rmr? bmr? hrm? wtf?

rinny1628

I'm really sorry to post a new thread but I am completely confused and hope someone will be able to provide a really simple, quick answer.

So, I am 5 ft 6", weight 174 lb, age 35. My RMR (the amount of calories I would need in a day to power my body if I was going to just lay in bed, is that right??) is just under 1500 cals. (It varied by up to 300 cals on different calculators though!) Further down the calculator page I get this info - I would say I am light - moderately active (I spin once a week, use an exercise bike 2-3 times at home and walk for about 5 hours a week. My job is not massively active, although it is quite stressful!)

Factor Category Definition BMR RMR
1.2 Sedentary Little or no exercise and desk 1,867 1,801
job

1.375 Lightly Active Light exercise or sports 1-3 2,140 2,064
days a week

1.55 Moderately Active Moderate exercise or sports 2,412 2,327
3-5 days a week

1.725 Very Active Hard exercise or sports 6-7 2,684 2,589
days a week

1.9 Extremely Active Hard daily exercise or sports 2,956 2,852
and physical job


I have just bought a Polar ft4, and am awaiting its arrival (with baited breath!!!). My question is, do I add the calories measured on my HRM to the base RMR (1500) or to the second figure (2064 on lightly active), if I am only going to wear the HRM for actual 'exercise'???

Does that make sense? Basically, I want to know, to ensure a calorie deificit of 500 per day, how many calories should I be having? Is it 1500 + HRM cal count - 500

or

is it 2064 - 500

or

Is it 2064 + HRM cal count - 500.

Hope someone understand what I'm getting at!!!!

(as an aside, can I measure cals all day on Polar ft4, or should I just be putting it on when I'm going on the bike etc?)

Thank you so much!

ladyhawk00

Might help to read these threads that help explain how MFP works and how they get the numbers they give you.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

One thing to remember is to "back out" the cals from maintenance - ie you would normally burn x amount of cals during the time you exercise, so subtract that from the number your HRM gives you to get the amount you burned over and above "normal".

cmriverside

(as an aside, can I measure cals all day on Polar ft4, or should I just be putting it on when I'm going on the bike etc?)

HRMs are not meant to track calories used while just living. They are designed to be used during aerobic activity, but people use them for all kinds of working out.

For daily life calorie burn devices you need something like a Body Bugg.

Here's a good blog entry about HRMs.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472