I'm still confused about BMR & Calories. Help please

zealey77

Someone on here recommended me the http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/ to calculate my BMR. It says for my age, height, weight and lifestyle I should be eating 2347 Calories a day to reach my Goal weight.

I'm currently naturally eating around 1500 a day and also gaining about 600 calories according to MFP due to exercise. I don't feel hungry on this amount of calories. So I'm confused - if my BMR is 2347 am I doing damage to myself by not forcing myself to eat more than I want?

(BTW I'm an overweight 39yr old male so really not trying to starve myself due to eating disorder lol, but it doesn't make sense to me to eat when I'm not hungry)

nomeejerome

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

4legsRbetterthan2

Well it sounds like you have your numbers mixed up somewhere, your BMR is the calories you burn just staying alive. Its hard to say ballpark what that is since we dont know your current weight/height. If fattofit if telling you to eat 2347 to reach your goal weight then that should not be your BMR that sould be you TDEE which is your total daily energy expenditure (this would include exercise calories) with a deficit built in to lose weight at the rate you selected. If I am correct in what you are saying then its not really a big deal to be eating a little below the suggested calories. Hope that helps some......

zealey77

Hi, I'm really confused now. Here's the cut&paste from the site -

"Based on the information you provided, body fat percentage of 17.7%, you have a lean body mass of 199 lbs., and your BMR is 2324 calories."

"Activity Level Daily Calories Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk) 2646"

So is 1500 calories bad even if I'm not hungry after reaching this amount (before exercise is included) ?

nomeejerome

Hi, I'm really confused now. Here's the cut&paste from the site -

"Based on the information you provided, body fat percentage of 17.7%, you have a lean body mass of 199 lbs., and your BMR is 2324 calories."

"Activity Level Daily Calories Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk) 2646"

So is 1500 calories bad even if I'm not hungry after reaching this amount (before exercise is included) ?

If your BMR is 2324 and your TDEE is 2646, there is no reason to be eating 1500.
Read that link above and it will clear things up.

diannethegeek

Unfortunately, hunger isn't always the best indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. The hormones that control hunger can be suppressed by a number of things including undereating. You also need to be taking into account performance, mood, energy levels, as well as psychical cues like skin, hair, and nails. Undereating for a prolonged period of time can cause muscle loss, moodiness, lethargy, heart damage (in extreme cases), brittle nails, hair loss, nutrient deficiency, etc.

It's up to you whether or not you choose to increase your calories, but personally I'm trying to keep as much lean muscle mass as I can.

sillyvalentine

Online calculators can be very very wrong.

I had my BMR tested at the hospital because the online calculators said it was around 1500. It was actually 801 - 911.

Of course, for many people it can be very close or even spot on, but I gained 15 lbs following the advice of the online calculators before I had it tested. If someone had told me how wrong they could be, I would have had it tested properly to begin with.

WBB55

What's your height and weight?

sbarella

Fat2fit uses the "eating for a future you" method, which basically means you should eat at your future TDEE and lose weight slowly on a moderate deficit, then eat those calories for the rest of your life.

lrmall01

(BTW I'm an overweight 39yr old male so really not trying to starve myself due to eating disorder lol, but it doesn't make sense to me to eat when I'm not hungry)

"Based on the information you provided, body fat percentage of 17.7%, you have a lean body mass of 199 lbs., and your BMR is 2324 calories."

"Activity Level Daily Calories Lightly Active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk) 2646"

To me these two statements contradict each other. A 39 y/o male at 17.7% bodyfat isn't really overweight. According to Accumeasure, you would be right in the middle of the ideal BF% level. http://www.accumeasurefitness.com/charts.html

My guess is that you are underestimating body fat percentage.

Try using the BMR calculator on this website, which doesn't use bodyfat percentage, and see what it suggests.

zealey77

I'm 74 inches (6ft 2) and currently weigh in at 242 pounds. I've gone back to My Goals on MFP and selected a higher weekly weight loss goal, and also changed my activity from Sedentary to Light Active and it's now given me a daily calorie of 1870 which sounds a lot more believable and reasonable to me. I think that BMR and TDEE of 2400 and 2600 on FittoFatRatio was crazy. Stupid site! lol

(PS/ I got 17.7% body fat by putting in my neck, waist, hip measurments and all the other data it requested).

Mr_Knight

I'm 74 inches (6ft 2) and currently weigh in at 242 pounds. I've gone back to My Goals on MFP and selected a higher weekly weight loss goal, and also changed my activity from Sedentary to Light Active and it's now given me a daily calorie of 1870 which sounds a lot more believable and reasonable to me. I think that BMR and TDEE of 2400 and 2600 on FittoFatRatio was crazy. Stupid site! lol

I get a BMR of right about 1900 for the specifics you gave above. I agree with your conclusion regarding the F2FR calculator - it is not appropriate for people with considerable weight to lose.

lrmall01

Ok - then it might be an accurate estimate.

For another point of reference, which one of these do you look like?

http://anthonymychal.com/chaos-bodyfat/

zealey77

Ok - then it might be an accurate estimate.

For another point of reference, which one of these do you look like?

http://anthonymychal.com/chaos-bodyfat/

In terms of body I look like the guy in glasses and beard at 25-27% (Same body shape but I'm heavier set)