Questions about BMR and calorie intake!

Soundbodysoundmind
Soundbodysoundmind Posts: 45 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Okay hopefully I can word this right. If my BMR is 1500 and I eat 1600 calories a day, but burn 500 calories a day doing exercise that puts my calories to 1100 calories. "They" say women shouldn't eat below 1200..so does that mean I have to eat more? I'm at a plateau and I can't figure out if i need to eat more or less or exercise more.. I'm already eating right above my BMR so it's frustrating. I'm 163 lbs 5'4 and I want to weigh 130. I exercise between 30-50 minutes a day 6 days a week, it just depends on what I decide to do that day. Also I don't have a job at the moment so I'm sitting on my butt all day (but I have an interview next week so yay!)

Replies

  • IllustratedxGirl
    IllustratedxGirl Posts: 240 Member
    The only way to really know is to find out! Your body will tell you with results.

    I eat at a net 1350 net calories and lose weight. I workout a lot.. Over an hour every day and 3-5 hours probably 4 times a week.

    Try a higher number and see if it works for you.
  • IllustratedxGirl
    IllustratedxGirl Posts: 240 Member
    Also my BMR is about 1450
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    They generally mean shouldn't net below BMR. So if you did 500 calories that would be 2000.
    However, choosing BMR is a guideline that's plucked out of the air just like 2000 and neither are based on much bar "don't eat too little".

    For me, the only time I've had a plateau increasing my calories helped; but I was only a few pounds from my goal weight and was at my expected body composition, so I just started the planned transition to bulk. I will cut further in the future.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    If your BMR is 1500 then your sedentary needs to maintain are about 1800 (BMR * 1.2) ... and that is the number to subtract your deficit from, not your BMR.

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