RMR Test... now how many calories do I eat??

Kendra0024
Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, I had an actual RMR test (at the doctor's office) this morning, which gave me an RMR result of 1423, and an estimated BMR of 2004. This is WAY different than the MFP calculations. So, the question becomes, how many calories am I supposed to eat?? My current weight is 272.8. Anyone know how to figure it out based on my specific numbers?

I'm impatient, so I don't want to wait a few days for the doctor to advise me. ;)

Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Above 2004 calories.. I would probably aim for 2200 or 2300 calories.. even though depending on activity and so forth your TDEE may be 3000 calories+.. but I would not be eating under 2004 net calories, well your not suppose to.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Why is your RMR so far from BMR? I thought those should be basically the same.

    You use them to find your TDEE, then cut calories from your TDEE by 15-20%

    From http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_BMR.php
    Using the Calculations
    As BMR and RMR only represent resting energy expenditure, an adjustment must be made to reflect your activity level. This is done by multiplying your BMR or RMR by an activity factor (McArdle et al 1996). Note that the following activity factors also take into account The Thermic Effect of Food:

    Activity Factor Category Definition
    1.2 Sedentary - Little or no exercise and desk job
    1.375 Lightly Active - Light exercise or sports 1-3 days a week
    1.55 Moderately Active - Moderate exercise or sports 3-5 days a week
    1.725 Very Active - Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days a week4
    1.9 Extremely Active - Hard daily exercise or sports and physical job
  • kimpossible471
    kimpossible471 Posts: 268 Member
    It sounds more like the doc gave you your RMR and TDEE -
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    It sounds more like the doc gave you your RMR and TDEE -

    That's what I was thinking. The RMR and BMR won't be the exact same, but I don't think they should be so far apart. The OP might want to call the doctor's office back and double check on it.
  • Kendra0024
    Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
    No, the RMR is resting energy expenditure (which is done at a resting rate), whereas BMR is what it takes for your body to function. Given that I was awake and active in the morning, RMR provides an estimate of the BMR. I have the report in front of me, and it says those terms exactly. I have no idea what TDEE is. It does say REE predicted 71%... I don't know what that means either.
  • konerusp
    konerusp Posts: 247 Member
    That did sound a bit odd to me,but i have read that if the RMR is less than BMR then you are slowing your metabolism and you probably need to eat more.How many calories are you eating?
    this is a good site to figure out how much to eat.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    My BMR is 1550 and RMR is 1770.and my TDEE-total daily Energy expenditure is 2300.I eat around 2000 calories(15% cut).Since i had RMR higher than BMR they said i had a very good metabolism and i should be eating at 2k.Im 5" 5 tall.

    Do you weight train?Usually the more the muscle the more the RMR,that is also something you might want to look into.

    Im no expert,but that was what i was told by my doc and fitness trainer.
  • Kendra0024
    Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
    I eat 1480. I haven't started weight training again, but I'm planning to do so soon. I guess now is as good a time as any!
  • anie8989
    anie8989 Posts: 50 Member
    I don't know if this helps or not. But I went to a nutritionist a few weeks ago. She weighed me and found how many calories I should be eating to lose weight. I'm 258 now, but at the time was 261, so
    Said that to maintain that weight I would have to eat about 2000 calories a day, but by cutting back a couple hundred the lbs will shed slowly. So now I've been eating less than 1800 calories and so far it works. I'm full most of the day and feel energized because I've swapped something's out for more veggies and eating the correct
    Portion size.

    I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for an answer for. But look at the calories to maintain your weight, then cut it down a little and see if that helps.

    Good luck :)
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
    how do you measure this 'RMR'? - never heard of it before.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Thanks, konerusp. That makes sense!

    OP, you probably should be eating somewhere around 1900-2000. Bumping up your calories will help repair your metabolism, as will bumping up protein in particular and some strength training. Even if you aren't excerising at all, then your TDEE is about 2405 calories per day. If you are exercising, then you should eat even more than that.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I eat 1480. I haven't started weight training again, but I'm planning to do so soon. I guess now is as good a time as any!

    Yeah, so you can see how that isn't enough calories for your body to function. So your body will adjust your metabolic rate, slow it down to compensate for lack of calories.

    Gradually up your calories over time - about 100-200 each week. Try to do at least 1800 and see if that helps you drop some weight in a couple of weeks.
  • Kendra0024
    Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
    I barely meet the 1480, so 1800 will be hard, but I agree that I am pretty deficient. I do work out at least three times a week and burn 600-900 calories, according to my HRM. Thanks for your input, everyone!
  • Kendra0024
    Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
    how do you measure this 'RMR'? - never heard of it before.

    I had a test done at a doctor's office. I fasted for 12 hours, no exercise for 12 hours prior, and did minimal activity beforehand (including moving VERY slowly, etc. I probably shouldn't have showered, but I did). The goal is to stay as close to resting as possible. You also need to be somewhat tired. Then, when I got there, they laid me down, hooked me up to a mask/sensor, turned out the light, and I just had to stay as still and calm as possible (they also monitored my heart rate and oxygen levels) without falling asleep. I stayed hooked up for about 35 minutes to get a good data sample (the nurse is a colleague of mine), but it generally takes 10-20 minutes. I'm not really sure how the sensor measures your RMR, but it does... needless to say, I've heard they're extremely accurate. I sure hope that's true!
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
    Well,it sounds like a good rest - not sure I like the sound of the fasting bit, though. It seem more scientific than typing in your age, weight, height and sex into a program.

    My BMR is supposed to be about 1900.
  • Kendra0024
    Kendra0024 Posts: 56 Member
    Well,it sounds like a good rest - not sure I like the sound of the fasting bit, though. It seem more scientific than typing in your age, weight, height and sex into a program.

    My BMR is supposed to be about 1900.

    They did it first thing in the morning (7:45 a.m.), so I just didn't eat again after dinner the night before.

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