We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

My BMR is below 1200

majigurl
majigurl Posts: 660 Member
edited March 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I just found the BMR calculator. I had never even known what that was prior to today.

it says its 1,174 a day.

I *thought* one should not eat less than 1200 a day. should I still go with 1200 or is ok to go with 1174?

All this confuses me. When I get down to my goal weight it will be at 1,072 :/


***
sry in advance if this questions seems silly.

Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Which calculator?
  • arickettsjr
    arickettsjr Posts: 32 Member
    BMR does not equal TDEE (total daily energy expenditure).

    Your calorie intake should be based on your TDEE, not your BMR. Find out what your TDEE is and eat less than that.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    BMR is an estimation of the energy your body needs just to function - breathe, make urine, etc. it doesn't count the extra effort involved with walking to the bathroom. :) Most people use more energy than their BMR.

    If the doctor gave you 1200 as a ballpark number and you're losing at 1200, feeling strong and healthy, stick with it unless your doctor tells you to switch.
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    You should use your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) number. Your TDEE takes into account your activity level and basic movement during the day, as well as the energy it takes to digest your food. Your BMR is the number your body would need just to exist, like being in a coma.

    So, take your TDEE # and subtract a percentage to get your calorie deficit.
  • BombshellPhoenix
    BombshellPhoenix Posts: 1,693 Member
    My BMR based on a calculator is 1287. I maintain my weight on 2350. So, if I wanted to lose weight, I'd take a few hundred from the calories it takes to maintain and go from there.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Most people use more energy than their BMR.
    I would say all people do. Sedentary estimates are usually BMR X 1.2. Active people might be burning BMR X 2. :smile:
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME!

    I know I say this often, that I am so happy for the level of support here, but I have I have to say it again.

    I'M SO HAPPY I'M HERE!

    I had no idea what TDEE was! Looked it up and i'm g2g!

    I knew my BMR was my cal. at 24 hour rest. But I didn't know what I was suppose to do with it or if that was the tool I was to use to calculate how much my total cal. in should be.

    Again.. thank you all!

    My TDEE is 1591. So I take some off of that and add workout and I should continue to loose this weight! :)

    Feeling confident again.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Most people use more energy than their BMR.
    I would say all people do. Sedentary estimates are usually BMR X 1.2. Active people might be burning BMR X 2. :smile:
    I would agree and would've said that, but people get so picky, always wanting to jump all over things for being wrong. I just knew someone would say, "No! People in comas don't use more! I'm so right and how dare you be wrong?! And my mother is in a coma, so I'm personally offended and what are you trying to say, she's not a person?!"

    So I said "most people." :)
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Yeah, I know. :smile: Fitbit actually will estimate a TDEE as low as maybe 5% over BMR. It annoys me. :angry: But I guess it's done to motivate.
  • majigurl
    majigurl Posts: 660 Member
    Yeah, I know. :smile: Fitbit actually will estimate a TDEE as low as maybe 5% over BMR. It annoys me. :angry: But I guess it's done to motivate.

    I need to look into a fitbit :) ty!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories