BMR - My fitness pal has me eating below it

Well to start off with 1lb a week with 15lbs to lose is too agressive...change it to 1/2lb a week.

And

Eating your BMR is not "deadly"

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1058378-oh-noes-i-am-eating-below-my-bmr

Well to start off with 1lb a week with 15lbs to lose is too agressive...change it to 1/2lb a week.

And

Eating your BMR is not "deadly"

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1058378-oh-noes-i-am-eating-below-my-bmr

Great link and here a a few more...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Setting Your Calorie and Macro Targets

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1072049-thoughts-on-tdee-calculators-and-switching-from-mfp-to-tdee

Exercise calories

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

Logging accuracy

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

All sourced from this awesome page and I recommend you join the group...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read

you need to exercise to increase the calorie deficit. when you do not have that high a weight loss requirement, if you put a fast weight loss goal with no or minimal exercise calorie burn, MFP will have to give you a small calorie intake. remember its just a calculator, not a nutrition and fitness adviser, so it will not take into account your body's essential needs. cardio will help you burn more calories in shorter time. but if you are looking for sculpting your body at the same time, do weight training as well.

i am 5'4 and started at 155 lb. i ate at 1200 to 1400 calorie (strictly) and did 2 hr cardio per day (1 hr in the morning and 1 hr in the night) at least 5 days a week and i lost 1 lb per week consistently.

suggestions is 50-75%...

This board in general has a VERY bad understanding of BMR and how it applies to weight loss.


Eating below your BMR will NOT be dangerous or deadly. BMR is how many calories your body uses at it's base. You know, to make you breathe, pump your heart, etc. Then TDEE includes your activity.

When you're losing weight, your goal is to eat less calories than your body uses.

If you eat below your BMR, that just means your body will pull the "stored calories" - AKA, from your fat.

It does NOT mean your body doesn't have enough calories to perform basic functions. It just means your body won't have enough calories from food ALONE to perform those functions.

Eating below BMR just means you'll lose weight a little faster than if you eat at or above BMR, because you're eating at a higher calorie deficit.

All this bull about "dangerous" and "deadly" means you're not understanding basic biology. Why is it dangerous to go below BMR for body functions but not for activity? The fact is, it isn't dangerous, not inherently. Eating below activity, if you think eating below BMR is dangerous, means *gasp* what if you faint??? or plonk while walking??? because you're eating below your activity!!! that must be dangerous!!!

Sorry for the sarcastic bit up there. I just want to emphasize that eating below BMR is NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. It's only dangerous when you eat WELL below BMR for a long time and if you have very little body fat for your body to pull from.

(also, heads up - you do NOT have to eat all your calories from exercise.)

According to the BMR calculator on the site, mine is 1,361. When putting in my information, I said I wanted to lose a lb a week. MFP put my daily calorie intake at 1200. Why is the site telling me to eat less than my body needs to actually function and how the hell I am supposed to lose weight? I know in order to lose a pound a week I need a daily deficit of 500. But don't I also need to meet my BMR calories and not go under? How does someone like me (I'm a short female) do that and still lose a lb a week?

You are also supposed to count the exercise calories.

Eat 1600, burn 400... viola you are at 1200 calories for the day.

With my fitness pal is it best for me to let my fitness pal to set my calorie goal or should i customized my own. when i allow my fitness pal to do the recommendation it says i should eat 1710 calories a day. I am actie a nursing assistant at a hospital i constantly walk and move around. I also told mfp i want to lose two pounds a week. So what is best for me?????

Of course it does. That's how its creating a calorie deficit.