Eating BMR versus MFP recommendation?

Graciecny

My BMR is evidently 1438 (just used one of the tools on the site to run that) but MFP has me set at 1300 calories for one pound a week loss. I've seen lots of people saying to eat at least your BMR, but how big a deal is it if they aren't different by more than 10%?

FWIW, before anyone yells, I'm trying to NET my 1300 calories, give or take 100 or so most days, by eating back exercise calories. I have my lifestyle set as sedentary (I work a job where I'm sitting two 11 hours days and one shorter day for ~ 4hours, the rest of the week I'm running errands, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc) but I log all true exercise. I don't log incidentals like cleaning or recreational activities, but I do log all intentional exercise as carefully as I can, down to the warmup/cooldown walks.

So, advice? I've searched the forums for this topic, and as many posts as I've seen about eating back exercise calories, this is a topic that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot on. If I'm wrong, please feel free to shoot me a link! I did try to do my homework. :flowerforyou:

fittiephd

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/539980-people-who-have-had-success-by-upping-their-calories

evansproudmama

I was wondering the same since my BMR is at 1800 but im only eating 1400 (MFP started me at 1200 but i was to tired so i upped it) Bump

MamaWannaRun

Read this...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/512956-tdee-what-is-it-and-why-you-should-not-eat-below-your-bmr

I hope it helps!

Sarauk2sf

MFP does not seem to have the over-ride of setting the minimum at your BMR - just the minimum of 1200. So all it uses is math - 500 less than you TDEE for 1lb a week, 1000 for 2lb. It is a firmly held belief of many here that you shouldnot eat below your BMR, irrespetive of the math, to allow for a sustainable and healthy weight loss. So, I would override the settings to have you on at least your BMR.

I would also recommend you re-assessing your activity. It seems as if you are at least lightly active even without scheduled workouts.

Graciecny

Thank you for the links and responses! I'll read the links when I get home...really appreciate the info.

MizzDoc

bump

Captain_Tightpants

Slightly below or above BMR doesn't matter. What matters is that you have a sensible, not-too-extreme, calorie deficit (15-25% of your TDEE is usually recommended).

If you're sedentary then your TDEE will be somewhere around BMR x 1.2 (approx 1800 cals per day in your case)... so knock 20% off that and you get a goal of 1350 per day - right around where mfp has you set.

I wouldn't recommend going any lower than this. If you do, you will likely ramp up your metabolic adaptations and slow down your weight loss to a frustrating pace. But don't worry about it being under your BMR.

(Another note, BMR calculators can only ever give you a guess, so don't get too tied up in the numbers... just eat at a deficit and see if you lose... if you don't, or if you're losing too fast, adjust accordingly.)