BMR higher than calculated MFP intake

Myztikal_
Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
hi all,

I read the newbie thread and it says that I should be eating the calories calculated by the BMR calculator. when I use mfp to calculate the calories I want to lose per week (.5 pounds) the bmr is higher than.what's calculated (difference is about 200).

do I continue with the MFP calculated or adjust my goal to match my BMr intake.

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    MFP expects you to eat back your exercise calories too - so a little exercise will eliminate that 200 calorie difference. Or you can adjust your goals. Also if you put in you want to lose 2 lbs a week rather than .5-1lb you can change that also to get your calories back up.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Probably a terminology or input error issue. Seems unlikely that BMR is higher than a -250/day calc.
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    From: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6556-the-answers-to-the-questions
    Question #2:
    I'm eating 1200 calories, I feel like crap and I'm not losing weight. What gives?

    Answer:
    Run, don't walk, to "tools" and use the BMR calculator. Please, please, please, eat at least your BMR calories every day. You might lose weight more slowly, but you will still lose, and you will not longer feel a sudden urge to fall over every time you do, well, anything.

    I think i may be misunderstanding something here.

    Using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator it comes to 1,704 calories/day*
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Well, check your inputs on target weight loss.

    0.5 lb/day is 250 calories/day. If you're 200 under BMR at -250/day, then you have a daily calculation of 50 over BMR, which MFP doesn't provide as an option.

    The other option is a bug that affects only you.
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    Congratulations! Your personalized diet and fitness profile is now complete. Based on your answers, here are your suggested nutrition and fitness goals.

    Nutritional Goals Target
    Net Calories Consumed* / Day 1,880 Calories / Day
    Carbs / Day 259 g
    Fat / Day 63 g
    Protein / Day 71 g
    *Net calories consumed = total calories consumed - exercise calories burned. So the more you exercise, the more you can eat!
    Fitness Goals Target
    Calories Burned / Week 0 Calories / Week
    Workouts / Weekends 0 workouts
    Minutes / Workout 0 minutes
    If you follow this plan...
    Your projected weight loss is: 0.5 lbs/week
    You should lose 2.5 lbs by September 05

    It's making me eat more lol?

    I don't know, i have tried changing my units recently, that may be causing something.
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    Congratulations! Your personalized diet and fitness profile is now complete. Based on your answers, here are your suggested nutrition and fitness goals.

    Nutritional Goals Target
    Net Calories Consumed* / Day 1,880 Calories / Day
    Carbs / Day 259 g
    Fat / Day 63 g
    Protein / Day 71 g
    *Net calories consumed = total calories consumed - exercise calories burned. So the more you exercise, the more you can eat!
    Fitness Goals Target
    Calories Burned / Week 0 Calories / Week
    Workouts / Weekends 0 workouts
    Minutes / Workout 0 minutes
    If you follow this plan...
    Your projected weight loss is: 0.5 lbs/week
    You should lose 2.5 lbs by September 05

    It's making me eat more lol?

    I don't know, i have tried changing my units recently, that may be causing something.

    MFP calculating 1880 calories per day isn't your BMR, that's the amount of calories you need to eat everyday to lose .5lbs with no exercise.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Ok so your target is 1880, and your BMR is 1704.

    Try to get 1880 calories + exercise burns. Try not to be under 1700 for multiple days in a row. Good luck!
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    hmm, I want to lose 1 pound per week but it's lower than my bmr.
    should I still do it?
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    How much weight do you have to lose? If it's 100+ lbs you should be fine with 1 lb a week. If it's 20 you're probably better off with .5 lbs.
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    I have 15 kg's left (around about 28 pounds)

    I'm still confused. My BMR is 1704 which means that i MUST eat 1704 calories for the body to continue to work without any movement (as if i was in a coma). But when i input my weight, age and goal the calories MFP gives me is 1580 which is less than my BMR. My question is why is MFP telling me to have a net of 1580 calories when my body supposedly needs at least 1704.
  • marysidneyherbert
    marysidneyherbert Posts: 69
    That's a good question. I have the same problem. My BMR is about 1400, but MFP is telling me to eat 1200 calories a day to meet my goal, which of course increases when I exercise. But if my BMR is 1400, shouldn't I have to eat at least that much just to survive? I hope someone will step in to clear up our confusion.
  • ritchiedrama
    ritchiedrama Posts: 1,304 Member
    A calculation is just an estimate, remember that.

    MFP is fairly bad at calculating your needs, anyway..

    I eat below my BMR (rarely) but I do it, and so do other people over at the bodybuilding.com forums.

    If you feel fine, and you are getting along ok, it should be fine. But.. not for a LONG period of time. Breaks would be needed.
  • itsscottwilder
    itsscottwilder Posts: 317
    My question is why is MFP telling me to have a net of 1580 calories when my body supposedly needs at least 1704.

    Because MFP is REALLY Bad at making recommendations. Go with the BMR you know to be right.

    It's a brilliant tool to keep track of calories, foods and recipes. But that's about it.
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    I've been eating about 1310 calories (wanted to lose 1.5lbs per week) for the last few weeks (over ate about 1/4th of the time by about 300 calories). I've felt that it was all the energy i needed, i still felt great even during intensive exercises.

    1850 calories just seems to be ALOT.

    maintenance calories = 2200
    Goal weight loss per week = .5kg (~1 pound)
    Goal calories = 1850

    Does this look right? Is .5kg per week too much to lose?
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    I'd recommend getting some exercise (strength training pref) and eating over BMR most of the time. Can drop weight without crapping out your metabolism.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    MFP calculates your calorie needs for the amount you need to live, and the amount you need for your daily lifestyle (NOT including exercise). So you need to choose the appropriate activity level for your day, for work, school, whatever your normal day is, but not including the exercise. Someone who is on their feet all day shouldn't choose sedentary. Most people shouldn't choose sedentary.

    Now it takes the amount you say you want to lose per week and subtracts it from that number. If you say 1 pound a week, it subtracts 500 calories from that number. 2 pounds a week, it subtracts 1000 calories. etc.

    The problem is, people usually choose too many pounds per week to lose, depending on how many pounds you need to lose, not every setting is appropriate. Your profile doesn't say how close you are to your goal.

    Now, when you exercise, you need to eat more for that because MFP did not include that in its calculations for how many calories you need.
  • Myztikal_
    Myztikal_ Posts: 32 Member
    I'm starting strength training about 4 times a week with 20 minutes of cardio and 1 day of high intensive cardio.

    I also chose sedentary as my job requires me to sit down all day and move very little. I move to eat lunch; my walk from public transport < 5 minutes.

    I have about 15 kg to lose (~28 pounds) which someone has mentioned that i should lose .25 to .5 of a pound.

    I'll see how it goes but i'll struggle to eat my BMR after the last few weeks.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I think once you start lifting you won't have any problem eating more.

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