Question about BMR.

mfaber0611

So, my BMR is 1600. But MFP has me eating only 1470 calories per day. If it takes 1600 calories for my body to even function, how is it healthy to eat less than that?

ElizabethRoad

When did MFP tell you that was healthy? You set the parameters, the website spit out a number. If you think that number is unhealthy then change it.

rainbowbow

You should not eat below your BMR. The way MFP works is it uses a generic calculation. I'm assuming you picked "Lose 2 lbs per week." You can either select a goal of 1.5lbs per week, 1lb per week, etc. or manually enter your BMR as your goal. Losing 2 lbs per week may not be a realistic goal for you.(ie to do that you would need to eat below your BMR)

sharonfincher1

And the number that MFP sets is net calories, not the total (gross) calories.

Sylvia_00

Eat 1600, but be sure to workout so that you create a deficit in your net calories.

ninerbuff

You should not eat below your BMR. The way MFP works is it uses a generic calculation. I'm assuming you picked "Lose 2 lbs per week." You can either select a goal of 1.5lbs per week, 1lb per week, etc. or manually enter your BMR as your goal. Losing 2 lbs per week may not be a realistic goal for you.(ie to do that you would need to eat below your BMR)

Well not entirely true. A 50 year old female at 5 ft and 130lbs has a BMR of 1250. If she were sedentary, I would assume her TDEE at about 1600 a day. 1% of her body weight is 1.3lbs which is safe to lose a week. To lose one pound a week, she'd need a 500 calorie deficit from TDEE which would make it 1100 calories a day. That's not unreasonable.

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rcthale

Your BMR is the number of calories you need to support your body as it is right now. Eat under that, you lose weight. Eat over that, you gain.
If you stick to your goal calories each day, you'll lose weight until your lighter body has a BMR that equals your goal. This is the plateau, when you recalculate your BMR and then eat below that again.

GauchoMark

Your BMR is the number of calories you need to support your body as it is right now. Eat under that, you lose weight. Eat over that, you gain.
If you stick to your goal calories each day, you'll lose weight until your lighter body has a BMR that equals your goal. This is the plateau, when you recalculate your BMR and then eat below that again.

You just described TDEE, not BMR. If all you do is eat your BMR, you still lose weight.

FrugalMomsRock75

Personally, I set my goal manually at [slightly above] my BMR. My goal is 1470, and I eat exercise calories. I get close to my goal, so that I'm netting my BMR.

rcthale

So, my BMR is 1600. But MFP has me eating only 1470 calories per day. If it takes 1600 calories for my body to even function, how is it healthy to eat less than that?

You're right; you won't be giving your body enough calories to function. But, your body will steal those missing calories from your own fat. As long as you've got some spare fat, your body will use it to make up the difference that it needs.

cobaltis

You should not eat below your BMR. The way MFP works is it uses a generic calculation. I'm assuming you picked "Lose 2 lbs per week." You can either select a goal of 1.5lbs per week, 1lb per week, etc. or manually enter your BMR as your goal. Losing 2 lbs per week may not be a realistic goal for you.(ie to do that you would need to eat below your BMR)

Well not entirely true. A 50 year old female at 5 ft and 130lbs has a BMR of 1250. If she were sedentary, I would assume her TDEE at about 1600 a day. 1% of her body weight is 1.3lbs which is safe to lose a week. To lose one pound a week, she'd need a 500 calorie deficit from TDEE which would make it 1100 calories a day. That's not unreasonable.

This is good advice

omma_to_3

I haven't seen any scientific evidence that eating under your BMR, within reason, causes issues. If someone has a study, please post a link.

My RMR is 1662. I net 1200 to 1400 calories a day, which means I eat 1400 to 1800 a day, depending on my exercise (I eat 1400 on days I don't exercise and net 1200 on days I do). Eating at that level, at MOST would be a 1.7 lb. loss per week, though it usually averages to 1 lb. per week for me. I've been eating this way for 14 months and my RMR is still 7% to 10% above the estimate averages (I had it tested this week via the local University medical system). So, eating under my RMR certainly hasn't hurt me.

ETA: I am sedentary, nearly completely, except when I specifically exercise. I sit at a desk all day and watch TV all night LOL. But I workout on average 5 times a week for 45 min to 60 min via various cardio exercises.

JustJennie1

You should not eat below your BMR. The way MFP works is it uses a generic calculation. I'm assuming you picked "Lose 2 lbs per week." You can either select a goal of 1.5lbs per week, 1lb per week, etc. or manually enter your BMR as your goal. Losing 2 lbs per week may not be a realistic goal for you.(ie to do that you would need to eat below your BMR)

Well not entirely true. A 50 year old female at 5 ft and 130lbs has a BMR of 1250. If she were sedentary, I would assume her TDEE at about 1600 a day. 1% of her body weight is 1.3lbs which is safe to lose a week. To lose one pound a week, she'd need a 500 calorie deficit from TDEE which would make it 1100 calories a day. That's not unreasonable.

This is good advice

He knows stuff.