Confused ....BMR/Daily Calories allowed

jam3114
jam3114 Posts: 250 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5'9 & current weight 242lbs - profile sendentary.
I've previously chosen to lose 2lb a week & calories were 1310. Recently I've not been able to stick within my daily calories and while I've lost 13lbs since Jan I've come to a standstill. Most of the problem is myself as like most I am an emotional eater & can seriously pack away some food.
So I had a thought - stop looking to lose 2lb per week & aim for something smaller & be consistent - I've reset my goal to 1lb per week & now can eat 1830 daily calories !!!! yummy!!!
My rational is if I lost 1lb per week consistently that would be 26lbs in 6 months rather that nothing every month so should work in my favour - now the confusing part for me!!!!
BMR tool on MFP calculated that I need 1862 cals a day if I were to do nothing but rest for 24 hours. Based on the MFP having a calorie deficit built in & not including any workouts why does it suggest that I eat 1830 - MFP states that if I consume this daily calorie intake of 1830 I 'should' lose 5lb by April 7.
Anyone else with similar stats show same calorie/BMR figures? Hell I can eat 1830 without even blinking & I know I will be working out but just curious on people's opinion

Replies

  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member
    Because BMR is the amount you would need if you slept for 24 hours/day 7 days/week. BMR and maintenance calories are different. MFP adds an amount to BMR based on your daily activity level. For an office job you would pick sedentary and it would add 350-400 cals to your BMR, light active would be slightly more.

    Go to my goals tab and on the top right it show "calories burned from normal daily activity" This is your maintenance calories based on the info you put into MFP. You would need to eat that to maintain your weight. You goal 1lb/week would be 500 cals below that.
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    Go to My Home>>Goals. It will help you understand how MFP comes up with your calorie deficit. It will show you how many calories you burn during normal daily activites. In part, this number uses what you entered as your lifestyle (sedentary, active, etc.)

    Your BMR is how many calories you would burn even if you were in a coma. You burn additional calories walking to the bathroom, reaching for something on the top shelf, bending to pick-up something, cleaning the house, etc.

    Hope that helps.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    BMR is what you burn all day doing absolutely nothing, ie: in a coma. It is the energy your body utilizes just to run your organs. WHen calculating how much you actually burn during a day, you have to factor in activity, because everything you do uses energy. Brushing your hair...sitting up...talking...walking...standing...lifting...carrying...all burn calories ABOVE your BMR. These along with some other minor adjustments equal your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure).

    When you entered your info into MFP, you selected an activity level. The activity levels are the extra calories you burn living life. So if your TDEE ended up being 2330 (which is about lightly active?) and you requested to lose 1 pound a week, MFP deducted 500 calories from your TDEE of 2330, to come to 1830.

    Make sense?
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    The BMR is what you would burn just lying in bed all day but not sleeping.
  • jam3114
    jam3114 Posts: 250 Member
    Thanks guys I was confused when I saw 1830 but I check maintainence & it was 2330 - so I see the difference of the 500cals

    Thanks:flowerforyou:
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