does BMR apply to people who cannot move much?

yeremeyeva

I have a friend who cannot move around much (due to a disease). Should she also calculate her BMR and stick to it in order to lose weight? She never exercises and mostly sits (walking around her house is the extend of her exercise or any kind of movement for that matter at all). I suggested that she uses her BMR # & tries to stick to it as close as she can. Will she lose weight if she does that? Or should she eat below her BMR since she is not exercising & may not need as many calories as MFP suggests. I guess what should I recomment to a person who is not able to move much. What # of calories should she aim for to lose weight? Thanks!! I would appreciate any feedback!

StarryEyed500

Your BMR is what you burn if you laid in bed all day, not moving - so yes, your friend should be eating at least her BMR. If she moves, then she needs to add on some to account for that. I'd go with a sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 to see what she could burn in a day. If she does any kind of exercise, she can add these on too. Once you work out the total she'll burn, you can take some off again if she needs to lose some weight. 20% is a good figure to start off with. You may find that the burn - 20% = the BMR.

dg09

Your BMR is what you burn if you laid in bed all day, not moving - so yes, your friend should be eating at least her BMR. If she moves, then she needs to add on some to account for that. I'd go with a sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 to see what she could burn in a day. If she does any kind of exercise, she can add these on too. Once you work out the total she'll burn, you can take some off again if she needs to lose some weight. 20% is a good figure to start off with. You may find that the burn - 20% = the BMR.

I agree, she should just go with sedentary multiplier.

yeremeyeva

Your BMR is what you burn if you laid in bed all day, not moving - so yes, your friend should be eating at least her BMR. If she moves, then she needs to add on some to account for that. I'd go with a sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 to see what she could burn in a day. If she does any kind of exercise, she can add these on too. Once you work out the total she'll burn, you can take some off again if she needs to lose some weight. 20% is a good figure to start off with. You may find that the burn - 20% = the BMR.

Thanks for your reply. what is the sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 that you mentioned? I have never heard of it. I would say she burns close to nothing during the day. The muscles on her legs are deterriorating so she cannot really carry the weight of her body. Do you think she should stick to her BMR- (BMRX20%)? Or? Would it be too much to ask for an example with calculations? For example if she she weighs 235 pounds and her BMR according to MFP is 1700. What # of calories should she consume to lose weight?

dg09

Your BMR is what you burn if you laid in bed all day, not moving - so yes, your friend should be eating at least her BMR. If she moves, then she needs to add on some to account for that. I'd go with a sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 to see what she could burn in a day. If she does any kind of exercise, she can add these on too. Once you work out the total she'll burn, you can take some off again if she needs to lose some weight. 20% is a good figure to start off with. You may find that the burn - 20% = the BMR.

Thanks for your reply. what is the sedentary multiplier of 1.2-1.275 that you mentioned? I have never heard of it. I would say she burns close to nothing during the day. The muscles on her legs are deterriorating so she cannot really carry the weight of her body. Do you think she should stick to her BMR- (BMRX20%)? Or? Would it be too much to ask for an example with calculations? For example if she she weighs 235 pounds and her BMR according to MFP is 1700. What # of calories should she consume to lose weight?

If she already registered on MFP and got a BMR, more than likely she chose an activity level which already applied the multiplier. Go to My Home > Goals > Change Goals > Guided > and look for the options for "How would you describe your normal daily activities?", chances are she probably chose Sedentary.

Here are the multipliers

If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9

StarryEyed500

If she spends most of the day sitting, go with 1.2, so her BMR 1700 multiplied by 1.2 = 2040. That's what she probably burns in a day. If you take off 20%, you then get 1632 so I'd stick with the 1700. The weight won't go down as fast but it'll mean her organs are getting what they need.

yeremeyeva

I really appreciate you guys' help. She just switched to MFP today (she used Fit day before). She has done HCG, Atkins, 1200 calorie diet & she has struggled with her weight all her life due to this ilness. I have had such great results with MFP & have been strongly recommending her this website. I have helped her develop a meal plan & I suggested she eats at least 1700 calories. As everyone else, she was scared because 1700 is so muchhigher than the usual 1200 calories that she has been hesitant to do it at first but because she is desparate to lose weight she is going to go for it & try to eat at least 1700 calories a day. so I am crossing my figners it's going to work for her!!!!!

StarryEyed500

It should work as long as you log everything accurately, including any exercise she manages to do. 1700 is a scary number but give it a few weeks to allow everything to adapt, especially if she's recently been on a low calorie diet. Hope it goes well

yeremeyeva

It should work as long as you log everything accurately, including any exercise she manages to do. 1700 is a scary number but give it a few weeks to allow everything to adapt, especially if she's recently been on a low calorie diet. Hope it goes well

her problem is that she CANNOT do any kind of exercise. She can't even walk without falling. The floor that seems totally nomral to me is bumpy and uneven to her & she is very unstable. She uses a cane. So all the strength that she has she uses to move around her house. That's why the only thing she CAN control is her diet. And I told her the same. The results may not be as fast (which she is fine with) because she has been putting her body through very low calorie phases.

dewgirl321

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble your friend has walking and doing everyday things. Is it possible for her to do any exercises laying down? Like leg lifts? Possibly use resistance bands to help lift her legs or push against to keep the muscles from deteriorating. I wonder if she has a physical therapist she could see to get some safe exercise ideas as well.

I agree with the other posters, it would be a good idea to start at 1700 calories.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

yeremeyeva

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble your friend has walking and doing everyday things. Is it possible for her to do any exercises laying down? Like leg lifts? Possibly use resistance bands to help lift her legs or push against to keep the muscles from deteriorating. I wonder if she has a physical therapist she could see to get some safe exercise ideas as well.

I agree with the other posters, it would be a good idea to start at 1700 calories.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

She is a bit older and she does see a specialist for her muscle disorder. But no, I doubt she can do leg raises (they are even hard for me , haha ) She tries to save any strength she has for moving around.