So BMR = What my calorie limit should be?

Ahzuri

I've noticed a few other posts today about being ridiculously hungry and I was wondering if BMR is actually what we should set our limit to, I know I am ALWAYS hungry even though I mostly eat healthy. I had mine set to 1800 because breastfeeding women should not go under that but my BMR says 2500 (I think) so should I change it to my BMR? I also almost always eat the 1,800 and part of my exercise calories but always still hungry!

cskalaj

If you're trying to lose weight, you should not eat your BMR. That means Basil Metabolic Rate and that's the amount of calories you need to sustain your current weight. You could lose less quickly by upping your calories to somewhere between your BMR and the 1800 if that doesn't seem to be enough, but don't eat your BMR rate if you want to lose!

Tasha1476

If you're trying to lose weight, you should not eat your BMR. That means Basil Metabolic Rate and that's the amount of calories you need to sustain your current weight. You could lose less quickly by upping your calories to somewhere between your BMR and the 1800 if that doesn't seem to be enough, but don't eat your BMR rate if you want to lose!

Not exactly. I was one who posted a question similar to this post earlier today, and in addition to all the responses I got, I also did some reading on BMR.
According to the basic definition the BMR is the rate at which your body creates heat at a RESTING state...


another definition is "BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR): The energy expended by the body at rest to maintain normal function. Relative to lean body mass." (http://www.jimmythomas.com/training/fitnessterms.htm)

based on these things it would appear to me that BMR (also referred to apparently as RMR - resting metabolic rate) is what you would burn laying on your bed all day.. so if you do ANYTHING at all other than lay in bed (which I hope you do, for your health and boredom!) then you SHOULD be eating your BMR because health should be your # 1 priority.

That's just my understanding of it based on other's answers and my own web surfing.. if you want to know more you should ask a doctor.

basically, this is the minimum required to keep your bodily functions normal.

monylove311

I have a question. Why if my BMR is 1425, does MFP limit my calories to 1200?

Anybody know?

Sara1978

Eat your BMR if it is higher than your MFP allotted calories.

Your BMR is the bare minimum your body needs to keep functioning if you are lying in bed and doing nothing besides breathing and metabolizing. If you get up and walk to the toilet, boom, you're already burning extra calories. You WILL NOT just maintain weight at your BMR number of calories unless all you are doing is lying in place. Anything you do will put you at a deficit, so you can eat your BMR without fear.

When I first started on this site, I was eating the 1200 calories that MFP gave me. I was dizzy, had headaches, and basically felt like crap. It turns out that my BMR was a little bit higher than 1200-- and when I started eating that number, I felt better. And lost weight faster.

MFP isn't perfect-- it's basically just a program, and it gives 1200 as the bare minimum. It may turn out that you can't quite lose the number of pounds per week you want and be healthy. Eating your BMR may make you lose one pound a week instead of two. MFP tries to give you what you want in terms of pounds per week, but it isn't always possible.

kdiamond

Try this site - I have found it to be very accurate.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

ashley0616

Try this site - I have found it to be very accurate.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

WOW that site gives me a TON of calories. It says for EXTREME fat loss I should be at 1800 a day, and MFP has me at 1540 to lose 1lb a WEEK. That just seems like SO much, but how do you know who is right?!

Lindsay7360

I actually took a test at my gym to determine how many calories I should be eating. I strapped on a breathing mask that was hooked up to a computer and here is what my assessment determined:

You CaloriePoint assessment revealed that you need 1791 calories per day
to sustain bodily function and with your given lifestyle, you need 2328
calories to do what it is that you do day to day.

Since I work out pretty regularily, my test facilitator recommend I aim for 1950 calories/day.

Cori (my test facilitator) said to aim for 1950 per day. But NEVER go below 1800 and NEVER go above 2300.

I took my test on the 6th and and have lost exactly 1 pound since then... which is what I am projected to lose (1 pound per week). So, obviously it works!

I highly recommend getting tested, but I understand it's not realistic, financially, for everyone.

ashley0616

I wonder if I could have that type of test done at a physical therapy facility, or my chiropractors office? Hmmmm, time to call around!

Marla64

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Try this-- I found it very helpful. Very important to use the "Harris Benedict Equation," as I'm learning now.

My mission is now to enlighten-- eat too few, and you CAN do metabolic damage-- "starvation mode."

here is my story-- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/174065-starvation-mode-is-real-and-ugly

Please, especially as a breastfeeding mother, eat enough food to meet the needs of your baby, and you!

123456654321

If you're trying to lose weight, you should not eat your BMR. That means Basil Metabolic Rate and that's the amount of calories you need to sustain your current weight. You could lose less quickly by upping your calories to somewhere between your BMR and the 1800 if that doesn't seem to be enough, but don't eat your BMR rate if you want to lose!

Actually, your BMR should be lower then your maintenance allowance.

123456654321

I have a question. Why if my BMR is 1425, does MFP limit my calories to 1200?

Anybody know?

It's not necessarily using your BMR. It's calculating your personal goals.

kdiamond

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Try this-- I found it very helpful. Very important to use the "Harris Benedict Equation," as I'm learning now.

Actually the Harris-Benedict (which is what MFP uses I am pretty sure) is the most inaccurate of all the equations. Without linking to a boring article, the HB equation was developed in 1919 in a cold lab using young male subjects. So it is pretty inaccurate (i.e. OVERestimating) for today's standards, and for women in general. A better equation to use is the Katch-McArdle, but you must know or be able to at least estimate your body fat%.

Here is a link to a nice calculator that is very self explanatory: http://www.ajdesigner.com/phpweightloss/weight_loss_equations_men_women_metabolic_rate_bmr_
calorie_day.php