Basal Metabolic Rate and the 500 calorie deficit

Fursian
Fursian Posts: 599 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

MFP's BMR calculator suggests that my BMR is 1,318 calories/day. I'm kinda new to how these things work, so apologies for the seemingly daft question! but are we to take our BMR and subtract the 500 from that number? Meaning MFP would have me consume 818 calories a day for a 1lb weekly loss, or burn the 500 away per day with exercise to eat the 1,318 calories?

I realise that the BMR calculators may or may not be accurate, just using this as an example

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Your BMR is what you would burn if you did NOTHING. You shouldn't subtract from your BMR for your weight loss deficit (unless your plan is to sleep the entire time you're losing weight).
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    Fursian wrote: »
    Hi all,

    MFP's BMR calculator suggests that my BMR is 1,318 calories/day. I'm kinda new to how these things work, so apologies for the seemingly daft question! but are we to take our BMR and subtract the 500 from that number? Meaning MFP would have me consume 818 calories a day for a 1lb weekly loss, or burn the 500 away per day with exercise to eat the 1,318 calories?

    I realise that the BMR calculators may or may not be accurate, just using this as an example

    What MFP BMR calculator are you talking about?

    The goal that MFP sets for you is the amount you are supposed to eat if you don't exercise. If you do exercise, you are supposed to log it and eat those calories.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    Where on MFP is there a BMR calculator? Is this a new feature? (serious question)
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    BMR is only really useful for estimating calorie burn for different activity levels.

    So, if your BMR is 1318 and you are lightly active, then you multiply it by 1.4 (at least, that is what I believe MFP uses for lightly active) and then subtract however much you want to lose per week. Sedentary would be 1.2, I'm not sure what active is.

    So, 1318 * 1.4 - 500 = 1350 calories/day to lose 1lb/week

    (rounded for a nice number)
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    Where on MFP is there a BMR calculator? Is this a new feature? (serious question)

    Just found this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    Where on MFP is there a BMR calculator? Is this a new feature? (serious question)

    Just found this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator

    Interesting. I've been here for years and never have seen that before.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    Where on MFP is there a BMR calculator? Is this a new feature? (serious question)

    Just found this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator

    Interesting. I've been here for years and never have seen that before.

    Yeah, I had no idea it was here either!
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Fursian wrote: »
    Hi all,

    MFP's BMR calculator suggests that my BMR is 1,318 calories/day. I'm kinda new to how these things work, so apologies for the seemingly daft question! but are we to take our BMR and subtract the 500 from that number? Meaning MFP would have me consume 818 calories a day for a 1lb weekly loss, or burn the 500 away per day with exercise to eat the 1,318 calories?

    I realise that the BMR calculators may or may not be accurate, just using this as an example

    BMR is what you need to just keep you alive. You subtract 500 calories from your TDEE to get 1 lb a week weight loss. There are lots of TDEE calculators available online.
  • Fursian
    Fursian Posts: 599 Member
    Not sure how to quote you all individually within the same post yet but many thanks to each of you for the responses! Cleared that question and any confusion right up

    I'll check the TDEE calculators out, kimny72, thanks!

    My daily goal is 1600 calories on MFP. So far I've been steadily losing the 1lb a week, only just recently learning about net calories and eating exercise calories back, which I am doing now :)
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    SingRunTing wrote: »
    Where on MFP is there a BMR calculator? Is this a new feature? (serious question)

    Just found this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator

    Interesting. I've been here for years and never have seen that before.

    Yeah, I had no idea it was here either!

    It's been there for ages, it's just not often used or talked about.
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