Does 100 calories make much of a difference?

WarmDontBurn

I have been keeping well within my 1200 calories however after looking at a few other calculator online I am seeing that I "should" be consuming between 1352-1452 calories..not really a huge deal but curious if that could slow down my weight loss? My BMR is 1356 and I though I read that you shouldn't eat below that. Since starting back (fell a little) I have still lost but I won't weigh in offically until Saturday/Sunday.

NoAdditives

First off, you shouldn't be below your BMR. That's the amount of calories it takes just to perform your daily bodily functions. You want to be below the number of calories you burn doing your normal daily activities, which is your BMR plus an average of the calories you burn at your job, walking around, etc.

Everyone's body has a certain range of calories that it takes to perform normal daily functions and to be healthy enough to still burn fat. 100 calories may not make a big difference in terms of slowing your metabolism, but it can make a huge difference when it comes to burning fat. I would try going with the higher caloric intake for a while.

Mindful_Trent

People pay too much attention to BMR on this site - from what I understand, it's not a big deal to eat below your BMR as long as you're not REALLY low. The general rule is 1200 NET calories should be the minimum for consumption - this is likely to be below most people's BMR. My BMR is upwards of 1550 calories or so - For quite awhile I was on 1200 calories/day plus exercise calories - some days I ate above my BMR some days I didn't. It didn't hurt my weight loss, my energy was fine, etc. In the end, you need a calorie deficit to lose weight, and for some people that deficit may require them to eat below their BMR.

What really matters is your total daily calories burned (BMR plus exercise and daily activity) versus calories consumed. Someone who is significantly overweight can afford to have a larger deficit (which will likely mean consumption is below BMR) while someone who is closer to maintenance doesn't have the extra body fat to maintain a healthy deficit and will need to eat closer to BMR - this is why you should have a smaller weight loss goal per week the less you have to lose.

kickrz - when you say "well within 1200 calories" do you mean you're eating less than 1200? You should eat at least 1200, plus most of your exercise calories. If you don't have much to lose (which it looks like you don't) - set your goal to no more than 1 lb/week and follow MFP's recommendations for your calories (including eating your exercise calories) - 1200 calories may be too low for you at this point. Your weight loss won't be fast, but the last 20 lbs are always going to be slower because it's just not healthy to lose that fast when you don't have as much to lose.

WarmDontBurn

Thanks. I eat my 1200 and if I am under it is like 50 and below so nothing too crazy. I find that on days I don't exercise I am a little cheaper with my calories so I get really close but don't hit it right on and when I do exercise I go over the 1200 and eat close to all of my exercise calories back.

I just did some tinkering and if I change my 2lbs loss a week to 1lb then it gives me 1330 instead of 1200. So I should leave it at the 1330 then? Will it make that much of a difference? 130 calories?

I also just wanted to add that in the last week even though I was set to lose 2lbs a week I lost 0.4lbs. I am newly back at it after 3 months off.

Mindful_Trent

Thanks. I eat my 1200 and if I am under it is like 50 and below so nothing too crazy. I find that on days I don't exercise I am a little cheaper with my calories so I get really close but don't hit it right on and when I do exercise I go over the 1200 and eat close to all of my exercise calories back.

I just did some tinkering and if I change my 2lbs loss a week to 1lb then it gives me 1330 instead of 1200. So I should leave it at the 1330 then? Will it make that much of a difference? 130 calories?

I also just wanted to add that in the last week even though I was set to lose 2lbs a week I lost 0.4lbs. I am newly back at it after 3 months off.

Given that you only have 18 lbs to go, I think 1 lbs a week is much more reasonable than 2. I would leave it at that, follow MFP's recommendations (so 1330 plus exercise calories) and see how it goes for a month or so. You may be surprised and lose weight faster by eating more - many people have experienced this. When you don't have much to lose and don't eat enough, your body really holds onto the weight.

WarmDontBurn

Thanks so much I will give it a try!