Is my bmr really less than 1200?

Mslmesq

On at least half of the calculators I've looked at it's less (not much less, but still) than 1200. I know I'm short, but sheesh. What's up with that?

brinsy

I got the same 1125 is what I got. Interested in knowing this myself.

KateK8LoseW8

Well, your BMR is how many calories you'd burn if you did not move, at all, all day. Assuming you get out of bed, walk around, run errands, type at a computer, wash dishes, etc, you are burning more than that. Try a TDEE calculator, one based on your total activity level.

http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

Select the "enter activity level" option under formula.

michellekicks

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion. You would be given that many calories in a feeding tube if you were in a hospital on life support.

TDEE is a combination of BMR + Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) + Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (EAT) + Thermic Effect of Food (TEF).

So your BMR is, say 1100, your NEAT is probably around 500 if you just shower, make some food, clean up after yourself, drive to work, work in an office, come home, cook dinner, take bathroom breaks all day and then watch some TV. Then, add your workout burn... if you work out 30 minutes a day - even just walking - that's another 200 calories or so and then add another 100 for TEF. Sooo... you actually burn more like 1900 in a day, even with a BMR of less than 1200.

omma_to_3

Yes, it's very possible if you're petite (and older).

I'm 38 and 5'4". The calculators tell me between 1400 and 1500 for BMR.

Sabine_Stroehm

I'm tall, but much older, and mines only 1333.

emergencytennis

I'm 5 foot 7 and my BMR is 1300. My TDEE is 2000, which I like much more!

omma_to_3

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion. You would be given that many calories in a feeding tube if you were in a hospital on life support.

TDEE is a combination of BMR + Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) + Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (EAT) + Thermic Effect of Food (TEF).

So your BMR is, say 1100, your NEAT is probably around 500 if you just shower, make some food, clean up after yourself, drive to work, work in an office, come home, cook dinner, take bathroom breaks all day and then watch some TV. Then, add your workout burn... if you work out 30 minutes a day - even just walking - that's another 200 calories or so and then add another 100 for TEF. Sooo... you actually burn more like 1900 in a day, even with a BMR of less than 1200.

Eh....I doubt the TDEE for a sedentary person would be an extra 500 if the BMR was 1100. Most calculators say multiply by 1.2. According to my fitbit, I am far less active than that so I typically assume only 1.1 multiplier. For an 1100 BMR, that would only be an additional 110 calories.

brinsy

I'm younger and 5.3

bcattoes

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion.

I don't think BMR even counts digestion. Typically when it's measured they do it early in the morning on an empty stomach.

michellekicks

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion. You would be given that many calories in a feeding tube if you were in a hospital on life support.

TDEE is a combination of BMR + Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) + Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (EAT) + Thermic Effect of Food (TEF).

So your BMR is, say 1100, your NEAT is probably around 500 if you just shower, make some food, clean up after yourself, drive to work, work in an office, come home, cook dinner, take bathroom breaks all day and then watch some TV. Then, add your workout burn... if you work out 30 minutes a day - even just walking - that's another 200 calories or so and then add another 100 for TEF. Sooo... you actually burn more like 1900 in a day, even with a BMR of less than 1200.

Eh....I doubt the TDEE for a sedentary person would be an extra 500 if the BMR was 1100. Most calculators say multiply by 1.2. According to my fitbit, I am far less active than that so I typically assume only 1.1 multiplier. For an 1100 BMR, that would only be an additional 110 calories.

But what I described is not sedentary. As an example: I'm a SAHM and my calculated NEAT is about 800-900 calories daily but my BMR is 1500. 500 for someone who goes to a day job isn't unusual. Even for someone petite. I spend a great deal of time on the computer and take regular naps lol. A truly sedentary person gets up, sits on the couch and stays there... or someone who is disabled and unable to move around much.

omma_to_3

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion. You would be given that many calories in a feeding tube if you were in a hospital on life support.

TDEE is a combination of BMR + Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) + Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (EAT) + Thermic Effect of Food (TEF).

So your BMR is, say 1100, your NEAT is probably around 500 if you just shower, make some food, clean up after yourself, drive to work, work in an office, come home, cook dinner, take bathroom breaks all day and then watch some TV. Then, add your workout burn... if you work out 30 minutes a day - even just walking - that's another 200 calories or so and then add another 100 for TEF. Sooo... you actually burn more like 1900 in a day, even with a BMR of less than 1200.

Eh....I doubt the TDEE for a sedentary person would be an extra 500 if the BMR was 1100. Most calculators say multiply by 1.2. According to my fitbit, I am far less active than that so I typically assume only 1.1 multiplier. For an 1100 BMR, that would only be an additional 110 calories.

But what I described is not sedentary. As an example: I'm a SAHM and my calculated NEAT is about 800-900 calories daily but my BMR is 1500. 500 for someone who goes to a day job isn't unusual. Even for someone petite. I spend a great deal of time on the computer and take regular naps lol. A truly sedentary person gets up, sits on the couch and stays there... or someone who is disabled and unable to move around much.

I disagree. Walking to and from the car into work, moving around a little during the day, still qualifies as sedentary. And most tools like FitBit agree with that.

trainerbarb

You're misunderstanding what BMR is. BMR has absolutely NOTHING to do with how much you move around. Think of it in terms of "what you burn in your sleep."

BMR depends on your WEIGHT, AGE, and lean body mass. Repeat, it has nothing to do with how much you do during the day.

wheels6030

Yeah mine's ~1500, but that's solely due to the fact that I'm 5'7".

WendyTerry420

But BMR is what you would burn if you were comatose... your brain functioning, your heart beating, breathing function and digestion. You would be given that many calories in a feeding tube if you were in a hospital on life support.

TDEE is a combination of BMR + Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) + Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (EAT) + Thermic Effect of Food (TEF).

So your BMR is, say 1100, your NEAT is probably around 500 if you just shower, make some food, clean up after yourself, drive to work, work in an office, come home, cook dinner, take bathroom breaks all day and then watch some TV. Then, add your workout burn... if you work out 30 minutes a day - even just walking - that's another 200 calories or so and then add another 100 for TEF. Sooo... you actually burn more like 1900 in a day, even with a BMR of less than 1200.

Eh....I doubt the TDEE for a sedentary person would be an extra 500 if the BMR was 1100. Most calculators say multiply by 1.2. According to my fitbit, I am far less active than that so I typically assume only 1.1 multiplier. For an 1100 BMR, that would only be an additional 110 calories.

So you don't even shower, cook food, or sit and watch TV? You stay in bed all day?

michellekicks

I've used both a fitbit and a body media link and I found the fitbit to underestimate calorie expenditure. That was my result. Obviously it can be different for each person, but I'd be super surprised if your fitbit told you you burn only 1210 calories daily as an adult human.