the dreaded "under BMR" question AGAIN!

eldazzio
eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, having used several different BMR/TDEE calculators I've averaged out my BMR is about 2400 and my TDEE is about 3100. Having spent over an hour looking through old threads on here saying DON'T EAT BELOW YOUR BMR I'm confused as to why MFP would set me a goal of 1870 daily cals which is clearly way below my BMR? Having already had a major stall in my weight loss and getting back on track, I definitely don't want to slow metabolism down again and stall once more. Any advice?

Replies

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    First: how did you calculate your BMR (which calculator, what settings)?

    Second: there is nothing inherently wrong with eating below BMR, especially for people with considerable weight to lose.
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    I do have a lot to lose (100lbs +) and I've used the MFP, scooby, body n soul, bmr.net, myDr.com calculators etc etc. Each one gave me a different answer within a similar range so I took the average. I believe MFP was the lowest though with their different method. My settings were 144kgs, 180cm, 39 years old and sedentary. I'm a P.I and I literally sit in my car for up 10 hrs a day doing surveillance. I do burn off about 400 cals a day of cardio but I almost always eat those back.
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    Bump. Anyone have an idea?
  • kagevf
    kagevf Posts: 509 Member
    you probably put your goal weight as your ultimate goal weight. maybe set a mini goal, say 20lbs less than your current weight. that will probably put you on your BMR.
    im doin a lot of guessing here since idk your stats.

    try this...you probably have the same answer already, but just for the heck of it..

    this is for reference only

    calculate your BMI and find out your normal weight range. you can do that here...
    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

    once you know your target weight, now you can calculate your BMR. you can do that here....
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

    next - update your diet profile on MFP.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    - type in current weight
    - adjust goal weight
    - adjust activities

    - adjust goal (i.e lose 1lb/week)

    for example if you have a 2400 calories suggested by MFP, eat 100-500calories deficit 5x/week and stay within your cals on weekend or feast.

    have mini goals. once you reach that, set another goal and adjust MFP.
    for the next 6months, stay away from processed foods and just eat whole foods either it came from a tree, the ground or an animal/fish.
    stay away from soda and fruit juice drinks. drink water only, if you want flavor , squeeze a lemon.

    hope this helps on your weight loss journey
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    From what I can see if you were to eat your BMR and conservatively eat back your exercise calories (50-75% of your calculated burn) you should still be able to lose about a half a kilo a week. I'm guessing you probably have it set to a kilo a week or more at the moment. Slow and steady is better than none, and will minimise the loss of muscle if you combine it with a weights program, which will in turn accelerate your fat loss.
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    you probably put your goal weight as your ultimate goal weight. maybe set a mini goal, say 20lbs less than your current weight. that will probably put you on your BMR.
    im doin a lot of guessing here since idk your stats.

    try this...you probably have the same answer already, but just for the heck of it..

    this is for reference only

    calculate your BMI and find out your normal weight range. you can do that here...
    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

    once you know your target weight, now you can calculate your BMR. you can do that here....
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

    next - update your diet profile on MFP.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    - type in current weight
    - adjust goal weight
    - adjust activities

    - adjust goal (i.e lose 1lb/week)

    for example if you have a 2400 calories suggested by MFP, eat 100-500calories deficit 5x/week and stay within your cals on weekend or feast.

    have mini goals. once you reach that, set another goal and adjust MFP.
    for the next 6months, stay away from processed foods and just eat whole foods either it came from a tree, the ground or an animal/fish.
    stay away from soda and fruit juice drinks. drink water only, if you want flavor , squeeze a lemon.

    hope this helps on your weight loss journey



    Thanks for the links and ideas, I followed what you suggested by finding my bmi etc and changing my goal settings etc. MFP gave me the exact same calorie goal. When I calculated my ideal weight (75kgs) bmr it came out at 1740.. the daily goal I have now (at 144kgs) is 1870. I'll do what you suggested and set smaller goals to see how it goes over the next few weeks. .
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    Slow and steady is better than none, and will minimise the loss of muscle if you combine it with a weights program, which will in turn accelerate your fat loss.





    I really need this tattooed on my forehead! Now that I'm educated and motivated I want results !! :laugh:
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    Take measurements, weigh yourself & take 'before' photos. Even if you keep them completely private they'll give you a way to measure your successes. Smaller goals as mentioned before will also help as achievement markers. You can also take pride in successes that just happen along the way, like beating a personal best in cardio or weights, going down in clothes size, etc.

    Oh, and if you're getting it tattooed on your forehead make sure to reverse the text so you can read it in the mirror. ;)
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Take progress pictures from day 1. I never did and i regret it terribly.
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    Take progress pictures from day 1. I never did and i regret it terribly.

    Ditto.
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    Take progress pictures from day 1. I never did and i regret it terribly.


    I have, and I can see results already (10kgs down but just started logging) hopefully I'll put them up soon in the 'success stories' section! :smile:
  • eldazzio
    eldazzio Posts: 38 Member
    Oh, and if you're getting it tattooed on your forehead make sure to reverse the text so you can read it in the mirror. ;)


    :laugh: :drinker:

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