner and former international bodybuilder. I write practical books about food, training and nutrition.

Fat Loss, from the Foundation Series by Neil SmithersBuilding Muscle, from the Foundation Series by Neil Smithers, coming soonNutrition, from the Foundation Series by Neil Smithers, coming soon
The Foundation Series. Building Muscle and Nutrition coming soon.

A free tool from Neil

Find your daily calorie starting point.

Want to lose weight, build muscle or maintain? Add your details below for an estimated daily calorie target. No sign-up. Your answers stay in your browser and are not saved.

Help me choose my activity level

Think about a typical week, including your job, walking, household tasks and exercise. These examples are guides, not exact categories.

Mostly sitting
For example, a desk job or mostly seated day, little walking and little or no planned exercise.
Light activity
For example, a mostly seated job with some daily walking and one to three light exercise sessions a week.
Moderate activity
For example, regular walking and three to five moderate workouts a week, or a job that keeps you on your feet and moving for much of the day.
High activity
For example, a physically demanding job with regular training, or hard training most days alongside plenty of daily movement.
Very high activity
For example, strenuous physical work combined with intense training, or a demanding athletic schedule with substantial activity throughout the day. This is uncommon.

A short workout does not make an otherwise seated day highly active. Session length and effort matter too. If you are between two levels, start with the lower one and review your weight trend, energy and recovery over two to four weeks.

Include your work, walking and training together. Exercise sessions alone do not tell the whole story.

Your starting point

Complete your details and your estimated daily target will appear here.

A starting estimate, not a precise measurement of your needs.

How the estimate works

Based on Chapter 4 of my Fat Loss book. This uses the Mifflin–St Jeor equation for resting energy needs, multiplied by a broad activity estimate. Weight loss uses 15% below estimated maintenance; muscle building uses 5% above it. These are conservative starting settings, not guaranteed results. Targets are rounded to the nearest 50 calories.

Review your average weight, energy and training over two to four weeks and adjust to your response. Building muscle also needs resistance training and sufficient protein. For pregnancy, breastfeeding, under-18s, eating disorders or medical dietary needs, seek individual advice instead.

Understand the next steps with my books ↓

Body by Neil · The Foundation Series

Understand the essentials.

My practical guides to fat loss, building muscle and nutrition. Each book stands on its own. Together, they give you a clearer understanding of food, training and your body.

All You Need to Know About Fat Loss by Neil Smithers, the Foundation Series

All You Need to Know About

Fat Loss

Understand energy balance, everyday habits and the decisions that influence your progress.

Buy on Amazon
All You Need to Know About Building Muscle by Neil Smithers, the Foundation Series, coming soon

All You Need to Know About

Building Muscle

The principles of effective training, progression, recovery and nutrition for muscle growth.

Coming soon
Grey cover preview of All You Need to Know About Nutrition by Neil Smithers, the Foundation Series, coming soon

All You Need to Know About

Nutrition

How your body uses food, why nutrients matter and how to make informed everyday choices.

Coming soonCover preview

MEASURED

What gets measured gets improved.

Bring structure to your training and keep track of your progress. Start with the workout journal, with a fuller guide to planning and organising your training in development.

MEASURED: The 100 Workout Training Journal cover

The 100 Workout Training Journal

Record your exercises, sets, weights and reps across 100 workouts. Make notes on how each session felt and review the patterns in your training and progress.

Buy on Amazon
Cover preview of MEASURED: The Complete Training System, coming soon

The Complete Training System

A practical guide in development, bringing together how to train, what to train and how to structure your sessions for strength, muscle and fitness.

Coming soon Cover preview

The cookbook collection

More ideas for the food you make.

Six focused collections with clear ingredients, straightforward methods and approximate nutrition per serving. The new editions are being prepared for Amazon.

52 High-Protein Recipes cover

52 High-Protein Recipes

Breakfasts, salads, cooked meals and protein drinks, with approximate nutrition per serving.

Coming soon
41 Low-Carb Recipes cover

41 Low-Carb Recipes

Recipe ideas for adding variety when you prefer meals with fewer carbohydrates.

Coming soon
46 Gluten-Free Recipes cover

46 Gluten-Free Recipes

A collection built around gluten-free cooking, with ingredient choices at its heart.

Coming soon
42 Vegan Recipes cover

42 Vegan Recipes

Plant-based breakfasts, main dishes, snacks and sweet options.

Coming soon
60 Vegetarian Recipes cover

60 Vegetarian Recipes

Food ideas for enjoying more variety in a vegetarian kitchen.

Coming soon
42 Five-Ingredient Recipes cover

42 Five-Ingredient Recipes

Shorter ingredient lists for days when you want to keep the cooking simple.

Coming soon

The revised cookbook editions will be linked here as they are released on Amazon.

A little planning goes a long way.

Use the weekly meal planner and shopping-list sheet to organise your own meals. Open it, fill it in on your device or print a fresh copy.

Open the free planner

About the author

Neil Smithers

Neil Smithers signature

I’m a personal trainer, gym owner and former international bodybuilder. My background includes a career in the fire service.

I previously served as vice-president of WABBA UK, the UK organisation of the World Amateur Bodybuilding Association. I’ve also competed in and judged international bodybuilding competitions. I hold various qualifications spanning nutrition, personal training, first aid instruction, teaching and health and safety.

My books bring together my experience in training and nutrition, with an approach grounded in helping people understand their choices and make progress.

The Body by Neil guides explain the principles. My cookbooks offer food ideas you can use in your own kitchen.