Can Someone Explain BMR & other Cal questions

xtina315
xtina315 Posts: 218 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Background: I'm 25, 215ish pounds, and 5'5''. I walk 30-60 mins a day.

I keep getting conflicting amounts of calories to eat. MFP is telling me to eat 1200 cals a day to lose two pounds a day, other calculators are telling me 1500-1700, and then I was told about a BMR. Does anyone know which calorie estimate would be more accurate? I'm nervous to up my calories because it is a struggle for me to lose weight, but I currently feel tired and hungry all day long. I'm a noob at this.

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    BMR is your calorie intake if you were in bed all day, the calories that keep you alive. If you are hungry, I would up your calorie intake to 1700 per day. No sense in being miserable. If you are not losing after a week or so, turn it down to 1500.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    2 lbs/day???? Try 1 lb/week instead.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    MFP doesn't include your exercise which is why it is usually less than the other calculators that do include it. So 1200 with 300 calories of exercise and you match the other calculators.

    1200 is very low, in fact it is the lowest you can go, so I would eat a little more otherwise you have no way to decrease when you need to.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    edited March 2016
    BMR =basic metabolic rate. The calories you need to stay alive.

    NEAT=none exercise activity thermogenesis. The calories you need to stay alive and sustain daily activity.
    TDEE= total daily exercise expenditure. All of the above, plus exercise.

    MFP uses NEAT and expects you to enter and eat your exercise calories back. Because MFP tends to over estimate exercise burns it is recommended to eat back 50-57% and adjust as needed.

    Other on line calculators tend to include exercise, hence the difference.

    Also, for every 25 lbs you need to lose a 250 cal daily deficit, or , .5 lbs is recommended. This is so you are getting adequate nutrition and retaining optimal muscle mass.

    Cheers, h

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