Is it okay to eat below my bmr if I'm fairly sedentary?

xokimmyxox

Hello! Sorry if this is a silly question. I'm 18, 5'9.5 and about 154 pounds. I am finally at a healthy weight (lost some weight before joining MFP) but I want to lose a few more vanity pounds to get around 140. My bmr is around 1500 calories. I have been eating approximately 1350 calories to lose 1.1 lbs per week. I was just wondering if this is okay? Am I harming my body at all? Do you think this is a reasonable goal if I only have about 15 more pounds to lose? I do exercise a few times a week and eat these calories back.
Thanks! All advice is appreciated. :flowerforyou:

v70t5m

Your body is fairly good at adapting to your changes and telling you when you have dropped too low. You get chilled extra-ordinarily easily, you might develop skin and hair issues, and you won't have energy.

BUT, you have to be willing to listen to your body.

Start keeping a very thorough diary ... log how you feel, what you are eating, how many calories you are eating, macro percentage, and exercise routines and length. Chart it out in excel. When you drop too low, recognize the feelings and keep above that level.

Everyone is different, what works for one does not work for another. Find what works for you, and change as necessary to reach a healthy goal.

ninerbuff

Doesn't sound crazy.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

xokimmyxox

Your body is fairly good at adapting to your changes and telling you when you have dropped too low. You get chilled extra-ordinarily easily, you might develop skin and hair issues, and you won't have energy.

BUT, you have to be willing to listen to your body.

Start keeping a very thorough diary ... log how you feel, what you are eating, how many calories you are eating, macro percentage, and exercise routines and length. Chart it out in excel. When you drop too low, recognize the feelings and keep above that level.

Everyone is different, what works for one does not work for another. Find what works for you, and change as necessary to reach a healthy goal.

Okay thank you so much!

bostonwolf

Doesn't sound crazy.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Agree. If that works for you and you aren't light-headed after workouts or wanting to gnaw your arm off from hunger, keep with it.

randomtai

Seems legit.

toutmonpossible

Sounds fine. Don't automatically eat calories back. Eat when you're hungry or feel weak. You probably aren't burning as many calories as those devices say.

MyChocolateDiet

Sounds fine. Don't automatically eat calories back. Eat when you're hungry or feel weak. You probably aren't burning as many calories as those devices say.

You had to go throw a wrench in the works huh?

xokimmyxox

Thanks everyone! :happy:

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wild_wild_life

Thanks everyone! :happy:

honestly?

What are you honestlying?

OP, 1lb loss per week is a lot when you are 18 and at a healthy weight. If you really do need to lose more, I would bump it down to 0.5 lbs or even 0.25 lbs per week to avoid any chance of harming your metabolism, growth or development.

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guessrs

Not at all, it's reasonable.

xokimmyxox

Thanks everyone! :happy:

honestly?

What are you honestlying?

OP, 1lb loss per week is a lot when you are 18 and at a healthy weight. If you really do need to lose more, I would bump it down to 0.5 lbs or even 0.25 lbs per week to avoid any chance of harming your metabolism, growth or development.

How could I argue with you. :flowerforyou:

Not sure what the "honestly" was for either, but as long as I'm losing 0.5 - 1 lbs per week I'm happy!

SteelySunshine

I was going to say this is crazy. Until you said you eat back your exercise calories. It doesn't sound crazy at all if you are doing that. If you are losing a pound a week though it might be your bmr is a bit higher than the online calculators say, so I would keep track of that and make sure you don't dip too low calorie wise ie lose more than a pound a week.

xokimmyxox

I was going to say this is crazy. Until you said you eat back your exercise calories. It doesn't sound crazy at all if you are doing that. If you are losing a pound a week though it might be your bmr is a bit higher than the online calculators say, so I would keep track of that and make sure you don't dip too low calorie wise ie lose more than a pound a week.

Okay! I'll try and stick to around 0.5 lb to 1 lb per week! Thanks!