extremely over weight and bmr ???

3saLarson

Since I am so over weight, will eating below my bmr hurt my weight loss? I find most days I'm comfortable eating around 1900. That seems like a lot, but MFP has me at 2140. I have fibromyalgia, so some days I'm not active . I have been able to walk this last week. Anyway, do I need to increase my intake or can I continue as I am for awhile longer?
I weight 322, and I'm 5'5". I'm also 44 and dealing with the oh so wonderful change of life .

kazzsjourney

You could simply add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter, tahini or a nut butter...and hit that calorie goal easily...and its healthy for you I always think its best to eat as much as I can while still maintaining losses

MindyG150

I have no advice because it looks like your dealing with medical issues that I have no knowledge about. But I do want to say getting started is the best thing you can do for yourself and keep up the great work.

thatjulesgirl

Eat it, eat it, eat it. Us larger girls (I started around your current weight) have been brainwashed to always fall back on the old "less calories = less weight" fallacy. It's BULLSHOOT. You need to be eating a *minimum* of 2100 calories - having said that, I would go online and find a better calorie calculator, I've found MFP has quite a big margin... the best one I've found so far is the Katch-McArdle formula but you'll need a fairly accurate reading of your body fat %.

Even if you're eating JUST your BMR of ~2100... your TDEE will still be significantly higher... even higher than you'd think if you're very inactive some days. I can't imagine what your body goes through with the fibromyalgia... I have two friends with it and it's a tough bloody road :flowerforyou: but the best thing you can do is *FUEL* your weight-loss. If your BMR is 2100 your TDEE is probably somewhere between 2800 and 3000. So even if you're eating at 2100... that's still an 800 odd calorie deficit and to be losing steadily, you really only need a 500 calorie defecit.

Try and eat the 2100 - it's really important for your hormonal, and chemical stability. I also recommend swimming / walking in the pool as an exercise... particularly heated / physiotherapy pools if you have access to one near you. My friend with fibro swears by it (especially for her joints). Good luck to you!!

BrendaLee

I'm a fellow fibromyalgia sufferer, so I definitely get how that limits you. I started at the same weight as you, and I'm the same height. Right now, I'm eating 1500-1600 calories a day most days. You don't need to increase your calories if you're comfortable where you are. If you find you're not doing well as time goes on, you can always up your calories. I say, stick with the higher deficit until it no longer works for you.

3saLarson

Thank you everyone for your input. I truly appreciate it.