BMR/TDEE confusion
phoenixx866
Posts: 173 Member
Kinda confused right now.
5'2", female, 261 lbs-ish
Using MFP's estimates, right now I'm eating at approximately 1680 calories per day.
I recently read that you should not eat below your BMR, ever. Curious, I went to a few websites to calculate my BMR. Here is what was spit out:
Scooby's calculator: 1923
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/: 1974
MFP's calculator: 1890
http://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html: 2058
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php: 1970
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm: 1973
http://www.bmrcalculator.org/: 1893
I was told that Scooby's is the most accurate. It's giving me a BMR of 1923; a TDEE of 2307; and then it's telling me to eat 1846.
Why is Scooby telling me to eat below my BMR???
Should I stick to 1680? Or which number should I use?? I'm confused and I want to do this right. I want to train to run 5ks and do archery, and be as healthy and fit as possible but I'm getting different information no matter where I turn.
Signed,
Confused and concerned :frown:
5'2", female, 261 lbs-ish
Using MFP's estimates, right now I'm eating at approximately 1680 calories per day.
I recently read that you should not eat below your BMR, ever. Curious, I went to a few websites to calculate my BMR. Here is what was spit out:
Scooby's calculator: 1923
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/: 1974
MFP's calculator: 1890
http://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html: 2058
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php: 1970
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm: 1973
http://www.bmrcalculator.org/: 1893
I was told that Scooby's is the most accurate. It's giving me a BMR of 1923; a TDEE of 2307; and then it's telling me to eat 1846.
Why is Scooby telling me to eat below my BMR???
Should I stick to 1680? Or which number should I use?? I'm confused and I want to do this right. I want to train to run 5ks and do archery, and be as healthy and fit as possible but I'm getting different information no matter where I turn.
Signed,
Confused and concerned :frown:
0
Replies
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as long as you dont eat under your BMR, you should be okay but just remember the more calories you burn off with exercise you may need the extra calories since your body needs energy to function,goodluck0
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They are all fairly close to each other. There is bound to be slight difference in different calculators. They are all meant to be estimates.
I suspect you are setting it to sedentary. TDEE at sedentary is BMR x 1.2, which is less than 20% so you will always end up below BMR when you deduct 20% off of TDEE at sedentary.
I would consider BMR a guide and aim to not go too far below it, but I don't see an issue with slightly below it.
Also, if you are planning to run, I suspect you are exercising or will be duing this process. Select the correct TDEE activity modifier. If you are doing any activity, you are above sedentary.0 -
So I would be okay and still losing if I were to eat up to, say, 1900 calories?
I have it set to sedentary because when I do exercise, it's not consistent. I do archery for a few hours maybe twice a month, I walk when I have the time to, and I do a few minutes of squats or lunges here or there, maybe an exercise DVD a handful of times a month. I don't think it's enough to warrant a "lightly active" setting, or do you think otherwise?0 -
Another confused MFP member; I'm fairly new and don't understand all of the shortened terminology. What is TDEE, BMR, Beachbody's PiYo? At the risk of sounding like an idiot, which I'm not, this all reminds me of texting which I don't do. If someone could explain what all of this means I'd be ever so happy. Thanks!
Sparky10300 -
So I would be okay and still losing if I were to eat up to, say, 1900 calories?
I have it set to sedentary because when I do exercise, it's not consistent. I do archery for a few hours maybe twice a month, I walk when I have the time to, and I do a few minutes of squats or lunges here or there, maybe an exercise DVD a handful of times a month. I don't think it's enough to warrant a "lightly active" setting, or do you think otherwise?
I would say you would be fine to aim for 1900 calories and see how that works.
Another option is - you can do the MFP method, and log your exercise when you do it, consume those calories (or a portion of them ).
That is what I like about MFP, if I am inconsistent with exercise, I am still at a deficit.
One other note - TDEE -20% is roughly 1 lb a week, so if you do the MFP method, consider that. I also find the sedentary setting on MFP very low. I would suggest most people would qualify for lightly active.
Whatever you choose, pick one, stick with it for 4-6 weeks and evaluate from there. It takes a few weeks to know if it is really working (or not) or if there are other factors involved, like water weight.0 -
Another confused MFP member; I'm fairly new and don't understand all of the shortened terminology. What is TDEE, BMR, Beachbody's PiYo? At the risk of sounding like an idiot, which I'm not, this all reminds me of texting which I don't do. If someone could explain what all of this means I'd be ever so happy. Thanks!
Sparky1030
TDEE, BMR, macros, etc are explained here ( also a really great thread for beginners)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?
Other popular acronyms here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1069278-acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6
As for PiYo, I know it is a Beachbody product but I have no clue.
ETA -
Sorry this one has the TDEE, BMR explanations. It is in the Sexypants thread but here it is anyway
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets0 -
My current history is inaccurate. I was at 1400 calories for a long time, then 1450 and now at my current 1600ish. I'm just really concerned that if I start exercising/doing weights that I won't be eating enough at 1600. But if I can eat 1900 and still be okay, even with exercising, it makes me feel a lot better. I don't have the money to get evaluated by a nutritionist so I'm trying to do the best I can.0
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