Confused about BMR

Andrea7701
Andrea7701 Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello out there! I am a bit confused about what number I should be going off of when it comes to creating the deficit I need daily in my calorie counting. I'll just lay out the numbers so that it makes more sense. My current BMR is around 1484 and that is without adding my activity level. With it, the number goes up to 2040( the amount needed to maintain my current wt). So, the question is which number should I be subtracting the calories I want to cut. I do not add calories for the amount I burn during exercise, creating the deficit. I've been going by the 2040 number, making my daily calorie intake goal around 1500. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Replies

  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    subtract the number from your TDEE, which is your BMR plus activity level and other factors.
  • Broejen
    Broejen Posts: 414 Member
    You are like me...when you add a cut to your TDEE, it ends up being really close to your BMR. You aren't supposed to eat back exercise calories doing the TDEE-cut, but aren't supposed to net below BMR, so how does that work? You are netting too low if you DON'T eat them back! It also doesn't leave much of a deficit. :( I've been eating 1550-1650 for a few weeks now (which ends up being 1850 or so after exercise) so the deficit hasn't been huge, but I do weigh less than I have in the past 2 months, so I hope it's working!
  • SueGeer
    SueGeer Posts: 1,169 Member
    I eat at TDEE-15% (1525) but don't net below my BMR (1240) - been doing this for a month and have lost 3lbs
  • xidia
    xidia Posts: 606 Member
    Your logic is fine - 1500 should work out at about 1lb a week.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    You are like me...when you add a cut to your TDEE, it ends up being really close to your BMR. You aren't supposed to eat back exercise calories doing the TDEE-cut, but aren't supposed to net below BMR, so how does that work? You are netting too low if you DON'T eat them back! It also doesn't leave much of a deficit. :( I've been eating 1550-1650 for a few weeks now (which ends up being 1850 or so after exercise) so the deficit hasn't been huge, but I do weigh less than I have in the past 2 months, so I hope it's working!

    Your TDEE takes into account the exercise you do. I do TDEE - 20% and don't even log my exercise any more as it doesn't make the numbers look right. You won't be netting under your BMR if you exercise because your exercise is already accounted for.

    If it still really bothers you, you could based your TDEE on a sedentary lifestyle and then log and eat back your exercise calories.

    OP, what you are doing is correct.
  • Kst76
    Kst76 Posts: 935 Member
    My husband nets around 2200 calories the day he exercise and without exercise about 1850. He weighs 323 right now. Does that make sense? Or is he eating too much? or to little?
  • mich1902
    mich1902 Posts: 182
    My bmr is basically my tdee-20%. I based tdee on my desk job lifestyle and add exercise as i do it.
  • xidia
    xidia Posts: 606 Member
    My bmr is basically my tdee-20%. I based tdee on my desk job lifestyle and add exercise as i do it.

    This. And this is what I do.
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    This is a post which explains why everyone is saying TDEE - 20%.
    This might help you understand why that would be your target.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy
    Don't sweat BMR too much.
  • Andrea7701
    Andrea7701 Posts: 40 Member
    Very helpful everyone!! Thanks!!

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