Eating at least BMR?

Umeboshi

I just saw on one of the old threads linked in the stickies that you should be eating at least your BMR calories. Mine are 2,039 calories/day. (I weigh 290 pounds and am 5'2") It seems way too high to me, and up until I read that post I thought that 1200 calories a day was fine to keep me out of starvation mode. My concern is that if I eat my BMR there is NO way I will lose any weight at all, since my normal diet before coming back to MFP was probably not very much more than 2000 calories a day. For the past 5 days I have been averaging 1200-1300 calories, and I haven't felt like I was starving at all. Only a bit hungry in between meals at times, but I would assume that's normal when you first start counting calories. Am I going to go into starvation mode if I don't eat those 2000 calories a day?

melissa1977

Oh I so feel you on this. MFP told me that for my weight, to lose 2 pounds a week I need to eat 1900 calories a day. If I were eating like I used to, this would be no problem! LOL But eating like I do now, it's really hard for me to get up there in calories, especially since I'm not all that hungry anymore.

I think as long as you get in at LEAST 1200 calories, you're okay, but someone might have more knowledge about it than I do. I just wanted to sympathize with you.

markymarrkk

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

Umeboshi

Thanks so much for your input! I think my metabolism is unusually low and so the BMR calculator over-estimated for me. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one eating less than the MFP reccomendation.

lotusfromthemud

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

Less than your TDEE, not your BMR. They are different.

Your BMR = what your body needs to maintain normal functions if you are bedridden and not moving.

Your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure aka maintenance calories) is your BMR + daily activity (activity, not exercise). The calorie deficit should be subtracted from your TDEE.

Check out this post:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits?hl=guide+to+calorie+deficits

for the longer version of this answer.

HTH.

Umeboshi

Thank you SO much. That link cleared a lot of things up! I'm glad to know I'm not hurting myself by eating 1200 to 1300 calories. What a relief!

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

Less than your TDEE, not your BMR. They are different.

Your BMR = what your body needs to maintain normal functions if you are bedridden and not moving.

Your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure aka maintenance calories) is your BMR + daily activity (activity, not exercise). The calorie deficit should be subtracted from your TDEE.

Check out this post:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits?hl=guide+to+calorie+deficits

for the longer version of this answer.

HTH.

sanura

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

lovely, that would put me at 600 calories per day! not gonna happen!

taletreader

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

lovely, that would put me at 600 calories per day! not gonna happen!

Sanura, if you read all the stickies and previous write-ups, you'll find that such a thing is safe if you are very overweight and have a lot of weight to lose, which for the original poster is the case. But not for you.

lotusfromthemud

eat 1000 calories less than your BMR, you'll lose a pound every 3 and half days

lovely, that would put me at 600 calories per day! not gonna happen!

Sanura, if you read all the stickies and previous write-ups, you'll find that such a thing is safe if you are very overweight and have a lot of weight to lose, which for the original poster is the case. But not for you.

No, the stickies and write-ups all point out that the deduction comes from your TDEE, not your BMR.

600 calories a day is not a good amount for anyone, unless they are under the constant supervision of a doctor.