BMR vs. Recommended Daily Calories?

Im_NotPerfect

I know this is been rehashed but I just now investigated it myself.

I just looked at my BMR and it says 1672. My daily recommended caloric intake is 1400 for the weight I want to lose. Why the difference? Is 1400 too low for me?

I try to get at least a 1/2 hour walk in daily and I definately eat all of my exercise calories. I'm 5'9" tall, CW: 200 lbs.

BrianSharpe

BMR is the estimated number of calories you need if you're going to spend the day in bed doing nothing - you would be neither gaining or losing weight.

The recommended caloric intake MFP comes up with is based, more or less, on your BMR adjusted for whatever activity level you set in your profile and then adjusted downwards to create a caloric deficit (again based on the rate of weight loss you entered).

If your BMR is 1672 and your activity level sedentary your estimated TDEE would be 2,006 (1,672 x 1.2) using the Harris Benedict equation. To lose 1lb a week you would subtract 500 cal from TDEE which would give you 1500 cal per day.

Based on that 1400 plus your exercise calories is close enough (think of it as 100 cal wiggle room!)

carrie_eggo

BMR is the estimated number of calories you need if you're going to spend the day in bed doing nothing - you would be neither gaining or losing weight.

The recommended caloric intake MFP comes up with is based, more or less, on your BMR adjusted for whatever activity level you set in your profile and then adjusted downwards to create a caloric deficit (again based on the rate of weight loss you entered).

If your BMR is 1672 and your activity level sedentary your estimated TDEE would be 2,006 (1,672 x 1.2) using the Harris Benedict equation. To lose 1lb a week you would subtract 500 cal from TDEE which would give you 1500 cal per day.

Based on that 1400 plus your exercise calories is close enough (think of it as 100 cal wiggle room!)

^^yep. This.

And if you are using MFP the way it is set up, you would also be able to eat more when adding in your exercise calories.

Im_NotPerfect

BMR is the estimated number of calories you need if you're going to spend the day in bed doing nothing - you would be neither gaining or losing weight.

The recommended caloric intake MFP comes up with is based, more or less, on your BMR adjusted for whatever activity level you set in your profile and then adjusted downwards to create a caloric deficit (again based on the rate of weight loss you entered).

If your BMR is 1672 and your activity level sedentary your estimated TDEE would be 2,006 (1,672 x 1.2) using the Harris Benedict equation. To lose 1lb a week you would subtract 500 cal from TDEE which would give you 1500 cal per day.

Based on that 1400 plus your exercise calories is close enough (think of it as 100 cal wiggle room!)

This totally explains it for me! Thank you SO Much!!!