Giving up on eating above my BMR
Replies
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It's in the nature of an average that some are above it and some below it, in fact it may apply to nobody - the average number of testicles or breasts per person in the population is probably just under 1.0I'm wondering if some peoples metabolisms really are slower than average
Metabolic rate estimates catch about 2/3 of the population within +/- 10% of their prediction so there are loads of people for whom the prediction is not spot on.
It makes me LOL when people quote BMR to 4 significant figures when rounding to the nearest 100 doesn't lose any accuracy.0 -
Yup. Law of averages.
If I ate my so-called "BMR" every day I would weigh 10,000 lbs. My advice: ignore 99 percent of everything you hear or read and just do what works.
Sal0 -
I tried the 1200 calorie diet for a bit, and lost several pounds quickly, but when I tried to add exercise I stopped losing. Upped the calories to where with my exercise (not eating back the calories) I'd be around 1200 I started to lose again and tone up. If you just eat 1200 you may lose, but it could be muscle and that's just not worth it in the end.0
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I do know that all calories are not created equal. If the additional calories included sugar and processed foods, thats not good. If the additional calories were from natural fruits and veggies, that is whats desired. If you are getting in additional healthy calories, the metabolism will burn and you will lose weight I am told. The program I am in said I need to be consuming some form of healthy food every two to three hours to keep the metabolism turned up. The problem is, I don't like veggies! So its hard for me to get in that many healthy calories.
I know you mean well, but this just isn't backed up by science. A calorie is a measurement of a unit of energy. A calorie is a calorie. Also, Meal timing being a factor is a myth. You cannot eat a specific thing, a specific time or in a specific way to speed up your metabolism.
OP, you really shouldn't eat below BMR, problem is, most don't know what their BMR is. This sometimes takes some time to figure out. Here is what happens. I know 1200 seems to be the magic number, ever wonder how that became the number? Because that is the lowest number MFP will suggest to anyone. It's no more accurate for you than 2200. Somewhere the is this metabolic number that is specific for you, your very own TDEE. That is the number of calories YOUR BODY burns in a day. What you want to do is find that number, then reduce slightly to lose weight in a healthy way. When you eat too little here is what happens. First, it's very difficult to get appropriate amounts of macro and micro nutrients if you are under eating. Sure, you will lose weight at 1200, question is, is that sustainable? Statistics say it isn't. Most people who lose with this method gain it back once they resume "normal" eating because they still don't understand how it works. I have yet to have anyone tell me, " I lost eating 1200 and I have maintained for over 3 years eating 1200". Not one. Please don't get discouraged, please educate yourself. Don't trust me or anyone else here, find out on you own. Good luck.0 -
Yep, I was told to do the same thing and gained a few pounds. I just went down to about 1300 calories and I've been losing weight for several weeks in a row.
Just do whatever works for you! Sometimes you might need to take breaks to restart your metabolism.0 -
Silly wabbits!!! I don't care if I lost muscle, fat, or little green men from Mars................I'm at goal using a way of eating and exercise I can live with............1200..........occ. 1000.........sometimes 1400..........but mostly 1200
28lbs........a little over 6 mo.............and it WORKED................period.0 -
Most likely what is going on is that people are underestimating their intake...they think they're eating 1200 but they're probably eating more like 1400 or 1500....and then they up to 1600 calories or whatever...but really they're consuming more like 1800-2000 calories due to estimation error. Particularly true for people who don't weigh and measure and just eyeball everything...also very true for people who eat out a lot and/or eat a lot of pre-made or packaged foods...both of which are allowed to be about 20% off without penalty.0
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Another problem is people throwing around numbers and acronyms without really knowing what they are talking about. I have read many posts with people stating what their BMR is when they are really talking about their TDEE. Those numbers are not interchangeable but many people are totally mixed up on what is what.0
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I do know that all calories are not created equal. If the additional calories included sugar and processed foods, thats not good. If the additional calories were from natural fruits and veggies, that is whats desired. If you are getting in additional healthy calories, the metabolism will burn and you will lose weight I am told. The program I am in said I need to be consuming some form of healthy food every two to three hours to keep the metabolism turned up. The problem is, I don't like veggies! So its hard for me to get in that many healthy calories.
I know you mean well, but this just isn't backed up by science. A calorie is a measurement of a unit of energy. A calorie is a calorie. Also, Meal timing being a factor is a myth. You cannot eat a specific thing, a specific time or in a specific way to speed up your metabolism.
OP, you really shouldn't eat below BMR, problem is, most don't know what their BMR is. This sometimes takes some time to figure out. Here is what happens. I know 1200 seems to be the magic number, ever wonder how that became the number? Because that is the lowest number MFP will suggest to anyone. It's no more accurate for you than 2200. Somewhere the is this metabolic number that is specific for you, your very own TDEE. That is the number of calories YOUR BODY burns in a day. What you want to do is find that number, then reduce slightly to lose weight in a healthy way. When you eat too little here is what happens. First, it's very difficult to get appropriate amounts of macro and micro nutrients if you are under eating. Sure, you will lose weight at 1200, question is, is that sustainable? Statistics say it isn't. Most people who lose with this method gain it back once they resume "normal" eating because they still don't understand how it works. I have yet to have anyone tell me, " I lost eating 1200 and I have maintained for over 3 years eating 1200". Not one. Please don't get discouraged, please educate yourself. Don't trust me or anyone else here, find out on you own. Good luck.
I looked it up for my stats a while ago, it said that my body needs 1,400 calories minimum to survive on, and that my maintaince weight is 2,200 calories. I did listen to advice on here and ate at around 1,500-1,600 calories for well over a month, but all my body did was maintain my weight.
Yes my weight loss stalled at 1,200 calories before, but eating at that amount is still the only time I managed to lose any weight at all, so I just don't know what else to do! I really did try with eating more calories, but after a month of no results I couldn't help but get discouraged when I at least wanted to lose a couple of pounds by then. As little as half a pound a week would have been fine as I'm all for steady weight loss that I have a better chance of maintaining, but I wasn't losing anything at all on that calorie amount. Both times I dropped a pound and thought something was moving finally, I put it back on again0 -
Well, speaking for myself only, I did not underestimate on cals. Except for when I ate out (rarely) I used my scale every single meal.....every single day.............0
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I do know that all calories are not created equal. If the additional calories included sugar and processed foods, thats not good. If the additional calories were from natural fruits and veggies, that is whats desired. If you are getting in additional healthy calories, the metabolism will burn and you will lose weight I am told. The program I am in said I need to be consuming some form of healthy food every two to three hours to keep the metabolism turned up. The problem is, I don't like veggies! So its hard for me to get in that many healthy calories.
I know you mean well, but this just isn't backed up by science. A calorie is a measurement of a unit of energy. A calorie is a calorie. Also, Meal timing being a factor is a myth. You cannot eat a specific thing, a specific time or in a specific way to speed up your metabolism.
OP, you really shouldn't eat below BMR, problem is, most don't know what their BMR is. This sometimes takes some time to figure out. Here is what happens. I know 1200 seems to be the magic number, ever wonder how that became the number? Because that is the lowest number MFP will suggest to anyone. It's no more accurate for you than 2200. Somewhere the is this metabolic number that is specific for you, your very own TDEE. That is the number of calories YOUR BODY burns in a day. What you want to do is find that number, then reduce slightly to lose weight in a healthy way. When you eat too little here is what happens. First, it's very difficult to get appropriate amounts of macro and micro nutrients if you are under eating. Sure, you will lose weight at 1200, question is, is that sustainable? Statistics say it isn't. Most people who lose with this method gain it back once they resume "normal" eating because they still don't understand how it works. I have yet to have anyone tell me, " I lost eating 1200 and I have maintained for over 3 years eating 1200". Not one. Please don't get discouraged, please educate yourself. Don't trust me or anyone else here, find out on you own. Good luck.
This site has a little too much pseudo science for me
I'm glad this post came along 0 -
The BMR thing doesn't work for me either. I stay under 1000 most days... But I eat until I am full and when I am hungry I eat. I have been doing this since jan and I feel GREAT! I used to walk 4-5 miles a day, however, since the heat is so bad as of late I must admit I have stopped that.
If I ate my BMR I would gain, I tried that and sure enough... I gained...and I felt so stinking gross and bloated!
I don't advocate everyone doing what I am.... We are all different and I totally think our bodies let us know where it's happy number is...
Best of luck to you!!!!
Jackie0 -
I don't believe in eating 1200 calories for many reasons (most of which are stated above). My thought is, what's the rush? Why do you need to lose 3 pounds a week instead of 1/2 or 1/4 pound? I eat tdee -15% which comes out to about 1900 calories a day. I lose very slowly, usually a pound a month. But I am never hungry, have tons of energy, and can eat basically whatever I want. I'm pretty close to my goal, so in a few more months I'll be done. I don't feel like weight loss is some sort of mad dash to a finish line.
Have any of you 1200 cal/day people given any thought to what maintenance will look like for you? If you're gaining weight at 1500 cal/day, what are you going to do when you get to your goal weight? Keep eating 1200 cal/day? Sounds pretty miserable to me.0 -
I do know that all calories are not created equal. If the additional calories included sugar and processed foods, thats not good. If the additional calories were from natural fruits and veggies, that is whats desired. If you are getting in additional healthy calories, the metabolism will burn and you will lose weight I am told. The program I am in said I need to be consuming some form of healthy food every two to three hours to keep the metabolism turned up. The problem is, I don't like veggies! So its hard for me to get in that many healthy calories.
all calories are not equal, really? Please expand on this..
A calorie is a unit of energy ...so one calorie of sugar = one calorie of chicken.
So you are saying that if I eat "healthy calories" and eat 1000 calories a day over maintenance that I will lose weight?
Additionally, meal timing has absolutely nothing to do with metabolism. You can eat six meals a day, one meal a day, or 24 meals every hour and the impact on metabolism is zero...0 -
OP - this is why you should not use the threads for advice.
I would recommend getting advice from people on your friends list that have actually had success.
Whenever I need advice , I try to go to people that are on my list and I know have had success and have the kind of body that I would like to have...
Additionally, if 1200 was working for you then you should of kept eating at 1200.
If you are concerned that 1200 is too low and 1500 is too high...then split the difference and eat 1350 and see how that works......
I always say do what works for you and not what someone else thinks will work for you...0 -
Have any of you 1200 cal/day people given any thought to what maintenance will look like for you? If you're gaining weight at 1500 cal/day, what are you going to do when you get to your goal weight? Keep eating 1200 cal/day? Sounds pretty miserable to me.
Yes I have and it pretty much looks like how I eat now... Only adding a few more calories to stop the loss. I love the way I eat now and I always feel full and satisfied. If I want cake or pizza or watermelon... I eat it. I just don't eat a whole cake anymore or an entire pizza... So yeah I have no problem knowing for the rest of my life I will eat this way... I eat what and when I want. Having done this for almost 8 months I don't even think about eating any other way.... This IS my new life, and I am good with that.
Jackie0 -
what if1200 a day = 1 pound weight loss..I don't believe in eating 1200 calories for many reasons (most of which are stated above). My thought is, what's the rush? Why do you need to lose 3 pounds a week instead of 1/2 or 1/4 pound? I eat tdee -15% which comes out to about 1900 calories a day. I lose very slowly, usually a pound a month. But I am never hungry, have tons of energy, and can eat basically whatever I want. I'm pretty close to my goal, so in a few more months I'll be done. I don't feel like weight loss is some sort of mad dash to a finish line.
Have any of you 1200 cal/day people given any thought to what maintenance will look like for you? If you're gaining weight at 1500 cal/day, what are you going to do when you get to your goal weight? Keep eating 1200 cal/day? Sounds pretty miserable to me.
you are assuming that everyone is the same and has the same TDEE....0 -
what if1200 a day = 1 pound weight loss..I don't believe in eating 1200 calories for many reasons (most of which are stated above). My thought is, what's the rush? Why do you need to lose 3 pounds a week instead of 1/2 or 1/4 pound? I eat tdee -15% which comes out to about 1900 calories a day. I lose very slowly, usually a pound a month. But I am never hungry, have tons of energy, and can eat basically whatever I want. I'm pretty close to my goal, so in a few more months I'll be done. I don't feel like weight loss is some sort of mad dash to a finish line.
Have any of you 1200 cal/day people given any thought to what maintenance will look like for you? If you're gaining weight at 1500 cal/day, what are you going to do when you get to your goal weight? Keep eating 1200 cal/day? Sounds pretty miserable to me.
you are assuming that everyone is the same and has the same TDEE....
No, I don't make assumptions. Someone made a comment earlier about how they lost 7 pounds in a few weeks eating 1200 calories, and only about a pound in a month eating above bmr. I just don't understand why people feel they need to lose so much weight so fast. Most people didn't gain a few pounds a week, why do they have the desire to lose that much so quickly?0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.0
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Why do you need to lose 3 pounds a week instead of 1/2 or 1/4 pound? I eat tdee -15% which comes out to about 1900 calories a day.
I wasn't losing ANYTHING when I upped my calories, I would have been satisfied with any gradual weight loss, however small0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
How so? Which part?0 -
what if1200 a day = 1 pound weight loss..I don't believe in eating 1200 calories for many reasons (most of which are stated above). My thought is, what's the rush? Why do you need to lose 3 pounds a week instead of 1/2 or 1/4 pound? I eat tdee -15% which comes out to about 1900 calories a day. I lose very slowly, usually a pound a month. But I am never hungry, have tons of energy, and can eat basically whatever I want. I'm pretty close to my goal, so in a few more months I'll be done. I don't feel like weight loss is some sort of mad dash to a finish line.
Have any of you 1200 cal/day people given any thought to what maintenance will look like for you? If you're gaining weight at 1500 cal/day, what are you going to do when you get to your goal weight? Keep eating 1200 cal/day? Sounds pretty miserable to me.
you are assuming that everyone is the same and has the same TDEE....
No, I don't make assumptions. Someone made a comment earlier about how they lost 7 pounds in a few weeks eating 1200 calories, and only about a pound in a month eating above bmr. I just don't understand why people feel they need to lose so much weight so fast. Most people didn't gain a few pounds a week, why do they have the desire to lose that much so quickly?
because everyone is searching for the magic formula to lose fat quick....just look at all the threads on cleanses, ketones, fat blasters, etc etc....
find a deficit that works out for you + working out more = fat loss....but that is just boring, I guess...0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
I was thinking the same thing...0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
How so? Which part?
well, there was the one poster that said a calorie does not equal a calorie, really?
and then went on to say that you should eat 6 meals a day to benefit metabolism...
oh, and that you have to eat clean to lose weight...
those were the top three that I noticed BS on ...0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
How so? Which part?
well, there was the one poster that said a calorie does not equal a calorie, really?
and then went on to say that you should eat 6 meals a day to benefit metabolism...
oh, and that you have to eat clean to lose weight...
those were the top three that I noticed BS on ...
I think some people confuse health and weight loss. Can you lose weight on cheeseburgers... sure, IIFYM... can you lose weight on the same cals worth of veggies? Sure... Is 1600 cals worth of veggies and lean meats healthier in the long run than 1600 cals of cheeseburgers. Absolutely... It all depends on your goals.0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
How so? Which part?
well, there was the one poster that said a calorie does not equal a calorie, really?
and then went on to say that you should eat 6 meals a day to benefit metabolism...
oh, and that you have to eat clean to lose weight...
those were the top three that I noticed BS on ...
I think some people confuse health and weight loss. Can you lose weight on cheeseburgers... sure, IIFYM... can you lose weight on the same cals worth of veggies? Sure... Is 1600 cals worth of veggies and lean meats healthier in the long run than 1600 cals of cheeseburgers. Absolutely... It all depends on your goals.
IIFYM does not say that you eat cheese burgers all day ...
IIFYM says that you should eat about 80% calories from healthy sources and if you WANT (big if) to save some calories for something you like aka cheeseburger, ice cream, whatever, then 20% of that should come from those sources...0 -
This thread represents a lot of what is wrong with this site. :noway: Misinformation, half baked theories and out dated ideas.
How so? Which part?
well, there was the one poster that said a calorie does not equal a calorie, really?
and then went on to say that you should eat 6 meals a day to benefit metabolism...
oh, and that you have to eat clean to lose weight...
those were the top three that I noticed BS on ...
I think some people confuse health and weight loss. Can you lose weight on cheeseburgers... sure, IIFYM... can you lose weight on the same cals worth of veggies? Sure... Is 1600 cals worth of veggies and lean meats healthier in the long run than 1600 cals of cheeseburgers. Absolutely... It all depends on your goals.
IIFYM does not say that you eat cheese burgers all day ...
IIFYM says that you should eat about 80% calories from healthy sources and if you WANT (big if) to save some calories for something you like aka cheeseburger, ice cream, whatever, then 20% of that should come from those sources...
I didn't say that... I was using the acronym more as a way of saying "if it fits your macros" without typing it all out... Again, it has to do with your goals. Simple weight loss, get a bit healthier, or gain overall health. If you want overall health and not just weight loss it's not going to happen on cheeseburgers. A calorie equals a calorie for weight loss, but all foods are not equal for overall health. That's all I was trying to say.0 -
Don't worry. Last summer I lost 24 lbs just by eating 1200 calories and walking 3 times a week. My bmr was and still is 1700. So after I lost 20 lbs I hit a plateau so I upped my calories to 1500, and lost 4 lbs in two weeks. After losing those 4I reached my goalweight. So I upped it once again to 1700 calories because I wanted to maintain my weight.....but guess what happened? Slowly but surely I gained the weight....and by Christmas I had gained 25+ lbs. Just think how awful I felt. I struggled so hard to lose weight and be in shape...and then this happened. Just cause every body is different. If someone eats 1700 calories to maintain their weight, doesn't mean that you'll also have to do it in order to maintain YOUR weight. Do what fits your lifestyle best!0
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Unless you are very tiny it's not likely your BMR is less than 1200.
According to Scooby calculator mine is 1191. I'm 5'2", 122 lbs and 59 years old at a desk job. Some BMR's are absolutely under 12000 -
I agree do what works for you. Also the BMR calculations you get on websites are not 100% accurate. They are guestimates based on averages. You may indeed have a much lower BMR then the calculators online say
So true. I actually ended up having my RMR measured so I knew exactly how many calories I was burning a day on average because the 1200 calorie limit MFP recommended had some negative side effects for me (mood swings, more prone to severe binging, harder time focusing at work or remembering simple things, bad hunger pains, light-headedness). The doctor confirmed for me what past experimentation had also shown which was that 1300-1600 calories is ideal for me when trying to lose weight. As long as I stick with it and don't eat more than half of my exercise calories, I lose weight, regardless of whether I eat "clean" or not.
If 1200 calories works for you, stick with it.0
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