BMR Insight

Mandi98U

At my last appointment with my dietitian she brought up BMR, and expressed that she would like me to try working my way up to eating 2800 calories a day to lose weight in a healthier way. That is what she calculated my BMR to be, but I’m very hesitant to even increase my calories at all because what I’m doing for weight loss is working for me. I rejoined MyFitnessPal in September and since then I have lost about 47 pounds, going from 327 pounds to 280, as a 21 year old 5’7” female. I started seeing her because in the past I’ve had an unhealthy relationship with food and I wanted to make sure that I am taking a healthier approach this time. However the thought of eating more food and possibly wrecking the progress I’ve made scares me. Anyway I’m looking for any knowledge or insight people have on BMR. Part of my concern is also the vast difference in calories between the 1650 MFP has set for me and the 2800 that my dietitian calculated. If I could actually lose weight eating 2800 why would my MFP recommendation be so much lower? I also wanted to add that I did read the pinned TDEE and BMR posts but I dint understand it.

robertw486

Keep in mind that MFP settings also account for the goal loss you set, and for that reason include the appropriate calorie deficit to lose weight at that rate.

2800 would be up near the calories needed to maintain your current weight, depending on your activity level.

There are a lot of varied opinions, conflicting studies, etc on what is the healthier way to drop weight. But it almost seems as if your dietitian is driving you towards maintaining weight. But it might be best to ask the dietitian and/or your doctor. If the reasoning is to deal with your relationship with food, it might be a valid "test" of sorts to help avoid an eating disorder. But really at that level unless some type of counselor is involved I kind of view that as assuming of the dietitian.

Personally thought opinions and studies vary with rates of loss, I've always thought that an old general rule of keeping loss at or near 1% of body weight per week is a safe rate in most circumstances. So on the physical side, I would say you are not at an unsafe rate of loss. But I'm not a doctor, and the relationship with food that concerned you all plays into the real specifics here.

MikePTY

I am not your dietitian, so I can't understand their reasoning, but I don't see how 2800 could be your BMR. Using MFPs calculator, your BMR (which is the number of calories you would burn in a coma) is 2022. Other calculators will vary slightly, but that's a long way off from 2800. It's possible she meant TDEE, which is the total amount of calories you burn in a day. If you were lightly active, that would be about there. If you are very active, you could lose at a moderate pace at 2800 calories.

It does seem like a high target if you do not do much exercise. If you do exercise, remember that MFP does not include that in its goals for you. You are supposed to eat back those calories on top of it.

neugebauer52

Great discussion point and comments, thank you. At my heaviest I was 170 kg / 375 pounds. The last time I lost nearly 100 pounds I fell into the trap of listening to everyone out there: doctors, dietitians, "people who know", the "why don't you" specialists. I also didn't realize (and no - one told me either) that with weight loss both BMR and TDEE drop automatically as well - so I ended up on a 10 months "plateau", eventually gave up and re - gained all the weight. Since I found MFP I have learned so much, their calculations are spot on for me, and the members' support is great. Now I understand "trigger food" and "food stacking" - my old bane. I stick to MFP and see my GP every 6 months for a check - up and blood test, everything is just peachy. I am also on 1650 calories a day as calculated by MFP and I do my best exercising with all that extra weight. 635 days on MFP, 48 kg / 106 pounds lost, so far no "plateaus" but a lot more weight still to go. I would say - if you find something which works for you long - term and which does not damage you physically or mentally, go for it. Just make sure you have your own safety net, use your own common sense and follow a reasonably healthy life style with a balanced meal plan. If something hurts in your body for some reason, you will find out soon enough.

PAV8888

Your current rate of loss indicates that you've applying a deficit of just over 1800 calories a day on average

If you're increasing calories by less than 1500 to 1800 Cal your new intake would still be a deficit and lead to weight loss

(The fudge factor is because you currently weight less and therefore your 1850 average deficit was probably higher than 1850 a month ago and lower than that currently.)

Please also take into account that large deficits are usually considered triggers for dormant eating disorders, and you did mention having had one

sijomial

I think your dietician was estimating your TDEE and not your BMR.

Maybe she was also trying to heal your past "unhealthy relationship with food"?

Best to ask her, you need clarity and be working together not in suspicion of motives and numbers.


Simple explanation of BMR and TDEE:
BMR is what your body would burn in 24hrs in a totally rested and fasted state. Your absolute lowest base calories doing nothing, eating nothing. Yours is more likely around 2000.
(It's not coma calories as frequently stated as people in a coma are usually being fed.)

TDEE is your total calories for an average day including your base calories, exercise, general activity and even the energy needed to digest your food. Anything under TDEE results in weight loss/fat loss.

PS - MyFitnessPal doesn't calculate TDEE, it actually calculates TDEE minus exercise.

Azdak

I’m going to agree with sijomial and send you back to the RD for more clarification. The number she is giving you is almost certainly TDEE and not BMR.

Your current rate of weight loss is not excessive. 1650 might be perceived as a little low for your daily intake, but it’s not harmful either.

Since you are working with a professional who knows the larger picture, I don’t want to dismiss the recommendations out of hand. But the numbers don’t really make sense, so it is reasonable to question further.

corinasue1143

The way I see it, you are now (dieting) eating less than 1/2 the calories than you were before you started dieting.
That MIGHT make you feel very deprived one day soon. You MIGHT one day soon say to yourself that it’s just not worth it anymore and start overeating a lot. Then feel guilty and start dieting again. It happens. I think your dietician might be trying to help you avoid this and eat in a more steady, comfortable way. You still have a lifetime to eat in this new way.
Since it’s going to last forever, don’t make it harder on yourself than you have to.
Ask your dietician the questions you’re asking us.

lynn_glenmont

Azdak wrote: »

I’m going to agree with sijomial and send you back to the RD for more clarification. The number she is giving you is almost certainly TDEE and not BMR.

Your current rate of weight loss is not excessive. 1650 might be perceived as a little low for your daily intake, but it’s not harmful either.

Since you are working with a professional who knows the larger picture, I don’t want to dismiss the recommendations out of hand. But the numbers don’t really make sense, so it is reasonable to question further.

You don't consider averaging about 15 pounds a month excessive?

ETA: I agree with you on going back to the RD with questions. Just curious about the assessment of OP's rate of weight loss.