BMR is lower than what MPF tells me to consume

finalendeavor

Hola,

Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but I'm a little confused at the numbers I'm getting...

The BMR calculator says that my BMR is 1824. While I know there are varying opinions on how many calories to consume daily, the general consensus tends to be that you should always take in more than your BMR to avoid your body going into survival mode and retaining calories as fat.

With this in mind, I'm confused as to why MFP says I should be consuming 1780 calories a day. Has it performed some other calculation in there that took BMR into account, or am I just not looking at the numbers correctly?

Thank for any help!

K

Edit: The title should read "BMR is higher* than what MFP tells me to consume"

ladyraven68

Hola,

Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but I'm a little confused at the numbers I'm getting...

The BMR calculator says that my BMR is 1824. While I know there are varying opinions on how many calories to consume daily, the general consensus tends to be that you should always take in more than your BMR to avoid your body going into survival mode and retaining calories as fat.

With this in mind, I'm confused as to why MFP says I should be consuming 1780 calories a day. Has it performed some other calculation in there that took BMR into account, or am I just not looking at the numbers correctly?

Thank for any help!

K

Edit: The title should read "BMR is higher* than what MFP tells me to consume"

MFP is just a fancy calculator, you put goals in, it spits numbers out, it does not take into account BMR, or the minimum calorie recommendations for males, which is actually 1800.

It's only stop is the female minimum calorie requirement of 1200.

Whilst there is a concensus not to eat under BMR, you won't find any weight loss sites that actually base their numbers on it, bt you can change the MFP goals if you prefer.

go to goals, and custom, then you can change your calorie goals and your macros..

CoderGal

^Don't worry we've gotten that by the time we read your thread :P

It set me to 1200 to lose a pound a week. It takes off 500 cals every day for every pound you want to lose a week assuming it has the correct energy expenditure. Though it is true that it takes 3500 calories to burn 1 pound of fat, that isn't how the metabolism works.

I set it to netting 1650 to lose a pound a week...The calculations are fail at best.

fat2fit and some kinda scooby do place seems popular for finding a reasonable number if you're goal weight isn't significantly lower then your goal :P If it is, I suggest punching smaller numbers in every now and then and changing them as you lose weight.

mcarter99

The only consensus to not eat below your BMR is among forumites at this site. You will not see that warning anywhere else, including in MFP's own eating plan.

Captain_Tightpants

BMR x 1.2 = sedentary level total daily energy expenditure (TDEE)

For you therefore, TDEE is about 2188 (let's just call it 2200)

To lose weight you need to eat below your TDEE - mostly it's recommended 15-20% below it.

So for you, 20% below 2200 is 1760 calories a day - MFP is just about spot on - keep doing what it's telling you to do.

ladyraven68

The only consensus to not eat below your BMR is among forumites at this site. You will not see that warning anywhere else, including in MFP's own eating plan.

Not true. Just google 'Eat under BMR' and you'll find it's not restricted to MFP , unless MFP forumites are infiltrating other sites to spread their evil message.

They are like the Borg, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

mcarter99

LOL! I will not be assimilated! :happy:

When I google all I get are forums-- mfp, caloriecount, askscooby, 3fatchicks.

Wait, here's a trainer on Youtube who has my view on it-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAvFsIUxvY

finalendeavor

The only consensus to not eat below your BMR is among forumites at this site. You will not see that warning anywhere else, including in MFP's own eating plan.

Thanks for the reply!

While it's certainly a hivemind sort of consensus here, it does makes sense to me given basic biology.

finalendeavor

BMR x 1.2 = sedentary level total daily energy expenditure (TDEE)

For you therefore, TDEE is about 2188 (let's just call it 2200)

To lose weight you need to eat below your TDEE - mostly it's recommended 15-20% below it.

So for you, 20% below 2200 is 1760 calories a day - MFP is just about spot on - keep doing what it's telling you to do.

Thanks for the response!

I didn't realize until you and ladyraven68 responded that MFP provides essentially all of that info under "Goals." I see now how my TDEE is calculated and essentially takes into account my BMR. Thanks for the clarification!

zaithyr

I found MFP calculated me too low so I calculated my calories on a different site and input my calorie goal manually. MFP uses a different formula for caloric calculations than most other sites I've seen.

WaxMama

It set mine as 1200... I did the BMR calculator seperately and it was about 1450. I changed my calorie goal and it seems to be working! I'd die if I only ate 1200 calories a day! LOL

ElizabethRoad

You're talking about a difference of 44 calories. I wouldn't worry about it.

mcarter99

The only consensus to not eat below your BMR is among forumites at this site. You will not see that warning anywhere else, including in MFP's own eating plan.

Thanks for the reply!

While it's certainly a hivemind sort of consensus here, it does makes sense to me given basic biology.

Think of it this way. If you burn 2300 calories a day, that is what you burn, regardless of your intake. What activities contribute to that 2300 doesn't matter. All that matters is that you eat enough for proper nutrition (typically considered 1200 for women, more for men) and create a deficit of some sort, usually not more than 1000 calories per day. Your body WILL use all its calorie resources including body fat to fuel its total activity level.

It doesn't need 'today's calories' for 'today's BMR'. It's a continuous system. My body burns up 1 calorie per minute in BMR, or 60 calories per hour. I don't have to eat 1 calorie per minute or 60 calories per hour because it allocates it across time. That's the whole purpose of storing fat and other compounds within the body. Same for 24 hour periods. You have 'allocated' calories in the form of body fat available for all your body's uses.

mcarter99

LOL! I will not be assimilated! :happy:

When I google all I get are forums-- mfp, caloriecount, askscooby, 3fatchicks.

Wait, here's a trainer on Youtube who has my view on it-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAvFsIUxvY

Here is the youtube trainer's credentials:

http://johnbarban.com/about/
EDUCATION

My formal education background is a degree in human biology and nutrition from the University of Guelph (Ontario Canada), and a Masters In Human Biology and nutrition also from U of Guelph.

I did further graduate research and taught exercise physiology at the University of Florida (Go Gators!)

I’ve taken a bunch of personal training certifications, all the usual ones such as the NSCA CSCS, ACE PT, CSEP etc. I was also a certified kinesiologist blah blah, if you’ve taken any of these certifications you know how BS they are…I personally don’t put any value in these certificates because they’re not hands on and just require a simple written test…so yeah I have em’ but I don’t think they mean anything.

WORK/INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

I’ve worked in the dietary and sports supplement industry researching and developing sports and weight loss supplements for the better part of the past 8 years and I still currently consult supplement companies on formula and product development.

Some of the brands I have worked with and or created include:

MuscleTech

NxLabs

Slimquick

ADS

BlueStar Nutraceuticals

Empowered Nutrition Products



COACHING/TRAINING

I spent 3 years as a varsity strength and conditioning coach (ice hockey) at the University of Guelph.

I’ve also trained with a world class power lifting team…I got really strong, and all the workouts sucked! I still maintain close contact with the powerlifting team and continue to discuss training experiences and theories with them.

I also keep close ties with colleagues in the biomechanics field. This is how I stay up to date on the latest research in biomechanics and human movement science in general.

I’m currently working on exercise programs and researching solutions to weight loss, muscle building and longevity.

Based on my experience in the supplement industry I can tell you that you’re never going to find an answer there about weight loss or muscle building. In fact the more time you spend reading about supplements and fitness magazines in general the less likely you are to find a useful answer about either. Ironic isn’t it!

So that’s my brief ‘bio’.