How many cals?

ashley516

I have 75+ lbs to lose (121 actually) so I put 2lbs per week which has me at 1500 calories per day, but I just did the B<R calculator and it said Your estimated BMR is: 1,850 calories/day. I was under the impression that you shouldn't consume less than your BMR number but that's what I'm set at right now. Should I change my goals so that my calories are 1850 or higher, or is 1500 fine?

AnninStPaul

You need the deficit to lose the weight. Eating at your BMR should result in maintenance.

nicehormones

Go for 1850 It's about where I am at and I have been consistently losing weight. Plus, I get to eat a lot more

nicehormones

You need the deficit to lose the weight. Eating at your BMR should result in maintenance.

No. Eating at your BMR will not result in maintenance. Your BMR is the amount of calories you need to eat to keep you alive and everything functioning properly if you were just in a coma. Eat above it

curvy_ca_mama

I would start at 1850, and play with it if necessary. Tweak it if you aren't losing weight.

hailzp

I was under the impression that you should eat below your BMR else how would you loose? I don't understand the above 'nicehormones' logic. I am set at 1600 on 2lbs a week loss and my BMR is 2500. I have been loosing weight.

1500 is a good amount of food too, you definitely don't go hungry.

blueandigo

This is confusing lol

nicehormones

I was under the impression that you should eat below your BMR else how would you loose? I don't understand the above 'nicehormones' logic. I am set at 1600 on 2lbs a week loss and my BMR is 2500. I have been loosing weight.

1500 is a good amount of food too, you definitely don't go hungry.

Think of it this way- if you were lying in bed in a coma, you would need to eat at your BMR just to stay alive. Since you move around daily and do things other than be completely sedentary, your body burns more calories. Therefore you should eat above your BMR.


http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/
^^This is an amazing tool. Try entering your stats, and it will explain this a lot better than I can

JennedyJLD

The logic is sound. You need your BMR to keep your body functioning. That's what it means - "basal metabolic rate." Anything else your body does in a day - walking around, exercising, moving around the house, etc. - requires extra calories. It's possible to have a BMR of 1400 but to expend about 1800 in an average day, doing the chores of life. A person eating 1,200 calories a day will have a 500 calorie deficit despite only being 100 below their BMR.

KariePerez

I have a total of 115lbs. to lose I have already lost 50lbs. of it and my estimated BMR is: 1,910 calories/day* but i USUALLY consume 1400calories/day or less sometimes but I am dropping weight like nobodies business so I think you are fine!!!!