Confused on BMR

mumtheshopper
mumtheshopper Posts: 29 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My BMR is 1505 x 1.2 for calories needed is 1806 calories a day or 12642 a week. I want to lose 2lb a week so reduce it by 7000 is 5642 calories a week or 800 calories a day needed to lose 2lbs a week. But they say don't go below 1200 calories a day. does this mean I can never lose weight?

Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    I think it means you should probably aim for .5 or 1 lb a week or supplement with added exercise.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    My BMR is 1505 x 1.2 for calories needed is 1806 calories a day or 12642 a week. I want to lose 2lb a week so reduce it by 7000 is 5642 calories a week or 800 calories a day needed to lose 2lbs a week. But they say don't go below 1200 calories a day. does this mean I can never lose weight?

    It means that the weight loss goal of 2 pounds per week is unreasonable for you. Unreasonable for a lot of people actually; unless you are morbidly obese.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Weight loss is not linear .... one cannot say I want to lose XX pounds .... each and every week until I'm done (I wish).

    People who have lots of weight to lose can come up with a 7,000 calorie deficit because their BMR is quite a bit higher than yours.

    Pounds per week
    75+ lbs to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs to lose 1.0 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs range

    Settle for 1 or (even) 1/2 pound a week "healthy" weight loss. If you try to lose too fast .... you will be losing both fat a muscle.

    Your BMR is the calories you would need if you were in a coma ..... calories needed for basic bodily funtion .... heart, lungs, kidneys.
  • mumtheshopper
    mumtheshopper Posts: 29 Member
    Hmmm. But exercise really makes no diffrence to my weight loss. I ahve found this over the years. Makes me feel loads bettr, less flabby and less grumpy and I will continue with it/. But doesn't help me lose weight. 1200 calories a week really isn't low enough for me to lose weight at all I have found too. If I aim for .5 to1lb a week, and lose .5lbs a week, I will get so disheartened. It'sll take a month to lose 2lbs, then a good weekend away, and put on 3lbs. It's no good. I don't know waht to do.
  • rfsatar
    rfsatar Posts: 599 Member
    Hmmm. But exercise really makes no diffrence to my weight loss. I ahve found this over the years. Makes me feel loads bettr, less flabby and less grumpy and I will continue with it/. But doesn't help me lose weight. 1200 calories a week really isn't low enough for me to lose weight at all I have found too. If I aim for .5 to1lb a week, and lose .5lbs a week, I will get so disheartened. It'sll take a month to lose 2lbs, then a good weekend away, and put on 3lbs. It's no good. I don't know waht to do.
    You have two options.
    1) admit to yourself that is a journey that requires patience and a willingness to change aspects (not everything) about one's lifestyle in order to achieve a healthier you.
    2) whine that you are not going to lose any weight the way you want and never get anywhere.

    I am a little confused by the statement that exercise makes no difference? Did you ever try measuring yourself (hips, weight, body fat calculators?) - when I first started here I was (and still am) often losing in half pound increments and I thought I wasn't seeing any difference, and it IS really disheartening, then someone suggested a good old fashioned tape measure and it has made way more difference to me than the weekly jump on the scales!
    I started exercising more (all low impact because of knackered knees) and even though it was slow, the physical differences have been astounding.
    Inches off my neck, waist, hips. Body fat % down. Win.

    Or whine. Your choice, really.
    Best of luck with your journey, however you choose to do it.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    Hmmm. But exercise really makes no diffrence to my weight loss. I ahve found this over the years. Makes me feel loads bettr, less flabby and less grumpy and I will continue with it/. But doesn't help me lose weight. 1200 calories a week really isn't low enough for me to lose weight at all I have found too. If I aim for .5 to1lb a week, and lose .5lbs a week, I will get so disheartened. It'sll take a month to lose 2lbs, then a good weekend away, and put on 3lbs. It's no good. I don't know waht to do.

    I had a quick peek at your diary. Holy cow--you're eating 600-800 calories/day? That is absolutely miserable!

    What is your current weight? How tall are you? And how much are you hoping to lose?

    What sort of exercise do you do?

    2 lbs loss in a month's time isn't bad at all. Gaining 3 lbs over a weekend sounds pretty difficult to do.

    It sounds to me like you don't really understand how your body works, nor how fat loss/gain works.

    At any rate, the scale isn't the best way to measure progress on a day-to-day basis, anyway. Taking measurements, going by how your clothing fits, taking photos are all much better ways of looking at what is going on. Looking at the trend of what happens with the scale over much longer periods of time is helpful as well. My scale readings are all over the place if I weigh every day, so I just don't. It isn't necessary.

    What is necessary is that you eat an appropriate amount of food in reasonable quantities, exercise regularly doing something you find enjoyable. It is also helpful for everyone to do some sort of resistance (strength) training a few times per week in order to preserve lean muscle, as that not only makes your body stronger and leaner (improving one's appearance), but retaining that muscle will also allow your body to use more calories at rest. You want that!
  • sexymuffintop
    sexymuffintop Posts: 636
    Hmmm. But exercise really makes no diffrence to my weight loss. I ahve found this over the years. Makes me feel loads bettr, less flabby and less grumpy and I will continue with it/. But doesn't help me lose weight. 1200 calories a week really isn't low enough for me to lose weight at all I have found too. If I aim for .5 to1lb a week, and lose .5lbs a week, I will get so disheartened. It'sll take a month to lose 2lbs, then a good weekend away, and put on 3lbs. It's no good. I don't know waht to do.

    Heres a suggestion for you then. Bin your scales. If you judge your success from what they say you need to get rid of them. Measure yourself, monthly. Take pictures, but I don't think the scales are your friend. If they negatively impact your life, don't use them. All you need to do is make sure you are in a deficit the majority of days and you will lose fat.
  • mumtheshopper
    mumtheshopper Posts: 29 Member
    I don't fill in the exercise diary. I walk and jog/stagger. Recently, I ahve been waling 8-9 miles oince a week, and jog on treadmill for around 5 k a couple of times a week. I also do reistance work, and try to attend a pump class once a wek. I'm nowhere near as fit as I wa a couple of years ago , it does ahve to be said.

    Ok, not only do the scales not go my way, but my clothes get no looser. And belive me 3lb ovver a weekend is really easy. A few drinks, a curry, followed by an english breakfast, and bobs your uncle. 3lbs. It's been a long time since I've done that though. I though 800 calories was right. As I say, BMR minus 3500 a week for every lb you want to lose. I am confused.

    I am 5'3"
    I weigh 12 stone 7lbs
    I am 44
    I am size 16/18, and fed up with it!

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